Saffery LLP appoints Nigel Burke as new chairman

Saffery has announced that Nigel Burke has been elected as its new Chairman. The firm elected Nigel on Friday 15 November for a four-year term.

James Sykes, the outgoing Chairman, served two terms in the role having been first elected in 2016. During James’ tenure, the firm has grown organically with fee income that has doubled to £142m in 2024. James, a specialist in advising wealthy private clients, including families with landed estates, one of the firm’s chosen markets, will remain a full-time client partner, continuing to provide advice to his clients in this area.

Newly elected Chairman, Nigel Burke, is also from one of the firm’s hugely successful chosen markets.

Nigel previously served in the elected position of Deputy Chairman. He has been with Saffery since the establishment of the firm’s film and TV unit in 2012. In that time the film and TV unit has grown into a team comprising 89 professionals, including 8 partners, working with clients from across the sector from Hollywood Studios and US streamers to UK broadcasters and independent film and television producers from the UK and abroad. Nigel, and the wider film and TV unit, continue to contribute to influential industry bodies towards the shaping of policy in relation to the UK screen sector, not least including consulting with His Majesty’s Treasury and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs on the design, introduction, implementation and enhancement of the UK’s creative sector production incentives.

Nigel specialises in providing financial, accounting, audit, and taxation advice to businesses in the media and entertainment sector. He has extensive and in-depth knowledge of the UK’s film and television production incentives and as a recognised name in the industry in this regard, he regularly speaks on expert panels in the UK and internationally.

Based in the firm’s London office, Nigel will continue to advise clients from across the film and television sector alongside his duties as Chairman. This will include continuing to serve on the firm’s Partnership Committee which he has done since 2019, as well as helping to oversee the management of the firm in close collaboration with Managing Partner Matthew Burton.

Matthew Burton, Managing Partner at Saffery, commented:

 “Ever since joining the firm, Nigel has been a constant source of expertise, insight and leadership – and he has been instrumental in helping to integrate and grow our media and entertainment offering which continues to go from strength to strength and is a key pillar within our long-term strategy. We are very pleased to have him serving as the new Chairman of Saffery.”

 “I would like to express our gratitude to James Sykes for his hard work and the vision that he brought to the role of Chairman over the past eight years. He has been a source of wise counsel during some significant challenges, not least as we navigated events such as the Covid pandemic, and we look forward to his continuing contribution as a member of the partnership.”

 Nigel Burke added:

 “I am pleased and honoured to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as the new Chairman of Saffery. This is a truly exciting time for our firm as we continue to consolidate our position in our chosen markets and across key economic centres of the UK – a strategy which has seen the firm deliver impressive growth in recent years. I look forward to working with Matthew and the wider leadership team, and helping to drive forward our strategic plan through the next stage of the Saffery journey.”