Leading independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has become the latest firm to tackle financial wellbeing in the workplace, partnering with Octopus Money to offer personalised money advice as a people benefit.
Since launching the initiative, nearly 30% of Burges Salmon’s 1,200 UK people have booked time with a money expert; a figure that signals both the demand for support and the firm’s proactive commitment to supporting employee wellbeing. The service has proved especially popular with those in early and mid-career roles, and reflects the challenges faced by many law professionals in finding time to manage their financial futures.
The partnership forms part of a broader investment in people-focused initiatives at the firm. In January 2025, the firm was named ‘Best Law Firm to Work at’ by legal news platform RollOnFriday for the fourth consecutive year, and it also retained its Platinum ‘We invest in people’ accreditation, placing it in the top 5% of organisations engaging with Investors in People.
The collaboration with Octopus Money comes as financial wellbeing climbs the corporate agenda across the legal sector, amid competition for talent. More than half of the UK’s Top 100 law firms have flagged employee turnover as a potential threat to their ambitions over the next two years. (1)
Alice Bretherton, Chief People Officer at Burges Salmon, said: “We recognise that mental health and money problems can often be intricately linked and as a business we want to create a safe environment so our people can have access to confidential advice and a range of resources to help them achieve their financial goals. Our partnership with Octopus Money aligns with our firm’s Wellbeing Strategy and supports and enhances our people’s financial health and security.”
The introduction of financial coaching reflects the legal sector’s wider efforts to embed responsible leadership and align with ESG values, which are increasingly shaping firm strategy and talent retention priorities.(2)
Ruth Handcock, CEO of Octopus Money, said: “Law firms, like many employers, are aware of how financial stress impacts productivity, wellbeing and retention. By offering money advice, firms are sending a clear message to their people: we care about you beyond your billable hours. This support is designed for everyone, from new joiners to seasoned professionals, recognising that busy, high-pressure careers often leave little time for personal financial planning. This isn’t just a benefit, it’s a proactive investment in people’s futures.”
Burges Salmon joins eight other firms – including Simmons & Simmons, Fieldfisher, Browne Jacobson and Osborne Clarke – in partnering with Octopus Money to help their people achieve their money goals, from managing day-to-day finances to long-term planning.
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Notes to editors:
- PWC, Law Firms Survey 2024, p.35.
- PWC, Law Firms Survey 2024, p.17.
Contact:
- Alice Bretherton, Chief People Officer, available for interview on request
- For media enquiries, please contact Caroline Hailstone at caroline.hailstone@octopusmoney.com
Burges Salmon is an ambitious, sustainable and inclusive firm that ensures its clients, people and wider communities flourish. The firm competes at the top of the legal market and supports its sophisticated clients with a wide range of services, often at critical moments when astute legal advice and commercial guidance is needed. Working side-by-side with its clients, Burges Salmon forms its thinking around their needs to ensure delivery of the right solutions when it matters.
Burges Salmon maintains a collaborative and cohesive culture which underpins the quality of its work and client service. In January 2025, Burges Salmon was named ‘Best Law Firm to Work at 2025’, an accolade that the firm has achieved for the fourth year in a row. The firm hires, trains and retains the best people to work together to serve clients and provide them with the best possible experience.
At Octopus Money, we’re building the future of financial advice – helping more people get the support they need to plan for the life they want.
We’re a new kind of advice business – combining the best of humanity, smart technology and investment expertise. We work with some of the UK’s leading employers to give over 200,000 employees access to 1-to-1, personalised help through the workplace.
We also partner with financial service brands to license our award-winning methodology, training and technology. Our platform enables them to offer holistic, regulated financial planning to more customers, at a lower cost than ever before.
Part of the Octopus Group and a certified B Corp, Octopus Money is committed to doing the right thing for customers, advisers and the future we all share.