Pensions (non-contentious) in London

‘I have always found the Allen & Overy team to be very pragmatic in their approach’

‘The A&O team are truly collaborative with a great depth of talent and expertise.’

‘The Eversheds team were phenomenal. Their insights, guidance and excellent negotiations delivered a complex buy-in transaction on time and well under budget, saving us tens of millions euros. This was probably one of the most complex and time pressured transactions ever done.’

‘We use Eversheds Sutherland because of their deep pensions and benefits expertise, married with pragmatic, clear and timely advice, and their ability to leverage resources across different legal disciplines.’

‘Highly knowledgable – deep and broad knowledge at all levels. Able to respond rapidly to issues, and quickly get up a learning curve. Excellent communication, both verbal and written. Clear, accessible, and unequivocal – there’s no “on the one and …and on the other…”. There’s clear guidance as to the appropriate path to take.’

‘Jeremy Goodwin is an outstanding partner for Eversheds. Jeremy genuinely cares about the Trustee, the Scheme and the sponsor. He is always available and is a very good listener.’

‘The team are responsive and managed in their approach. They can be pragmatic both in terms of their approach and advice. They will also offer to deliver training on subjects at low cost to help promote the right approach. ‘

‘I am always impressed by the quality of the individuals at Hogan Lovells and the impressive coordination across the various teams make them a joy to deal with. Knowledge and commercial nous are excellent and delivered with a thoughtful client focus that I have found invaluable. ‘

‘My view of Hogan Lovells is that it is an extremely professional legal firm that looks after its clients with great care and attention. ‘

‘Katie Banks – exceptionally insightful and clear sighted, her breadth of knowledge and experience enables her to find solutions to apparently intractable problems. Someone you can trust to help guide you to the best outcome using a combination of creativity, clarity of thought and great stakeholder manager.’

‘Faye Jarvis has a very broad and extensive pensions experience. She always delivers within timescales however tight.

‘Edward Brown – hugely popular with the Trustees, he gives clear, thoughtful advice and is able to cut through the “noise” to identify the heart of an issue and swiftly resolve it. Able to deal with matters swiftly and yet still provide a balance and thoughtful response. Inspires the trust and confidence of the Trustees.’

‘Claire Southern –  From relentlessly reasonable, to tenacious, to being an out and out street fighter when the negotiations required it, her knowledge, commercial savvy and client focus proved absolutely invaluable to the trustees. I cannot recommend Claire highly enough, a top performer in my experience. ‘

‘Linklaters employs people who are technical experts in their field, able to explain complex legal pension matters to a lay audience in simple language’

‘Linklaters’ advice is always well considered, clearly and concisely presented and practical, covering all the points needed to implement their advice.’

‘In our experience it is a dedicated team with a deep level of experience. We have a very large pension scheme and their experience on other large schemes is also invaluable.’

‘Claire Petheram is superb. Probably the best pension legal adviser I have seen in my 20 years in the pensions industry – even though she is on the Trustee “side”! Knows our fund inside out, comes off the fence and gives clear advice, which is never “overlong” or “overwrought” but perfectly to the point and logical. Claire is pragmatic but can also have more informal conversations which I value highly on the Company side.’

‘The Sackers team is a very cohesive group of pension experts each of whom have particular expertise in their specialist fields as well as wide general pensions knowledge. Their technical updates are particularly timely and clear and enable you to engage with them at the right point in time.’

‘Clearly pensions are first and foremost their USP. This is their strength and sole focus, unlike most other legal firms which are multi-discipline and have a pensions practice alongside numerous other departments. ‘

‘The people make Sackers unique – each member of our team is so likeable – we feel like we have known them forever. They are just so great to work with and knowledgeable. Even the thorniest of issues are explained well and in an interesting way.’

‘Janet Brown – down-to-earth, practical, knowledgeable. She fills us with confidence – nothing gets past her. We love her wit and style. She is an absolute gem!’

‘David Saunders has been our longstanding contact within the firm and in addition to the attributes detailed above David also provides broader input and advice based on his own wider experience all of which we find incredibly valuable. David also displays an ability to remain calm and balanced even in the most difficult of circumstances.’

”Absolutely superb – Slaughter and May are the Rolls-Royce in this area as well as in so many others. Exceptional practitioners who work exceptionally hard, and who produce outstanding work product. Thoughtful and thought through advice. No corners are cut. Deep and detailed technical knowledge and experience across the whole spectrum of pensions work.’

‘The team are intelligent, thorough and hard-working. They are able to see both sides of the argument given that they advise both trustees and sponsoring employers of major pensions schemes, as well as their high profile work linked to transactions.’

