Nick Olley, partner at Burges Salmon in Bristol, will take over as general counsel of the Department for Transport (Dft), where he will be in charge of a team of 80 lawyers.

Olley is currently chair of the firm’s well-regarded transport sector group and for five years previously was head of the 50-strong commercial department. Burges Salmon partner Brioney Thomas, a highly-rated rail sector specialist will succeed Olley.