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The Legal 500 Hall of Fame Icon The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence. The Hall of Fame highlights, to clients, the law firm partners who are at the pinnacle of the profession. In the United Kingdon, the criteria for entry is to have been recognised by The Legal 500 as one of the elite leading lawyers for eight years. These partners are highlighted below and throughout the editorial.
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United Kingdom > West Midlands > Human resources > Pensions > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

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Who Represents Who

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Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is known for its ‘excellent depth of expertise’ and ‘commercial awareness’ with a client roster that includes Transport for Greater Manchester,  the London Borough of Harrow and Birmingham City Council. Emma King leads the team and recently advised the trustee of the Box Clever Group Pension Scheme on an appeal from ITV against a financial support direction issued against its scheme. Gary Delderfield heads the public sector pensions team and assisted Borders to Coast Pensions Partnership on bringing forth its £36 billion Border to Coast LGPS investment pool, and advised on the establishment of Brunel Pensions Partnership as one of the eight LGPS investment pools. Liz Fallon focuses on international matters (particularly EU-related ). Sarah Franklin  advised Calor Pension Trust on GDPR compliance and HMRC’s new anti-money laundering requirements. Georgina Rankin is also a key figure, with extensive experience in advising corporate sponsors and trustees of occupational pension schemes. Also recommended is principal associate Gavin Paul, who is experienced in handling rules drafting, scheme mergers and disputes.

Gowling WLG provides a ‘first rate’ and ‘pro-active’ service, with a client roster that includes pension schemes for Weetabix, Pirelli UK and Fujitsu UK and Ireland. Glyn Ryland heads the practice and is an expert in pensions investment law and funding negotiations. Richard Black has ‘broad experience of all pension issues' and provides 'pragmatic', 'clear' and 'cost-effective' advice. Paul Feathers is an investment and buyout specialist with ‘an unrivalled experience in those areas’. Suzannah White  has ‘knowledge on all matters affecting defined benefit schemes’, while Paul Craberry is ‘technically very capable’ and ‘able to translate complex issues into something the lay trustees can understand’.  Other notable names include: director Christopher Stiles, who is an expert in contentious and non-contentious matters; and Richard Lee, who is an expert in employment and pensions law. Liz Gane was promoted to partner in 2017 and is an expert in pension scheme mergers and closures, as well as corporate re-organisations.

Pinsent Masons LLP  is a popular choice for pension providers in both the public and private sectors  Simon Laight is head of the national insured pensions practice and advises insurers, platforms, wealth managers and SIPP operators on pensions issues.  Nick Stones  leads the team in Birmingham and works predominantly with corporate sponsors and trustees of pension schemes. Daniel Shelley  is also a key figure and has extensive experience in advising on large pension schemes.  

Squire Patton Boggs  has extensive experience in both public and private pensions , with clients that include Volvo Cars, Weetabix and the University of Birmingham. Matthew Giles  heads the practice and recently advised the trustees of the Jaguar Land Rover pensions plans on changing three pension plans from a final salary to career average benefits basis. He also assisted the trustee of the IMI pension funds with the demerger of its defined benefit fund and its successor arrangements. Helen Miles  is also a key figure and recently worked with XPO Pension Trustees on all issues surrounding its pension scheme, including GDPR compliance. Also recommended is Philip Sutton , who has expertise in the closing and changing of pension plans, as well as compliance and general advisory matters.

Gateley Plc practice has a strong focus on the engineering, pharmaceuticals and financial services sectors, with ‘excellent response times’, ‘very strong expertise’ and ‘appropriate advice’. Michael Collins  leads the team and is ‘knowledgeable’, ‘approachable’ and ‘straightforward’. He recently advised Pension and Life Assurance Plan of Macmillan on its executive ‘top up’ scheme. Kate Lloyd  is also a key figure, with notable strengths in scheme mergers and funding, equalisation, as well as the establishment of new schemes.

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP  possesses ‘extensive expertise in public sector matters’, most notably in the fields housing and local government. Senior associate Douglas Mullen is a key figure, and is ‘very competent’, ‘approachable’, and ‘happy to talk through points at length’. He is particularly skilled in advising on how outsourcing arrangements impact pension schemes. Olwen Dutton is also recommended and is an expert in the local government sector.

The ‘excellent’ Mills & Reeve LLP predominantly works on pension schemes for the charity, not-for-profit and education sectors. Clare Grice heads the practice and is ‘very quick to respond’ with advice that is ‘sensible’ and ‘clear’. Trustees of the Brambles Enterprises (1996) Pension Scheme and the Brambles United Kingdom Pension Plan are key clients, who Grice assisted with the termination of an agreement with a third party service provider, defended on a dispute regarding the pension share and advised on GDPR regulations.

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Legal Developments in West Midlands for Pensions

  • Which EEA Form?

    For EEA nationals and their family members, making an application to the Home Office isn;t always straight forward. The first step will be to identify the relevant EEA form for the type of application you want to make. 
    - DavidsonMorris

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