Charles Cameron > Slaughter and May > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Acting for trustees, sponsors, and insurers, Slaughter and May‘s ‘very knowledgeable and pragmatic’ team has a strong track record in handling a broad range of pension work, which encompasses derisking transactions, funding structures, mergers, and board issues. The practice also stands out for advising employers in the energy and utilities sectors, and handling advisory work arising from scheme overfunding and cyber security incidents. Charles Cameron leads the practice and has particular experience in advisory and transactional matters within the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Daniel Schaffer, who is praised as a ‘problem solver’ with ‘high levels of commercial awareness and credibility’, handles a combination of contentious and non-contentious issues including redesigns, funding and covenant matters, and restructurings, while Chris Sharpe focuses on collective defined contribution schemes and de-risking deals. Isobel Carruthers is another key contact.

The offering at Slaughter and May is singled out for fielding the ‘top echelon of lawyers in the industry’. A portion of its recent work has involved advising renowned companies on the design, drafting and implementation of deferred bonus and long-term incentive plans; the group has also advised on the regulatory aspects of multi-jurisdictional financial matters, and complex incentives issues which result from international transactions. Highly experienced practitioner Philip Linnard heads up the team, which sits as part of the broader pensions, employment and incentives group, which Charles Cameron oversees. Ian Brown has specialist knowledge of executive compensation and share incentives, which he implements on transactional work. Rosemary Nelson has transactional and advisory capabilities, while newly promoted partner Philippa O’Malley is noted for her ‘technical skill’. Padraig Cronin retired in 2023.

Notably acting for clients such as the Railways Pension Trustee Company Limited and for a trustee of the BBC Pension Scheme, Slaughter and May’s team acts for a number of high-profile trustees and employers. Part 8 proceedings and regulatory investigations make up core areas of expertise, along with Pension Ombudsman, benefits disputes, and professional negligence claims. The practice is led by the ‘excellent’ Richard Jeens who has substantial expertise spanning investigations and issues relating to structuring and transactions. Daniel Schaffer is praised for his combination of being ‘technically brilliant, razor sharp, and a great tactician’. Charles Cameron is another key name, as is Chris Sharpe who is particularly experienced on pensions aspects of complex M&A transactions and restructurings. Isobel Carruthers and Rachel Hunter are key figures within the team, and Sandeep Maudgil retired in April 2023.