Rated as 'the elite of the pensions bar', Wilberforce Chambers' members continue to advise and act in the industry's most complex and cutting edge issues. Michael Tennet QC, Edward Sawyer, and Jonathan Chew act for Mitchells & Butlers trustees in a major rectification claim estimated to be worth over £100m, on the issue of indexing benefits to RPI inflation; Fenner Moeran QC acts for the representative beneficiary. Members are also instructed in Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund v Stena Line Ltd and others, considering whether a time bar applies to the right to unpaid pension benefits. The case, thought to have over £100m at stake includes Tennet QC and Moeran QC, and the addition of Paul Newman QC (for the trustee), Thomas Robinson, 'technically brilliant' Emily McKechnie (for the representative beneficiaries).
Pensions in
London BarWilberforce Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘Wilberforce remain the elite of the pensions Bar.’
‘First-rate set with leading practitioners in pensions, trusts, and property law. Huge range of counsel, many being the leaders in their field.’
‘Wilberforce is very strong in pensions – a lot of choice and coverage at different levels. No shortage of options from silks to juniors.’
Clerking
‘Really excellent. Patient and responsive. Fraser Geddes and Danny Smillie in particular have gone out of their way to assist as much as possible.’
‘Superb – efficient, effective and responsive.’
Outer Temple Chambers
Outer Temple Chambers as a 'premier pensions set' combines strength and depth in its pensions practice and offers a complete service to its clients. The set is home to silks such as Andrew Short QC who recently acted in Guaranteed Minimum Pension equalisation test case Lloyds Banking Group Pension Trustees v Lloyds Bank Plc & Others. He also leads Naomi Ling and Lydia Seymour in McCloud v Lord Chancellor & Ministry of Justice and Sargeant v LFEPA; both challenges to public sector pension schemes on allegations of protected characteristic discrimination concerning judges and firefighters respectively. Nicolas Stallworthy QC led Nicholas Hill in Arup UK Ltd v Trustees of the Arup UK Pension Scheme which addressed the question of replacing RPI as an inflation measure within scheme indexation rules. Chambers also houses Andrew Spink QC , who acted in the contested Honda Motor Europe part 7 claim; and Keith Bryant QC, who acted for the representative beneficiary in the Britvic Plc claim concerning the construction of the schemes indexation provisions.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers have a very strong reputation in pensions, particularly where pensions law meets employment law. ‘
‘I regard Outer Temple as an extremely proficient set with an increasingly impressive pensions practice. We have used a number of barristers from OTC – and we have always been very impressed with them.’
‘Highly regarded set with a number of leading lights. One of the few sets with strength in depth in pensions disputes. Always on my list given the choice of counsel.’
Clerking
‘The clerks work hard to deliver good service.’
‘Nicholas Levett and Adam MacDonald are particularly responsive, prompt, and efficient. They are also friendly and pleasant to deal with.’
‘Excellent service – affable and professional. Prompt and user friendly.’
Radcliffe Chambers
Radcliffe Chambers' members offer a wide variety of pensions expertise, both litigious and advisory. Praised for his 'methodical and pragmatic approach' to technical points of law, Keith Rowley QC acted for the banks in the legally significant Lloyds Banking Group case and currently acts for Mitchells & Butlers Plc in Mitchells & Butlers Pensions Ltd v Mitchells & Butlers Plc defending a £150m rectification claim. Chambers' 'super strong' practice also includes Elizabeth Ovey, who instructed for Bic in BIC (UK) Limited v. Hartridge, which concerns issues of contractual pension entitlement. Both Henry Day and Wendy Mathers have considerable experience in relation to both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Testimonials
Set
‘Wonderful chambers – they have a strong pensions disputes team.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are extremely helpful and amenable. Head clerk Keith Nagle has always provided excellent and super efficient service to us.’
Wilberforce Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘Wilberforce remain the elite of the pensions Bar.’
‘First-rate set with leading practitioners in pensions, trusts, and property law. Huge range of counsel, many being the leaders in their field.’
‘Wilberforce is very strong in pensions – a lot of choice and coverage at different levels. No shortage of options from silks to juniors.’
Clerking
‘Really excellent. Patient and responsive. Fraser Geddes and Danny Smillie in particular have gone out of their way to assist as much as possible.’
‘Superb – efficient, effective and responsive.’
Outer Temple Chambers
Outer Temple Chambers as a 'premier pensions set' combines strength and depth in its pensions practice and offers a complete service to its clients. The set is home to silks such as Andrew Short QC who recently acted in Guaranteed Minimum Pension equalisation test case Lloyds Banking Group Pension Trustees v Lloyds Bank Plc & Others. He also leads Naomi Ling and Lydia Seymour in McCloud v Lord Chancellor & Ministry of Justice and Sargeant v LFEPA; both challenges to public sector pension schemes on allegations of protected characteristic discrimination concerning judges and firefighters respectively. Nicolas Stallworthy QC led Nicholas Hill in Arup UK Ltd v Trustees of the Arup UK Pension Scheme which addressed the question of replacing RPI as an inflation measure within scheme indexation rules. Chambers also houses Andrew Spink QC , who acted in the contested Honda Motor Europe part 7 claim; and Keith Bryant QC, who acted for the representative beneficiary in the Britvic Plc claim concerning the construction of the schemes indexation provisions.
Testimonials
Set
‘Chambers have a very strong reputation in pensions, particularly where pensions law meets employment law. ‘
‘I regard Outer Temple as an extremely proficient set with an increasingly impressive pensions practice. We have used a number of barristers from OTC – and we have always been very impressed with them.’
‘Highly regarded set with a number of leading lights. One of the few sets with strength in depth in pensions disputes. Always on my list given the choice of counsel.’
Clerking
‘The clerks work hard to deliver good service.’
‘Nicholas Levett and Adam MacDonald are particularly responsive, prompt, and efficient. They are also friendly and pleasant to deal with.’
‘Excellent service – affable and professional. Prompt and user friendly.’
Radcliffe Chambers
Radcliffe Chambers' members offer a wide variety of pensions expertise, both litigious and advisory. Praised for his 'methodical and pragmatic approach' to technical points of law, Keith Rowley QC acted for the banks in the legally significant Lloyds Banking Group case and currently acts for Mitchells & Butlers Plc in Mitchells & Butlers Pensions Ltd v Mitchells & Butlers Plc defending a £150m rectification claim. Chambers' 'super strong' practice also includes Elizabeth Ovey, who instructed for Bic in BIC (UK) Limited v. Hartridge, which concerns issues of contractual pension entitlement. Both Henry Day and Wendy Mathers have considerable experience in relation to both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Testimonials
Set
‘Wonderful chambers – they have a strong pensions disputes team.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are extremely helpful and amenable. Head clerk Keith Nagle has always provided excellent and super efficient service to us.’