Addleshaw Goddard’s varied practice advises on a wide range of disputes, including those relating to professional negligence, surplus management, restructuring and insolvency, and de-risking, among other areas. The team is regularly instructed by large companies, trustee boards, and pensions professionals, and has wide sector expertise ranging from university schemes to energy and utilities. Leading the team is Susan Garrett who has extensive experience in handling cases spanning pensions ombudsman claims to sex equalisation, scheme documentation and professional negligence. Rachel Uttley is especially active on IDRP and ombudsman claims, with a number of recent cases relating to benefit rectification. Jade Murray utilises her longstanding experience to act for blue-chip pensions trustees; Murray also leads the firm’s the SIPPs and pension products team. Other key names include Alexandra Seabridge, who has expertise across construction of pension documents, rectifications, and professional negligence claims. Clare Dwyer has since left the firm.
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Testimonials
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- 'Excellent teamwork. Strength in depth. 100% commitment to the client’s cause - really going the extra mile to achieve a result the client wants.'
Key clients
- Co-operative Group Limited
- Trustees of the BT Rolatruc Limited Staff Life Assurance and Pension Scheme
- Trustee of the Asda Group Pension Scheme
- Daily Mail & General Trust Plc
- Britvic plc
- Trustee of the Short Brothers Pension Scheme
- Pension Insurance Corporation
- Trustees of the Ibstock Pension Scheme
- CMG Pension Trustees Limited
- Communis Plc and parent group OSG
Work highlights
Acted for CMG Pension Trustees Limited in two sets of Court proceedings concerning the CMG UK Pension Scheme and follow on Court of Appeal proceedings in an appeal brought by the Pensions Ombudsman. The first, which concluded in April 2021, concerned the rectification of the definition of pensionable salary under the Scheme. Rectification was granted. The second involved the Trustee seeking declarations from the Court on the forfeiture provisions of the Scheme, and how that impacts on the administration of the Scheme. The judgment was handed down in August 2022 and has been subject to significant commentary since.
Acting in a matter concerning significant preference; transaction at an undervalue; an account of profits and/or return of properties claims made against the client. A key element of the claim is about the reorganisation of pension scheme liabilities which had a section 75 deficit of more than £300m and a flexible apportionment agreement.
Acted for an employer and trustees of a pension scheme in a professional negligence claim against their former advisor. The claim alleged numerous errors in the advice and documents drafted around equalisation of benefits resulting in the significant increase of the Scheme's liabilities. The case settled on confidential terms following disclosure, witness and expert evidence, and shortly before the trial was scheduled to take place.
Lawyers
Practice head
Susan Garrett
Other key lawyers
Rachel Uttley; Jade Murray; Catherine McAllister; Alexandra Seabridge; Catherine Radcliffe; Jonathan Stewart; Andrew Steer; Leanne Oddy; Alexandra Fricke