Seen by clients as ‘leaders in pensions claims’, Outer Temple Chambers handles a broad range of pensions work, synchronising with the set’s reputation for employment work. The set had four members – Philip Stear, Patrick Tomison, Nicolas Stallworthy KC, and Andrew Short KC – involved in one of the largest pensions cases of late, Virgin Media Ltd v NTL Pension Trustees II Ltd. Dealing with the wider question of if section 37 of the Pension Schemes Act of 1993 invalidated amendments made without an actuary’s certificate. This year, three of the six counsel involved in the ’massive Part 8 action’ Verity Trustees Ltd v Wood & Save the Children Fund, Re: The Pensions Trust are from Outer Temple: Nicolas Stallworthy KC, Victoria Brown, and Andrew Spink KC. The case, proceedings for a multi-employer scheme with nearly 3,000 employees and £13bn in assets, is the longest submissions-only trial in the area.
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Profile
Work Department
Employment and Discrimination, Commercial and Chancery, Pensions, Professional Negligence
Position
Barrister specialising in Employment and Discrimination, Commercial and Chancery, Pensions, Professional Negligence.
Career
Called to Bar 1990, Gray’s Inn; took silk in 2010.
Andrew Short KC’s practice centres on pensions, employment, and general commercial work.
His “practical” and“realistic” approach together with his“great understanding of the commercial issues in a case” makes his strategic advice and his advocacy highly sought after by his clients, whether they are national or international companies or organisations, public bodies, trustees, trade unions or individuals.
He is able to bring years of experience as a trial lawyer in hostile and contentious claims to bear whenever necessary. He has been recommended for Pensions and for Employment in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for many years.
Andrew has lectured on pensions, discrimination and employment issues and is on the Consultation Board of Practical Law: Pensions.
Memberships
- Association of Pension Lawyers
- Commercial Bar Association
- Employment Lawyers Association
- Employment Law Bar Association
- Financial Services Lawyers Association
- Industrial Law Society
Education
Dartford Grammar School; Bristol University (1989 LLB Hons).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- The clerks are attentive and always on hand to offer suggestions for Counsel. Matt Sale is excellent.
- The clerking for pensions is led by Matt Sale, in parallel with Nicholas Levett and Lexie Johnson - they are quick, responsive and reasonable and entirely approachable and collaborative. They are the easiest of clerks to deal with.
- Outer Temple is a pensions powerhouse. All the barristers in the pensions team are approachable and lovely to work with.
- They are user-friendly, commercial and act collegiately with instructing solicitors, in addition to being super switched on and tech-savvy.
- A go-to Chambers for pensions advice. Strength in depth at all levels for pensions.
- Outer Temple remains one of the best for pensions litigation work.
- Outer Temple's pensions counsel is particularly good - their training programmes are informative and topical.
- One of the two heavyweight sets on pensions. They have built a very successful team over the last decade, with great quality and strength in depth.
- OTC are a great pensions set. They offer a wide variety of counsel, and can suit any needs in any circumstances.