Handling a mix of member complaints, disputes before the Ombudsman, High Court litigations, regulatory investigations, Determinations Panel proceedings, and scheme rectifications, Mayer Brown International LLP‘s team advises on the full range of contentious pensions matters for some of the UK’s largest occupational schemes. The team operates a cross-disciplinary approach, frequently handling insolvency-related disputes, surplus distribution issues, and more. Leading the team is Andrew Block, a pensions specialist who combines advisory and transactional know-how and expertise in advising employers on contentious matters to assist clients. Stuart Pickford is also recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Mayer Brown have a range of expertise in this field and consult internally and involve others in the team depending on the nature of the dispute and complainant.'

  • ‘Stuart Pickford is a key member of the team who works diligently and extremely effectively with us to establish the full facts and then proposes a strategy for resolution based within the legal framework, but with always with clear understanding of our desired outcome.'

  • 'Mayer Brown’s Pensions dispute resolution practice is remarkable for the diversity of pensions litigation experience which it can draw upon.'

  • 'I have been hugely impressed by Andrew Block, who tests each element of the case with intellectual rigour and isn’t afraid of challenge. He is bright, thoughtful, and steady under fire.'

Key clients

  • Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund Trustees Limited
  • Reed Elsevier Pensions Trustees Limited
  • Massey Ferguson Works Pension Trust Limited
  • Kingfisher Pension Trustee Limited
  • Santander (UK) Group Pension Scheme Trustees Limited
  • JMEPS Trustees Limited

Work highlights

Represented trustees in a dispute concerning their rights under an intercreditor agreement.
Advised on an investigation being conducted by the Pensions Regulator regarding the potential exercise of its statutory moral hazard powers against various potential targets in a complicated group structure, following the insolvency of the sponsor of the group's occupational pension scheme.
Advised trustees on the successful disposal of what appeared to be a coordinated campaign by former members, with the matter resolved on an expedited basis to avoid affecting the timescale for the proposed buy-out and winding-up of the scheme.

Practice head

Andrew Block

Other key lawyers

Stuart Pickford