Corporate finance partner to take the helm for four-year period

Burges Salmon corporate finance partner Alan Barr is set to take over as the national firm's new senior partner following an uncontested election.

Barr (pictured) will take up the post at the Bristol-based firm on 1 May for a four-year term, replacing current senior partner Stephen McNulty in the role.

As senior partner, Barr will take over as chairman of the firm's partnership committee while continuing to work within the firm's corporate finance practice.

McNulty will return to full-time practice in the real estate group, while real estate partner Paul Browne will take over from Barr, with responsibility for internal financial issues.

Barr said: "By concentrating on the basics and on doing the job well as professionals while at the same time building real, lasting relationships with our clients, we will continue to grow as a firm. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead Burges Salmon for the next four years. I look forward to carrying on the excellent work that Stephen has done."

Barr, who has experience advising on M&A and equity capital markets, joined Burges Salmon in 1986. He was made up to partner two years later and has been involved with the firm's partnership committee since the late 1980s. McNulty was appointed as senior partner in 2007, taking over from Bob Smyth on 1 May that year.

McNulty said: "It has been a privilege to serve as the senior partner of Burges Salmon for the last four years, helping to steer the firm successfully through the difficult economic conditions of recent years and the move to our new state-of-the-art headquarters at Bristol's One Glass Wharf."