With a wide pensions practice, Macfarlanes LLP displays strong capabilities in managing pension liabilities, restructurings, and benefit changes. Noted for its strength in risk-transfer transactions, the team works alongside the firm’s insurance specialists on buy-ins, buy-outs, and reinsurance arrangements, advising on de-risking solutions. Jointly led by Faye Jarvis and Andrew Barton, the department benefits from Barton’s expertise on longevity swaps and bulk annuity transactions, in addition to Jarvis’ in-depth knowledge on master trusts and endgame strategies. Other key members include Paul Lawrence and Madison Kaur.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Faye Jarvis is always a pleasure to work with - strong technical knowledge combined with a sensible, commercially focused approach.
- I like Macfarlanes' commercial, pragmatic approach. They have strong technical expertise, but also know which points are worth negotiating.
- Andrew Barton has a wealth of experience that he brings to bear on every transaction, and Madison Kaur is a powerhouse whose attention to detail never fails to impress.
- The team's greatest strength is its technical prowess. The quality of work is always impressive, and the depth and breadth of knowledge are evident in every transaction.
- Faye Jarvis is a superstar. She gets into the weeds and delivers advice clearly and with good humor.
- Faye Jarvis and her team are super-responsive and easy to work with. They are pragmatic and explain technical pension issues in a client-friendly way.
Key clients
- Munich Re Company United Kingdom Life Branch
- Legal & General
- The Trustees of United Airlines, Inc. UK Pension Plan
- Wates Pension Trustee Company Ltd
- Apollo Global Management, Inc
- Fnac Darty
- Spirit Aerosystems Inc
- Legal & General
- Zurich Assurance Ltd
- Long Path Partners
Work highlights
Advised Munich Re on a c. €4bn longevity reinsurance agreement covering Dutch pension liabilities held by Achmea Pension & Life Insurance.
Advised Legal & General on its c. £1.6bn bulk purchase annuity arrangement with the BP Pension Fund.
Advised Zurich Assurance Ltd on the transition of its existing longevity swap with the Trustee of the Skanska Pension Fund to Standard Life, as part of a £525m full scheme buy-in covering all members of the Fund.
Practice head
Andrew Barton; Faye Jarvis
Other key lawyers
Madison Kaur; Paul Lawrence