The Manchester-based practice at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is ‘strongly recommended for its exceptional expertise in pensions law’. The team is well-placed to assist its portfolio of clients, which is formed of employers, pension schemes, insurers and public authorities, with the full remit of domestic and international pensions issues. Team lead Ele Lovering’s workload includes providing strategic advice to trustees and employers, and handling pensions issues arising from corporate restructurings, scheme mergers and scheme funding solutions. Simon Daniel‘s is well equipped to advise on pensions bulk annuity transactions, while recently promoted partner Amanda Small assists with defined benefit and defined contributions matters. Helen May assists sector-spanning clients on DB and hybrid arrangements.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘We strongly recommend Eversheds for their exceptional expertise in pension law. What sets this practice apart is its combination of deep specialist knowledge and access to a global network of experts, ensuring there is seamless advice on the most complex matters. The key strengths are the technical knowledge, responsiveness and ability to provide clear, pragmatic solutions tailored to our needs.'

  • 'Eversheds stands out for how they have taken time to truly understand our needs and the clear way they deliver their advice.’

  • ‘The individuals we work with at Eversheds truly set themselves apart from competitors through their personal approach and genuine commitment to our needs. They don't just provide legal advice - they take the time to understand our specific challenges and always act in our best interests. The level of care and dedication makes them feel like an extension of our own team.'

  • ‘Helen May is our key contact and is excellent at providing the support we need when we need it.’

  • ‘The team at Eversheds Sutherland Manchester (UK) office provide a personalised boutique experience, but with the breadth of extensive resources that a global firm provides. They are extremely prompt with communications, and proactive in providing advice when there have been changes within the legal landscape.'

  • ‘Amanda Small and the team have worked together exceedingly well to provide a consistent delivery of legal advice. They have provided timely advice, been dependable and logical in their application of case law to individual member circumstances, and have provided excellent guidance through a scenario not previously experienced by the Trustees. It has been an absolute pleasure working with them.’

  • ‘Ele Lovering provides great insight and offers pragmatic solutions to complex and seemingly intractable issues.’

  • ‘Ele Lovering is pragmatic and approachable. She understands our pressures and is always willing to chip in as needed. Helen May is very bright, organised, and is always cool and measured even when things get difficult. Lauren O'Connor has a very clear, concise way of expressing things, and is balanced and personable.’

  • 'Lauren O'Connor has a very clear, concise way of expressing things, as well as being balanced and personable.'

  • 'The team has strength in depth, with a strong partner-led overview and good quality managing associate and associate provision in the rest of the team. Simply put, we keep using them as we see them as good value and they keep delivering.'

Key clients

  • Macmillan Cancer Support Pension Scheme
  • ABB Limited Pension Scheme
  • BOC Retirement Benefits Scheme
  • Carlsberg UK Limited Pension Scheme
  • Cooperative Group pension schemes
  • Electricity North West Limited
  • INEOS pension schemes
  • KCOM pension schemes
  • Kellanova
  • The People’s Pension Scheme

Work highlights

Advised a pension scheme in relation to a scheme change project and the exit of one of the employers, the Regulator of Social Housing.
Advised a pension fund on a £200m bulk purchase annuity scheme buy-in with Aviva.
Advised the trustees of a pension scheme and the Skipton Building Society (2015) Group Pension Scheme in relation to buy-ins of their liabilities, which included specific arrangements to allow for illiquid assets.

Lawyers

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Practice head

Ele Lovering

Other key lawyers

Helen May; Amanda Small; Lauren O'Connor; Simon Daniel; Sarah Lown