„Victoria Leigh excels above all in her ability to analyze complex issues with considerable skill, but then to explain them to laymen in a way that is completely understandable without being wrapped in legal terminology. Second, she is an excellent case strategist. After all, she has always been very interested in providing excellent customer service at all levels. As for the staff, I highly recommend Mariyam Harunah. DLA Piper`s retirement team focuses particularly on clients in the manufacturing and financial services sectors. He has seen an increase in buyouts and corporate restructurings, as well as advice to trustees on GMP compensation. Andrew McIlhinney leads the team, which includes General Counsel Simon Evans and Craig Looker, who have experience in pension law and guide trustees in working with the pension regulator. On the contentious side, David Young is the key practitioner. „Mark Smith is so rare – a lawyer that even a layman can understand! While the issues raised in our pension dispute were very complex and lasted for many years, Mark was able to explain them succinctly to our Board of Trustees in a way that was useful to professional trustees, but also accessible to lay trustees like me. His advice has successfully led us to a positive outcome and his patience and professionalism are greatly appreciated. The Macfarlanes LLP team is described by clients as „technically very strong, also commercial and pragmatic”. The Group advises employers, companies and trustees on the management of their pension obligations and defined benefit consolidations. The Group is familiar with pension regulation, financing negotiations, Article 75 debt management and intra-group reorganizations, as well as technical performance issues, system closures and benefit changes.
The department is co-chaired by Camilla Barry, an expert on the powers of the Pension Authority; and Andrew Barton, who specializes in insurance issues related to risk mitigation projects. Madison Isted is an expert in advising insurers on pension risk reduction, while Stacey Yon is another key lawyer familiar with the entire annuity field. „The outstanding partner for me at Taylor Wessing is Mark Smith. He always makes every effort to provide the highest level of legal advice to trustees to ensure that they, in turn, can make informed decisions on a variety of issues. Needless to say, it is a pleasure to work with Mark and his team, and I really appreciate their support and friendship. „The Wrigleys retirement team is known for its excellent reputation. They are all extremely talented and their attention to detail is second to none. „Claire Carroll knows the fixed income industry as well as everyone else in the market and leads a case with breathtaking efficiency and sophistication. It should be the first port of call for anyone with a pension problem.
„Calm, methodical and professional at all times. In particularly contentious pension disputes, I have found that the team never loses its cool and always responds appropriately to the client`s economic interests. „Isabel Nurse-Marsh is a highly experienced and respected pension litigator. Hayley Goldstone always knows her cases like the back of her hand and brings real tenacity and dynamism to each case. Pinsent Masons LLP has built a strong retirement practice focused on employer and pension fund clients, with increasing coverage of buyback, redemption and longevity hedging transaction space. The group is familiar with regulatory and governance issues and is recognized for advising on ESG issues. He has recent experience in the settlement and closure of defined benefit plans and master trust transactions, and is also regularly invited to respond to access requests from affected individuals. Carolyn Saunders is an important name in practice who led the team through November 2021. She is now focused on expanding ESG`s pension practice. The department is currently headed by Stephen Scholefield, an expert in day-to-day strategic and governance issues. Matthew De Ferrars is an expert in defined benefit risk transfers, advising on pension buybacks, longevity transactions and assisting trustees with resolution projects, while Raj Sharma focuses on pension regulation issues. „Works as part of a multidisciplinary team of actuaries, investment, tax, accounting and engagement experts.
This allows them to build a team that covers all the annuities a client needs for a project, and it allows them to bring a wide range of corporate, transaction, refinancing and restructuring experience to resolve issues. „Womble Bond Dickinson provides world-class fixed income advice, both strategic and commercial. They work hard to understand our business and make sure their advice is appropriate for our situation. They try to solve problems and work with co-consultants. Their fees are also very reasonable compared to other domestic companies. The U.S. law firm White & Case LLP has a multidisciplinary pension practice in London, focusing on employer and pension issues of corporate transactions and restructurings. The firm is led by Nicholas Greenacre, who also leads the EMEA Employment, Compensation and Benefits group. Partner Kate Russell is increasingly active in retirement. Advising the UK subsidiary, a NASDAQ-listed company specialising in connectivity infrastructure and services for the global roll-out of broadband networks, on all UK pension matters, including negotiations on scheme funding, on the management of an inherited error when administrative practice does not comply with the rules of the system, and the purchase and settlement of the pension scheme from a UK insurer; Taylor Wessing LLP offers a robust offering for professional fiduciaries, advising on the pension aspects of corporate restructuring, bringing together pension professionals and fraud and restructuring specialists.
The group was strengthened by the arrival of Anna Taylor from Linklaters in January 2022, who added an expert in fiduciary advice and project work, including buy-ins and GMP conversion mandates. At the helm is Mark Smith, who has extensive experience in restructuring, asset transfers, buyouts and buyouts. Angela Sharma, Senior Professional Support Counsel and member of the Retirement Group, is also recommended. „Victoria Leigh is one of the best pension partners in the country. Combines intelligence and extremely impressive legal knowledge with clients` attention to detail and exceptional skills. Someone you want to have by your side in retirement conflicts. „This is a small, highly qualified pension law team that provides excellent services to my systems at a fair cost” Burges Salmon LLP`s non-litigious pension team is located in Bristol, London and Edinburgh. The firm works with fiduciary and employer clients nationally and internationally, with a particular niche in Northern Irish expertise and Scottish legal knowledge complementing its UK-wide offering. He has a particular focus on public sector issues, personal pensions and regulatory affairs, working with notable clients in sectors such as telecommunications, financial services, retail and automotive.
Among the most prominent names are Practice Director Richard Knight; He leads the Bristol team and works with a strong team of partners, including the „exceptional” Clive Pugh and the respected Susannah Young. Squire Patton Boggs is known for advising trustees primarily on the breadth of their pension plan requirements, with specializations in regulatory compliance, investment, data protection and risk mitigation. The group has a particular strength in public service pension plans and is also familiar with public and non-profit organizations. Wendy Hunter is an expert in public and private sector transfers, investments and corporate retirement plans. She co-leads the department with Clifford Sims, who specializes in retirement investments and financial services. The duo will be joined by Chris Harper, the 2022 partner, who is building a strong retirement practice, with a focus on pension investments related to the not-for-profit sector. and Simon James, Senior Partner. Irwin Mitchell`s pension lawyers are based in offices in London and Newcastle, with a particularly strong service for universities, contract contractors, charities and manufacturing clients. The group is familiar with pension tax for UK and overseas schemes, specialising in issues of automatic re-enrolment and re-enrolment, new employer schemes, contribution increases, wage waivers and TUPE transfers.