Jonathan Hazlett > Osborne Clarke LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Th team at Osborne Clarke LLP advise across the full spectrum of pension matters, and was reappointed to the Pension Protection Fund legal panel in February 2022. It is also renowned for its expertise in risk settlement work for defined benefit schemes. Jonathan Hazlett leads the practice; other key names include Paul Matthews and Brent Wright, who advised the Imperial Tobacco Pension Fund on its £1.8bn bulk purchase annuity pensioner buy-in with Standard Life, and Claire Rankin, who leads the firm’s ongoing advice to the trustees of the Senior plc Pension Plan.

In 2022, Osborne Clarke LLP‘s pensions department received a major boost, with the arrival of the Reading-based pensions team from BDB Pitmans, including former practice heads Chris Netiatis and David Hosford. The group provides a full service to employer and trustee clients, with substantial expertise in corporate restructuring ad insolvency issues, risk settlement and liability management work for defined benefit schemes, as well as a strong offering for public sector pension scheme work. Jonathan Hazlett heads the team from the firm’s offices in Bristol, and is an expert in corporate restructuring and M&A-related pensions work. Other key lawyers in Bristol include Paul Matthews, who has experience in advising on defined benefit scheme closures, as well as master trusts. Brent Wright  is also recommended.

In 2022, Osborne Clarke LLP brought over the pensions team from BDB Pitmans, welcoming pensions disputes lawyers including Chris Netiatis, who is based in the firm’s Reading office. The group represents employers, trustees, members and pensions advisers on the gamut of contentious issues, with a particular strength in professional negligence, rectification and construction applications. The group is led from Bristol by Jonathan Hazlett, who is experienced in internal dispute resolution procedures and references to the pensions ombudsman. Charles Crowne has an active professional negligence practice; and specialist pensions litigator, associate director Katherine King is noted for handling rectification claims and professional negligence actions.