‘Charles Cameron is the best I have ever worked with. His advice shows deep strategic thinking, a total understanding of pension law. When and how to bring other practices and how to co-ordinate the advice to develop an overall solution.’

‘Sandy Maudgil and Richard Jeens are outstanding. Extremely friendly and approachable, with a knack of making complicated issues understandable.’

‘Dan Schaffer is out there on his own in the pensions’ industry. Very experienced; a truly original thinker, and solution provider.’ 

‘Charles Cameron has market knowledge and a calm and unflustered approach. Very creative. Exceptional technical legal skills. An excellent adviser who slots in seamlessly with the extended team (client and other advisers) and has instant credibility.’

‘Travers Smith is a first class firm. They are responsive, have huge in-depth knowledge of the pensions industry and the Regulator and are always available to offer advice, attend meetings or proactively suggest meetings where their input would benefit the scheme.’

‘As a firm they welcome diversity of thought from across their teams. Straight talking, thoughtful and open. An inclusive approach, empowering LGBT+ leaders.’

‘The team led by Daniel Gerring is cohesive, collaborative and very easy to deal with. The main point for me is that they offer a complete all round top quality pensions service.’

‘I am consistently impressed by Daniel Gerring: he is a first class lawyer and an acknowledged expert in his field. He is also a supremely commercial, pragmatic and strategic adviser and definitely the person you want at your side in negotiations. I can’t rate him highly enough. He is also a great supporter and developer of people and is unstuffy and personable. His team are also quality lawyers and are going from strength to strength.’

‘David James at Travers Smith is extremely knowledgeable but also very personable. He has a great ability to get to the heart of the matter and is able to explain complex legal matters to the lay person in a very understandable way.’

‘Susie Daykin is seriously clever; an excellent negotiator and a trusted member of our team.’

‘ARC have particular strengths in defined contributions pensions matters, and especially authorised master trusts. The team is responsive, pragmatic and down-to-earth in providing solutions to trustees – as well as setting out risks in a clear manner.’

‘Specialist pensions law firm who have built a great team over a relatively short period of time. Partners have wide experience of all pensions matters and have worked on a number of high profile cases in recent years.’

‘Arc Pensions Law has proven to be an excellent firm to deal with in the ever evolving legalities relating to the management of pension schemes.’

‘Anna Copestake – amazing person. Technically superb whilst retaining a sense humour and availability. She is definitely one of the future stars of pensions law ( if not already). ‘

‘Abigail Cohen – showing huge dedication to her job and ability’

‘Rosalind Connor – responsive, down to earth, with an ability to make the complex understandable to trustees.’

‘Anna Rogers has a “can do” attitude and a genuine desire to explore and find solutions – a refreshing contrast to some others in the pension law space. She has a keen eye for detail and is meticulous in execution once a solution has been agreed.

‘They are a fantastic team. Personable, technically excellent, collaborative. We see them more as an ally, who we look to refer work to, rather than a competitor.’

‘Large team with real strength in depth. Technical pensions know-how, industry specific knowledge and across the board expertise means that they are able to offer an excellent service in relation to schemes of any size.’

‘Clive Pugh is simply excellent: he displays a masterful ability to see what a problem is in practice and what the solution might be. He delegates brilliantly. ‘

‘Long established pension team who are technically excellent and provide total confidence to their clients. They work to timescales and always deliver.’

‘Great technical capability combined with excellent commercial understanding.’

‘Clifford Chance have strong attention to detail and protect the interests of their clients well. They look to find a solution as opposed to simply answering the question raised.’

‘Excellent advice and service across the team. Excellent communication within appropriate team members and very responsive. They know how to bring in expertise/specialism when needed.’

‘We have used DLA for over 20 years and they have dealt with all matters that a pension scheme can face. They have always delivered and have a strong and knowledgeable team.’

‘Tamara Calvert – I could not fault her excellent advice, her collaborative approach and leadership’

‘The team at Gowling offer a strong, pragmatic pensions practice, with particular excellence in buy-ins/out on the provider side.’

‘The team is very responsive and proactive, supporting clients through whatever challenges they face. The team work collaboratively with us as trustee and the other advisers.’

‘They have a deep understanding and experience of all pensions matters.’

‘Jason Coates embodies the culture of the team. Invests in developing strong relationships and understanding preferred ways of working to deliver advice to the me as a person as well as the trustee body I represent. ‘

‘The pensions team provides excellent service. They are confident in interpreting and advising on legal aspects of the Trustees’ decision making, rather than merely advising what the law says. This is the standout value maker of Mayer Brown’s pension legal advice that is most appreciated by the Trustees.’

‘Our team at Mayer Brown is professional, approachable, responsive, knowledgeable and provide clearly articulated and pragmatic advice.’

