CMS‘ pensions disputes team is noted for its capabilities in Part 7 professional negligence actions, working with some of the most recognisable blue-chip clients. Other areas of speciality include Part 8 actions and contentious matters concerning the Pensions Regulator. Maria Rodia is the head of the practice, while other notable team members include Neil Smith, who regularly acts for actuarial and benefit consultants in professional negligence actions and Part 8 claims, and Tim Green, a Manchester-based practitioner that advises household-name clients on the full gamut of pensions dispute issues. Neal Gibson, who has been involved in some of the most substantial Part 7 and Part 8 claims in the past few decades, is also recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Neil Smith bestrides the pensions legal landscape like a colossus. Tim Green illuminates every point he examines with a Cestrian sparkle. Simon Evans carries you onwards through the ever-flooded waters of increasing pension regulation.'

  • ‘CMS is the biggest and the best. Their collective knowledge and their resources give them the edge over everyone else. They are the pensions powerhouse.’

  • ‘Mark Atkinson is the most knowledgeable pensions solicitor in practice. He combines incisive thinking with an impressive overview. No surprise that the industry has chosen him to lead the charge against the implications of the Virgin Media case.'

  • ‘CMS is unique in the strength and depth of its pensions litigation offering. They don’t run pensions litigation out of a sub-specialised team within a commercial litigation department; they run it out of their pensions department, because that department is so experienced in litigation and so large that they don’t need to delegate or bring in external resources.'

  • ‘You’re spoilt for choice at CMS.'

  • ‘A serious pensions litigation team eminently well suited to the firm's wider commercial client base. The best thing about CMS is how well integrated their pensions team is with the other departments in their firm.’

Key clients

  • Board of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF)
  • Trustee of the University of Manchester Superannuation Scheme
  • Coca-Cola Company Pension and Assurance Scheme (KO UK Pension Trustees Limited)
  • WTW
  • Munro & Miller Fittings Ltd RBS
  • Trustee of the Communisis Pension Plan
  • Aon
  • Board of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF)
  • Trustee of the University of Manchester Superannuation Scheme
  • Coca-Cola Company Pension and Assurance Scheme (KO UK Pension Trustees Limited)
  • WTW
  • Munro & Miller Fittings Ltd RBS

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

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Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

Maria Rodia

Other key lawyers

Neal Gibson; Neil Smith; Tim Greene; Mark Atkinson; Alexandra Tomlinson