From blue-chip multinational companies and trustees and professional trustees to local authorities and employers, Gowling WLG has a market-leading pensions disputes team. The team is well-versed in professional negligence, lifeboat schemes, PPF issues, and member complaints, having recently expanded their focus into liability-driven and investment-based claims for compensation. Leading the team is Ian Gordon, the Chair of the APL’s Dispute Resolution Sub-Committee and specialist in complex and high-value pensions litigation and regulatory-related matters. Aaron Dunning-Foreman is an expert in claims related to failed or defective liability-driven investment strategies.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Strong ability to communicate responses to complaints in particular very well. Advance warning of fee estimates is part of our everyday practice and well-understood.’
‘Aaron Dunning-Foreman is very approachable and very skilled in cutting to the answer of a difficult issue quickly. Manages business very efficiently.'
‘The team were very experienced and professional. They were proactive and very responsive.’
‘Ian Gordon leads a strong team with complimentary skills.'
'The team at Gowling is extremely professional and hardworking. Always looking for solutions to challenges in as efficiently and practicable manner as possible. Excellent communication and listening skills and an ability to explain technical issues in a comprehensible language is critical.'
'Innovative thinking, hard work and commitment. Always accessible, efficient and effective. Setting high standards for themselves and others. Excellent communication and listening skills. Diligent and patient.'
'Very experienced and professional. They were proactive and very responsive.'
'Aaron Dunning-Foreman is a stand-out for being a clear communicator - explaining options and solutions for lay trustees in a way they can understand.'
'The team works collaboratively with the clients to find a solution which not only satisfies legal requirements, but takes into account broader issues of commerciality and client preferences. They have an experienced team who can put the specific problems the Trustees are facing into the broader context.'
'Great attention to detail, highly knowledgeable, pragmatic, commercial, client focused, very good communicators, excellent internal team management.'
Key clients
- CGI IT UK Limited
- The Pensions Protection Fund
- The Trustees of the Thales UK Pension Scheme
- Croydon Borough Council
- Virgin Media Limited
- Government of Canada
- Vidett (independent trustees)
- Independent Governance Group (independent trustees)
- BESTrustees (independent trustees)
- Zedra (independent trustees)
- PAN Trustees (independent trustees)
- The Trustee of the Arcadia Group Pension Scheme
- Kings College London
- Snap-on Tools Limited
- The Trustees of the Southern Co-Operative Group Limited Pension Scheme
- The Trustees of The Weidmuller UK Group Pension Plan
- Warwick County Council
Work highlights
Acted for the Trustee of the Arcadia Group Pension Scheme in the High Court case to address the disparity between the funding positions of two Arcadia pension schemes after the group's insolvency and to make an effective use of surplus.
Acted on behalf of Virgin Media Limited in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Acted on behalf of the members of the Pennon Group Pension Scheme in a novel Part 8 claim brought by the Trustee of the Scheme.
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.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Ian Gordon
Other key lawyers
Aaron Dunning-Foreman