Michael Hayles > Burges Salmon LLP > Bristol, England > Lawyer Profile

Burges Salmon LLP
ONE GLASS WHARF
BRISTOL
BS2 0ZX
England

Living Wage

Work Department

Pensions.

Position

Pensions partner advising trustees and employers in respect of all aspects of defined benefit, defined contribution and hybrid schemes, heading up the team’s bulk annuity work (including through the streamlined buy-in proposition with Willis Towers Watson). Michael also leads on the firm’s public sector pensions work including acting for Local Government Pension Scheme funds and employers, central government clients, Transport for Wales and other rail sector clients. Recent projects Michael has led on include consolidating £1bn+ liabilities within the Local Government Pension Scheme, acting for an employer on a large transfer into The Pensions Trust, and a large number of buy-in transactions.

Career

Trained at DLA Piper, qualified 2003, Eversheds (2003 – 2005), joined Burges Salmon LLP in 2005, partner from May 2012.

Memberships

Association of Pension Lawyers (of the APL Public Sector Sub-Committee member), International Pension and Employee Benefits Law Association (IPEBLA)

Education

Attended University of Southampton (2000 LLB Hons).

Leisure

Football, running and music.

Lawyer Rankings

South West > Employment > Pensions

The Bristol-based pensions team at Burges Salmon LLP regularly handles scheme mergers, complex regulatory work, buy-ins and buy-outs, as well as an increasing amount of public sector work; testament to this, the firm was recently re-appointed to the National Local Government Pension Scheme. Practice chair Richard Knight regularly handles high-profile matters such as providing urgent legal advice concerning the LDI crisis to the the trustees of high-profile pension schemes.  Clive Pugh‘s expertise extends to scheme rescue and managed PPF entry, while the ‘excellent, thoughtful and collaborative’ Michael Hayles is a key contact at the firm for public sector work. Richard Pettit, Alice Honeywill, Susannah Young and Chris Brown further extend the firm’s pensions expertise.

London > Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)

Burges Salmon LLP is able to offer its clients non-contentious pensions advice from its offices in London, Bristol, and Edinburgh, with Richard Knight leading the practice from Bristol. The team is particularly commended for its work on public sector matters, having recently worked on the National Local Government Pension Scheme Framework for Legal Service, on which Michael Hayles is a key contact. Clive Pugh is a name to note for scheme rescues and managed PPF entries, whilst the ‘pragmatic and sensible’ Richard Pettit is particularly adept at assisting clients with international pensions issues. Alice Honeywill and Susannah Young are also noteworthy team members, with Honeywill focusing on larger pensions projects within mergers, corporate restructurings, buy-ins and buy-outs. Associates Chris Brown and Crispin Freeman are also recommended.