Mr Keith Webster > CMS > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Boasting ‘first-class knowledge and resources’, the team at CMS has a strong track record in major Part 7 professional negligence claims and complex Part 8 claims. Maria Rodia leads the team, with the ‘fantastic’ Neil Smith being a key port of call for actuarial and benefit consultants in professional negligence disputes; Neal Gibson brings additional experience in these areas. Manchester’s Tim Green handles a range of equalisation cases, Beddoe relief, and cross-border enforcements. TPR investigations are a core area of expertise for Keith Webster. Other key names include Mark Atkinson, who is commended as ‘one of the most knowledgeable and astute pensions lawyers in practice’, Simon Pilcher who is an expert in covenant support, scheme mergers, and asset backed funding, and Johanna Clarke who is particularly adept at assisting with DC master trusts. Alexandra Tomlinson, Simon Evans, and Kayleigh Garforth are also integral team members, and Mark Grant  retired.

With a strong track record handling benefit redesigns, scheme closures, and liability reductions together with de-risking transactions, the broad team at CMS advises on an array of pensions matters. Practice head Maria Rodia has substantial experience in de-risking matters, acting for insurers and reinsurers, and advising energy sector clients. Mark Atkinson is active in a multitude of structural issues including buy-ins, buy-outs and PPF entries, while Keith Webster and Johanna Clarke are especially knowledgeable of defined benefit schemes and DC master trusts. Also key are Caroline Kurup, who is noted for advising a number of large master trusts and well-known brands, and ‘superb negotiator’ Mark Jenkins, who focuses on insolvency and restructuring mandates including apportionment arrangements and CVAs.