Ian Gordon > Gowling WLG > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Ian Gordon

+44 (0)20 3636 7871 ian.gordon@gowlingwlg.com

Work Department

HRG (human resources group), pensions team.

Position

Ian is a partner in the pensions disputes team within Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co’s human resources group. He specialises exclusively in pensions litigation/dispute resolution, covering the full range of issues and disputes which can arise in the context of occupational pension schemes. This covers Court litigation, complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman, disputes with the Pensions Regulator in relation to its moral-hazard powers, as well as less formal processes such as arbitration, mediation and scheme’s Internal Dispute Resolution Processes. Clients comprise employers (some of which are household names), trustees, individuals representing the interests of the wider membership and professional service firms (for example, actuaries and benefit consultants) which advise employers and trustees. The kind of work Ian does includes High Court proceedings seeking to resolve problems which have been identified with the documentation of the schemes, for example, proceedings to rectify drafting errors in the scheme’s Rules, or applying to Court for declaratory relief or seeking Court approval of a compromise reached with the scheme’s members. In addition, my practice encompasses multi-million pound compensation claims brought as a result of the (alleged) negligence of the scheme’s professional advisers. Professional negligence work is an area in which he has developed particular experience and expertise over the last 10 years. For much of that period, he has had a predominantly defendant-side practice. However, more recently, he has come to specialise more in claimant-side claims, advising employers and trustees of occupational pension schemes. His experience on both sides of the fence enables me to navigate clients through the procedural and strategic/tactical journey to the resolution of compensation claims. Recent report cases in which he has been involved include the High Court cases of: Industrial Acoustics Company Ltd v Crowhurst (Chancery Division: 2012); In the Matter of Sea Containers Ltd (In liquidation) (Chancery Division: 2012); Ian was chosen to act in these cases because of my experience and expertise in the area, my ability to explain complex pension issues to members, and for my reputation for being able to act quickly (the Court had ruled that hearings in two of the cases were to be held as soon as possible) and to provide advice in a cost-effective way.

Career

Called to the Bar 1994; Wragge & Lawrence Graham & Co, partner from 1 May 2014; Beachcroft Stanleys, 1994 – 1997; Simmons & Simmons, associate, 1997-2007; RPC, senior associate, 2007-2011; Wragge & Co, director, 2011-2014; Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, partner, 2014. Publications of note: Numerous articles for pensions and other professional magazines (including ‘Professional Pensions’, ‘Accountancy Age’ and the ‘New Law Journal’).

Languages

English, French and German.

Memberships

Full member of the Association of Pension Lawyers. Sitting on the Litigation Sub-committee of the Association of Pension Lawyers.

Education

Old Swinford Hospital, 1982 – 1989; Christ Church, Oxford, MA Law, Bachelor of Civil Law, 1989 – 1993.

Leisure

Gym, cricket, golf, tennis and (especially) landscape oil painting (doing, not viewing!).