Although Burges Salmon makes a virtue of recruiting City lawyers, it hardly makes a habit of taking on hordes of externals. Of the 17 new partners since 2003-04, the South West firm has taken on only three laterals. That said, lawyers who switch to Burges Salmon mid-career do fine; only two of the six internal promotions last year were lawyers who actually trained at the firm. Property and related disciplines, such as environment and planning, account for six appointments out of 14 over three years. Tax and trusts (aka private client) usually gets one partner a year.