With a cross-practice ability across private wealth, contentious trusts, regulatory, and pensions advisory matters, Stephenson Harwood‘s team advises on a mix of high-profile and complex disputes. Other areas of expertise for the team include FCA investigations, Pensions Regulator issues, professional negligence claims, complex construction and rectification proceedings. Practice head Helena Berman is a veteran litigator on representative beneficiary cases for household-name clients. Other standout team members include Jenny McKeown, a specialist in acting for insurers and UK law firms in professional negligence claims, interpretation/construction and rectification applications, and managing multi-party claims. Chris Edwards-Earl acts on a range of rectification and construction cases, public sector schemes, and professional negligence proceedings. Maria Chami is also recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team has deep expertise and also is able to identify specific subject-matter experts to assist with the dispute resolution process. Their technical ability is the most important aspect.’
'The team are responsive to client needs and are able to simplify legal concepts, so a trustee board can understand the complexities of a dispute.'
‘The team brings genuine expertise and experience across the full range of pensions disputes - is efficient - competitive on price and totally focused on delivering a result for the client.’
‘Helena Berman brings a wealth of litigation experience to the team as well as an incredible level of energy and tenacity - she combines technical pensions wizardry with sensible pragmatism.’
‘Chris Edwards-Earl is a great litigation lawyer. He is practical and innovative with a understanding of both the commercial imperatives and the technical legal points.’
'Jenny McKeown is a gifted litigator, who uses her pensions expertise and experience to achieve fantastic outcomes for her clients. She is a leader in her area.'
Key clients
- Chris Burns (as Rep Ben of the BBC pension scheme)
- BP Pensioner Group
- Renishaw plc
- Northumbrian Water Limited
Work highlights
Advised and successfully won judgment for the Representative Beneficiary of the BBC Pension Scheme in proceedings which would determine the scope of the Scheme's amendment power and whether significant amendments to benefits can be made going forwards.
Act for NWL in a complicated dispute, with tens of millions of pounds in question, to establish the proper operation of pension increase provisions, which in this case are linked to the funding position of the Scheme.
Advise the Steering Group (representing hundreds of members of the BP Pension Scheme) in relation to actions taken by the Scheme Trustee (BP Pension Trustees Limited) and BP, notwithstanding the high level of inflation, costing individual members of the Scheme thousands of pounds each per annum.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Helena Berman
Other key lawyers
Jenny McKeown; Chris Edwards-Earl; Maria Chami