CMS regularly advises on annuity and pension risk transfer transactions, transactional insurance matters, and provides regulatory advice to several notable clients. The team is jointly steered by both Pippa Tasker and Owen Ross. Tasker is ‘sharp and efficient’ when advising tech-finance businesses on their insurance transactions. Ross has notable experience advising on complex acquisitions, divestments, and partnership arrangements. James Parker has a niche in pension buy-ins and buy-outs, derivative solutions, and longevity insurance, and works with high-profile insurers and reinsurers. Fiona Cassidy advises insurers, service providers, and intermediaries on a broad range of matters within the insurance market.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Love working with Pippa, she is sharp and efficient, dedicated, and cares about her clients.'
  • 'We get great support from Sarah Brook, Paul Edmondson, and Ed Foss.'
  • 'CMS has several teams that are well placed to support financial services businesses. They can bring in relevant experts from different teams that work well together and are very upfront about if they are best placed to advise.'
  • 'If you are looking for experience of having advised on the structure that you are likely to want to execute with, the CMS team has either advised on exactly that structure before or - if it is truly new - something similar to it.'
  • 'Three key attributes make several of the individuals stand out in the CMS team: - highly relevant experience or easy access to it within their team - clear communicators of complex concepts - willingness to work hard and be available.'

Key clients

  • Phoenix Group
  • Rothesay Life
  • Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC)
  • International Passenger Protected Limited (IPP)
  • Just Group
  • Clara
  • QBE
  • MetLife
  • Unum
  • Generalli
  • Legal and General
  • Rothesay

Work highlights

Advised Phoenix Group on its agreement with Schroders to form Future Growth Capital, the first private market investment manager to be established in the UK to promote the objectives of the Mansion House Compact.
Advised Rothesay on the acquisition of a £6bn bulk annuity portfolio from Scottish Widows, a member of the Lloyds Banking Group.
Advising Clara-Pensions, the member-first consolidator for defined benefit pension schemes, and the Trustees of the Debenhams Retirement Scheme on a de-risking agreement on the UK’s second-ever superfund transaction.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Next Generation Partners

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

Practice head

Owen Ross; Pippa Tasker

Other key lawyers

Sarah Brook; Paul Edmondson; Ed Foss; James Parker; Fiona Cassidy