LONG established Bristol firm Burges Salmon is yet another entry that has gone one better than last year's award. The law firm was shortlisted 12 months ago and it has emerged victorious after a year that has been difficult for many companies in the region.

But even though others have struggled, Burges Salmon has gone from strength to strength – a fact that was recognised in its placing as the top regional law firm in The Legal 500 list.

The team behind The Legal 500 looked at a number of criteria, including size fees and activity.

The company has also been recently ranked as one of the top FTSE 100 legal advisers by Hemscott.

The Adviser Rankings Guide for law firms is a comprehensive listing of the leading firms servicing all companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The banking and finance team is led by Sandra Forbes and Richard Leeming, and the company has been described as a team without fault and excellent technical lawyers.

Major deals for the company, headed by Chris Godfrey, included the £1 billion Hargreaves Lansdown flotation on the Stock Exchange, and acting for the directors of Newbury Racecourse on a hostile takeover bid.

Another high-profile deal involved the ground-breaking partnership of Avon and Somerset Police, local authorities in Somerset and computer company IBM.

The deal created a new venture company – the first of its kind in the country – which took on some of the work of police and councils.

Burges Salmon was also involved in the merger between The Money Portal and financial adviser Burns-Anderson.

The strategy is to build a close and personal relationship with clients and to provide a real alternative to the big impersonal city firms.

The single site strategy and headquarters in Bristol was devised to encourage close communication and teamwork and the aim is to attract and keep top young talent away from the rat race of London.

Not surprisingly, the areas of expertise reflect the economic make-up of the region, with the company particularly proficient in aerospace, agriculture and the ever-expanding finance sector.

Transport and power are also important to the company, and clients include First Great Western and First ScotRail.