WEST Devon?s retiring MP John Burnett is to join the Exeter-based legal practice of Stephens and Scown. Mr Burnett, 59, will join the firm immediately after the election as a legal consultant. Before his election in 1997 as Liberal Democrat MP for West Devon and Torridge, Mr Burnett was a senior partner of a Devon law firm, and was for 12 years one of a dozen solicitors on the Law Society?s national tax law committee. Since 1997 he has sat on every finance bill committee and held a number of all-party posts, including trustee of the House of Commons pension fund, trustee of the parliamentary members? fund, member of the procedure select committee and member of the joint committee Lords and Commons on consolidation bills, which implements the quick-track procedure for bills. He has also led for his party on many tax statutory instruments, including double taxation agreements and legislation covering inheritance tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax and VAT. He has for the last four years been Liberal Democrat shadow attorney general. Guy Curry, partner at Stephens and Scown, said: ?John?s special experience and knowledge of taxation, coupled with his fine abilities as a lawyer, make him a valuable asset to the firm.? Mr Burnett said he was delighted to join Stephens and Scown. His appointment comes during a year which saw Stephens and Scown move its head office to a landmark building in Exeter?s central business district.