Julian Richards > Shoosmiths LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Shoosmiths LLP
No 1 Bow Churchyard
LONDON
EC4 9DQ
England

Work Department

Pensions, Partner

Position

Julian advises on all aspects of occupational pension schemes, including scheme organisation, restructuring and dispute resolution. Most recently he has advised extensively on pension scheme mergers following employer restructuring.
He specialises in advising on managing section 75 debt on employer cessation events and has been particularly involved in advising trustees and employers on modifying debt and re-assigning scheme liabilities through both scheme and flexible apportionment arrangements.

Julian is skilled at liaising with scheme administrators, consultants, actuaries and insurers during merger and de-risking projects and has extensive experience in advising on, and drafting, the necessary documentation. He acts for trustees and employers on pension litigation matters including equalisation, rectification, and professional negligence. He is experienced in managing the litigation process through to compromise settlement and court hearing.

Julian acts for a number of trustee boards of schemes provide by trade unions for their employees. His background as a trade union pensions officer prior to becoming a solicitor gives him a unique understanding of the particular issues faced by trustees of trade union sponsored schemes.

Lawyer Rankings

North West > Employment > Employment

Boasting an impressive twelve months of both senior and junior hires, JMW Solicitors LLP has a strong bench of practitioners to advise on a wide range of employment matters, with particular specialism in the recruitment and hospitality sectors. Alongside a growing volume of litigation work, particularly whistleblowing claims, the group has an impressive track record in matters pertaining to regulatory compliance, business restructurings and reorganisations, and pensions. Team head Paul Chamberlain has an astute understanding of worker’s rights and regulations, guiding companies through pay and holiday requirements and labour abuses, while Simon Bloch‘s knowledge of the recruitment sector is nationally recognised, and he regularly advising on Agency Worker’s Regulations and restrictive covenant disputes. Marcus Difelice is chiefly noted for his impressive Employment Tribunal work. In 2022, partners Julian Richards and Ikram Malik joined the practice from Shoosmiths LLP and Aaron & Partners LLP respectively.