‘Mayer Brown are very much part of the ‘team’ that helps to manage our pension arrangements.’

‘Jay Doraisamy is responsive, pragmatic, proactive and very personable to deal with. Her advice to the trustee is always well delivered and received, thorough in its preparation, and clearly articulated both verbally and in writing. Jay is proactive in bringing new regulatory requirements to my attention to ensure we stay abreast of legislation.’

‘Tremendous strength at partner level for both litigious and advisory work across its UK offices.’

‘Great attention to detail but pragmatic at the same time. Good availability of wider resources within the firm, with specialisms that may be needed from time to time. All exceptional team players who work collaboratively with other advisers – helps run the Board efficiently.’

‘The team are quick to respond to queries and are always helpful and joined up. We have had some significant projects needing advice and that always is clear and comprehensive.’

‘Clifford Sims, Wendy Hunter, Kirsty Bartlett, Philip Sutton and Victoria Leigh are all leaders in their fields.’

‘The experience, professional approach and timely delivery of keenly costed projects makes Stephenson Harwood my go to law firm for complex pension solutions.’

‘They have gone from a class act moderate size firm, to a major player and a heavy hitter. A great deal of in-house knowledge and expertise, bespoke to pensions work.’

‘Stephen Richards is hugely energetic, full of solutions and also very knowledgeable, particularly about mastertrust transfers.’

‘Graham Wrightson is extremely knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with, and he cuts to the chase very effectively’

‘Offer a valued blend of expertise, experience, conviction and approachability.’

‘Catherine McAllister is very diligent, calm, clear, pragmatic and professional’

‘Eleanor Hart –  not only is she incredibly responsive, but she is also proactive. She anticipates her clients’ needs and sees around the corners. I am confident that when working with Eleanor, I am unlikely to be caught by surprise. She is able to be so proactive because she has a deep underlying knowledge of her clients’ pension schemes. I have worked with many firms who are able to address issues when raised, but Eleanor helps solve issues before they become problems in the first place.’

‘Strong insolvency expertise’

‘Fieldfisher’s pensions team is top-notch. The partners are available and flexible, and deliver concise, thoughtful, and pragmatic advice. The team addresses issues with an emphasis on meaningful results. Fieldfisher was one of several firms we worked with on a complex multinational restructuring, and we felt well advised in their hands. They are hard working and a real pleasure to work with‘.

‘They are excellent lawyers, providing great advice, in a speedy manner, and excellent client support. They are particularly good at working as a team in support to each other, us and our common clients – to an extent that demonstrates a clear gap when compared to their peers. They are a pleasure to work with, an excellent team, providing clear, constructive and commercially aware advice – we have no hesitation in recommending them‘.

‘Andrew Patten is exceptional. He has a deep knowledge of pensions policy and case law, is sensible, straightforward, and responsive‘.

‘The advice is very detailed, the legal drafting is very precise and both the partners and associates are extremely competent. They are also very approachable and respond quickly to queries whether by email or phone.’

‘A very strong life insurance team with in depth knowledge on longevity reinsurance, pensions and the wider regulatory framework.’

‘Team balances practicality and thoroughness of advice very well. Examples include referrals for treatment of member cases where the advice was short and practical, while for advice on accrual closure they took the time to make sure the right steps were addressed upfront.’

‘The team are always able to blend pragmatism with detail and to work with others to ensure practical and robust solutions.’

‘We have worked with the pensions team at Norton Rose for many years and have always found them approachable and responsive to our needs. They have provided valuable advice on consolidated trust deeds and rules and scheme closures and mergers.’

‘The individuals I work with provide good advice and do so in a very consultative manner. The firm’s periodic thought pieces and their summaries of new and proposed regulations and laws are also quite informative and timely.

‘Lesley Browning has an excellent understanding of the issues we face and has always provided excellent and timely advice.’

‘Peter Ford and Shane O’Reilly are two very experienced lawyers but over and above that they take the time to get to know people and they are always an absolute pleasure to work with.’

‘Excellent for both advisory and litigious work, and unparalleled experience of how the PPF functions.’

‘The team has an outstanding knowledge of our pension scheme and the marketplace. They really appreciate that, while we have a good in-house team and intelligent clients, we are not experts. They are good at explaining things clearly to us and in a way that we can present to our business clients.’

‘Jonathan Hazlett is a tower of strength, and Paul Matthews is also a go to partner.’

‘ PwC has a unique insight into the corporate activity landscape, informed by its related accountancy, audit, tax, actuarial and HR practice. ‘

‘Oliver Reece has an astonishing ability to keep on top of the detail, without losing sight of the wood for the trees. He is quick, efficient, pragmatic and a great team leader.’

