Leveraging their regional footprint across London, Leeds, and Manchester, the Addleshaw Goddard pensions disputes team acts for blue-chip corporates, trustee boards, and pensions professionals. The practice often handles specialist litigation stemming from SIPPs, SSAS, and pension products, pensions liberation and fraud matters, master trusts and independent trustee work, professional services partnerships, and data breaches. Rachel Uttley, the Leeds-based practice head, is a specialist in IDRP and Pension Ombudsman claims. Other standout practitioners include Catherine McAllister and Alexandra Seabridge.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A good team with great resources that can be deployed in the biggest set piece litigation or tailored for niche Part 8 work. Will have a big presence in pensions litigation in the next few years.’

  • ‘Alex Seabridge is marvellous. Great at marshalling forces and bringing pressure to bear in just the right places. Always considering the best next step. She will always make a difference.’

  • ‘The pensions dispute resolution team at Addleshaw Goddard is a standout in every way, from their technical knowledge to their commercial nous. A dream to work with. They deal with the full range of pensions disputes, and tailor their approach to individual clients.'

  • ‘Catherine McAllister has technical knowledge which is second-to-none - you want her on your side.'

  • ‘Alexandra Seabridge is fantastic. She is strategically brilliant, forensic in her approach, and a delight to work with.'

Key clients

  • Co-operative Group Limited
  • Trustees of the BT Rolatruc Limited Staff Life Assurance and Pension Scheme
  • Trustee of the AETC pension scheme
  • Anglian Water
  • Trustee of the Asda Group Pension Scheme
  • Atalian Servest Limited
  • Barclays Bank Plc
  • Boortmalt UK Limited
  • British Airways
  • Britvic Plc
  • Trustees of the CADCentre Limited Pension Scheme
  • Trustee of the Cambridge University Press Contributory Pension Fund
  • Credit Trustee of the Credit Agricole CIB Legacy Pension Scheme
  • Daily Mail & General Trust Plc
  • De Beers Plc
  • Trustees of the Delbanco Meyer & Company Retirement Benefits Scheme
  • Element Six group
  • FNZ Group
  • Hachette UK Limited
  • Hoare Lea LLP

Work highlights

Defending complex claims for over £450m for the Co-op Group, which involves the treatment and valuation of pension liabilities in corporate transactions.
Acted on the Manolete Court of Appeal case, which is a high-profile case for SIPP & SSAS clients as it confirms third-party judgment creditors cannot enforce judgment debts against occupational pension fund.
Acting for a leading food manufacturer in intended proceedings about a variety of complex matters including (a) NRD issues pursuing arguments about extrinsic contractual amendments and validity of amendments; (b) rectification of pension increase provisions; (c) the interpretation of an original forfeiture provision and the validity of the amendment made to it.

Practice head

Rachel Uttley

Other key lawyers

Catherine McAllister; Alexandra Seabridge; Clare Dwyer; Paul Chaplin