Clive Pugh > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Based in Bristol, Burges Salmon LLP‘s pensions team has a vast offering covering regulatory work, scheme restructurings, and alternatives to buy outs. Public sector work for central and local governments across the UK and Northern Ireland forms another cornerstone of the practice, with several team members being dual qualified. Team head Richard Knight has extensive experience acting for high-profile pension schemes on restructurings, liability driven investments, and potential closures, while Clive Pugh excels in regulatory and funding matters as well as scheme rescues and managed PPF entries. ‘Top-notch pensions lawyer’ Richard Pettit has experience spanning moral hazard investigations, corporate restructurings, and de-risking transactions, with Michael Hayles covering pension projects and LGPS work. Also noted are Alice Honeywill and Susannah Young, together with directors Chris Brown, Crispin Freeman and Kate Granville Smith.

With a diverse roster of clients spanning large clearing banks, alternative lenders, regulators, and corporates, Burges Salmon LLP‘s corporate restructuring and insolvency team is well equipped to advise on national and international administrations, enforcements, and the related transactions. Andrew Eaton heads up the team and has substantial experience in cross-border distressed situations. Colin Ligman is particularly experienced in distressed real estate work, with James Sutherland specialising in real estate and insolvency disputes. Clive Pugh is well versed in pension-related issues, drawing on former experience at the pensions regulator, while Emily Scaife and Nick Middleton are other integral team members.

Operating from its offices in London, Bristol and Edinburgh, Burges Salmon LLP has a particularly strong reputation for handling high-profile pensions regulatory work. The team is led by Richard Knight, who splits his time between Bristol and London, and is a long time adviser to major pension scheme clients. Clive Pugh is an expert in pensions regulatory and funding matters, clearance issues and alternatives to buy outs, while Richard Pettit assists with complex issues concerning systemic errors in pension scheme documentation. Michael Hayles is a key contact for public sector work, and Alice Honeywill has a particular focus on large projects, encompassing mergers, corporate restructurings, buy-ins and buy-outs. High-profile client work is also conducted by Susannah Young, while Chris Brown and Crispin Freeman are also key contacts.