‘PwC’s employment-pensions practice has a quality leadership team that proactively looks for opportunities to add value to its clients. Although it has a significant number of standalone appointments, part of its unique qualities is that it often works in conjunction with PwC’s wider services.’

‘Ashurst have always provided us with a very high quality service.’

‘Team is led by John Gordon, who has over time proved more than capable of dealing with the intricacies of the many varied issues we have asked him and the team to consider.’

‘Chris and his team are very good at providing practical solutions, working with the client to achieve mutually beneficial results.’

‘Smooth collaboration, swift reply and a no-nonsence approach.’

‘The team were accessible and took time to understand the complications of issues and work through solutions in an open and transparent way. They were realistic in their options and were able to deliver great service and a positive end result.’

‘Highly professional and accessible, taking time to explain and de-mystify the complex issues they were dealing with.’

‘Michael M Jones and his colleague Esther White were responsive, friendly and commmunicative.’

‘Michael and Esther are good at identifying the key issues and focusing their advice where it is most effective. They are also commercial and understand the working of their clients’ business, as well as how to get the best out of their interactions with other professional advisers.’

‘The team are proactive and provide a proportionate and pragmatic approach. The people are friendly, keen to help and deliver to timescales. Would recommend the Pensions team to other clients seeking a friendly legal team.’

‘The Collaboration between the legal teams and us was excellent. Our problem felt like it was theirs and you could feel the desire and willingness to resolve the issue.’

‘The London team is very driven to deliver excellent service.’

‘Terry Saeedi and Matthew Ambler have worked around the clock for me. They have done extensive research and fought for me to win. I have complete confidence in them and would recommend them to anyone. Such dedication from solicitors is rare.’

‘Gunnercooke gives direct access to senior lawyers across the board. Their fees are competitive and their responsiveness is excellent.’

‘Gunner Cooke LLP have an innovative format which is largely partner led. It is more akin to a barrister’s chambers than a law firm in some ways.’

‘You know your adviser has chosen to take personal responsibility across all issues. This gives really good continuity and a deep understanding of our circumstances.’

‘Penny Cogher has been proactive, responsive, practical and good at simplifying complicated matters.’

‘A small but high class team whose individuals variously combine exceptional legal skills and knowledge and very wide industry knowledge and engagement. They are dynamic, willing to give proactive advice to clients if they consider that they can assist them’

‘Nothing is too much trouble for them, advice is delivered on time and most importantly, in a way that is understood by the trustees.’

‘The team has in depth knowledge of the pensions industry and is always prompt and responsive when dealing with legal questions.’

‘Taylor Wessing provide very thorough, detailed legal advice and take a forensic approach to their work – piecing together what can sometimes be a long and complicated scheme history. They will put in the hours required to meet challenging client deadlines and take the time to ensure that lay trustees fully understand the legal analysis, options and implications of the decisions they are making.’

‘Mark Taylor is outstanding in his clarity of thought and ability to deliver clear and comprehensive advice and guidance.’

‘Hadassah Shulman – an excellent performancer’

‘There are a number of solid law firms in the UK that we would turn to. However, what makes TLT’s practice different (and therefore our first choice) is the ability to place themselves into the client’s shoes. On an innovation angle, Collaborate is a superb working tool that makes life so much easier, especially when under time pressure!’

‘A firm that provided a quick efficient service at a reasonable price. They are clear and concise with advice and continue to be proactive and helpful. These traits run through the whole team.’

‘The team has a very positive attitude and the ability to analyse very complex problems that enables them to explain matters to the layman. The use of technology during the Covid-19 pandemic has been excellent.’

‘We have a very positive and productive relationship with Shoosmiths. Julian Richards has been an adviser to our trustees for a number of years and is highly thought of by them.’

‘Julian Richards always takes his time and fully explains any issues in a methodical easy to understand way. His friendly approach and direct involvement in conducting business makes the trustees feel at ease and open to raising many questions when dealing with matters that are sometimes very complex in their nature. Julian is always contactable and quickly responds to any issues that arise when he contacted by the trustees or our scheme administrators.

‘Julian Richards is technically proficient and is amazing at cutting through the jargon. He gives reliable, clear, pragmatic advice at a great price – what’s not to like?’

‘We use the pensions team as our go to outsourced pensions specialists. They are incredibly responsive, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.’

‘Martin McFall and Rebecca McKay are fantastic. They are incredibly responsive and provide thorough advice which is always pragmatic and commercial. We value their advice and they are a pleasure to work with’

‘User friendly pensions specialists who give strong directional advice.’

‘Alison Hills is practical, legally strong and with a terrific grasp of the whole picture. The real deal – formidably bright, approachable, clear of expression and not afraid to discuss the possibilities.’

‘Justin McGilloway is excellent, giving very practical advice’