TLT’s Robert Bourns awarded City of London Law Society Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Legal Awards

Posted on16 December 2019

TLT’s Robert Bourns has received the City of London Law Society Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Legal Awards in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the legal profession.

The annual British Legal Awards aim to recognise achievements across the UK’s thriving business law community. Hosted by Legal Week in association with The City of London Law Society, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award is decided by the City of London Law Society Committee.

As managing partner of Trumps, Robert played a key role in the merger in 2000 with Lawrence Tucketts to create TLT, serving as its managing partner and then senior partner until 2015, when he was elected the 172nd President of The Law Society of England & Wales.

TLT has become one of the fastest growing law firms in the UK expanding from its Bristol headquarters into Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Manchester. It now employs over 1000 people across the UK with revenues of £87.6m.

As well as his leadership roles at TLT and The Law Society, Robert has been active across the legal profession and beyond. He has been a passionate advocate throughout his career of improving diversity and social mobility across the profession, which was a key component of his role as senior partner.

He is a trustee of a number of local and national charities, focusing on education and furthering the aspirations and ambitions of young people. In his home city of Bristol, Robert has a long track record of engagement with a number of projects such as the Quartet Community Foundation, Room 13 and Ablaze – a charity TLT continues to support.

Robert remains actively engaged in the debate around regulatory change in the legal profession, and is a consultant at TLT.

Chair of The City of London Law Society Edward Sparrow said:

“Robert is known for his acute sense of public interest as demonstrated by his service to the wider profession over many years. I’m delighted to have presented this Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert in recognition of all his successes in the legal profession and beyond.”

The award was presented at the annual British Legal Awards event on Thursday 21st November 2019 at The Ballroom South Bank, London.

Content courtesy of TLT Website

Robert is also a former President of BLS and ASWLS (Association of Western Law Societies)

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS