Practice areas

• advice on the management of pensions issues on sales, acquisitions, domestic and international business transfers and reorganisations, including the management of section 75 debts, clearance applications and negotiations with the Pensions Regulator and trustee boards;
• pension issues on transfers from the public sector and within privatised industries;
• advice on cross-border and international arrangements;
• liability management including buying-out liabilities, buy-in policies, enhanced transfer value exercises and benefit re-shaping;
• advice on changes to pension plans, including new pension structures for managing pension liabilities, mergers, de-mergers, benefit changes, special issues relating to former public sector employees and employee communications and consultations;
• guarantees and other types of contingent asset;
• investment management and financial product work;
• establishing new pension schemes;
• special projects;
• advising trustees on all aspects of ongoing scheme management: benefit issues, the impact of legal changes, scheme governance and conflicts and negotiations on funding;
• advising employers and trustees on scheme winding up, entry into the Pension Protection Fund and management of schemes in assessment periods; and
• the management and resolution of pension disputes, including High Court litigation, Part 8 claims and Pensions Ombudsman cases.

We offer legal advice on all aspects of pensions law and practice, blending our specialist pensions focus with the strength in depth of related financial disciplines which are an increasing part of the pensions landscape.

To deliver a truly excellent service we expect to work closely with our clients and their other advisers. This ensures that we are continually building on our understanding of their business objectives. Approachability, accessibility and a sense of shared purpose are central to our approach. As a client you can expect to benefit from a thoughtful partner-led team that understands your priorities.

We act for investors, companies and trustees in a very wide range of industry sectors both domestically and internationally. These include:

• banks and insurance companies;
• private equity houses;
• manufacturing, publishing, leisure and retail companies;
• property and construction clients; and
• electricity and nuclear industry clients.