Possessing a ‘strong team at all levels’, Brodies LLP support clients through a wide range of pensions mandates, including reviewing scheme provisions, buy-ins and buy-outs, as well as pensions support on corporate transactions. Practice chief Juliet Bayne holds a strong book of work for both public and private sector pension schemes. Areas of expertise for Jennifer Crawford include defined benefit scheme mergers and advising on employer proposals to change pension arrangements. Alistair Hill bolsters the practice’s education sector pensions offering.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Great understanding of the client, advice is tailored to meet specific needs. In particular, the team demonstrates pragmatism, which has helped move projects along quickly and efficiently.
- Juliet Bayne is extremely personable, flexible with advice, and responsive.
- Juliet Bayne is outstanding in her field. She takes a holistic approach to advice, always taking time at the outset to fully understand the big picture and work out how she and her team can best support and add value, not just solve the problem or answer the query at hand. Maureen Burns is an expert in GMP equalization and has supported one of my schemes on this, taking a pragmatic and proportionate approach which was very welcome. The team benefits from the energy and expertise of Jen Crawford, and Alistair Hill is a fount of all knowledge in pensions law. Ellie McWilliams has been supporting one of my schemes recently with a buy-out and wind-up and has been exceptional in her advice and proactivity.
- The Brodies pensions team is strong, with a good mix of long-standing lawyers with many years of expertise and junior team members to provide great support to team members and clients. The team is flexible, reliable, and a pleasure to work with.
- Consistent staffing with a high degree of specialist knowledge of pension law, particularly as it applies to DB schemes.
- Juliet Bayne and Jennifer Crawford are extremely approachable and very good at explaining issues and recommendations clearly, without using legalistic language.
- Exude professional expertise and experience. Very personable and responsive. Able to operate with pace without diminution of quality of service.
- Outstanding responsiveness. Professional expertise at the very highest level. Commercial and pragmatic advice within the constraints of professional standards required. Flexible with the ability to 'think outside the box'. Imparts confidence that you are being well-advised.
- The team was always fully prepared, responded quickly, and provided excellent legal advice throughout a very long, complex, and high-profile project.
Key clients
- Trustee of the Menzies Pension Fund
- Berry UK Pension Trustees Limited
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
- Trustees of the Fane Valley Pension Scheme
- Trustees of the Aon McMillen Retirement Benefits Scheme
- Trustees of the University of Glasgow Pension Scheme
- Trustees of the James Walker (Leith) Limited Retirement Benefits Scheme
- Trustees of the Scotia Gas Networks Pension Scheme
- North East Scotland Pension Fund
- Chivas Group
Work highlights
Advised the Trustees of the Scotia Gas Networks Pension Scheme on the closure of the scheme’s defined benefit section to future accrual of benefits, including comprehensive advice covering all aspects of the closure process.
Advised the Trustees of the James Walker (Leith) Limited Retirement Benefits Scheme on converting a buy-in with Just Group to buy-out and preparing the scheme for wind-up.
Advised the Trustees of the Aon McMillen Limited Retirement Benefits Scheme, whose sponsoring employer is part of the global Aon group, on a merger into the Aon Retirement Plan.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Juliet Bayne
Other key lawyers
Jennifer Crawford; Alistair Hill