Burges Salmon LLP offers clients ‘practical advice’ and is skilled at handling problems arising from defined benefit and defined contribution trust schemes. The team, which is led by Richard Knight, focuses on advising trustees on compliance issues and assisting with negotiations. Helen Woodford is a key name within the team and is noted for her expertise in employer funding and internal complaints issues. Kelly Beattie works for a variety of stakeholders and has built a strong track record for representing public sector clients.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Practical advice with short turnaround.’
- ‘Easy to speak to and provides clear comments.’
- ‘A very approachable, client-focused team who are willing and able to discuss issues on all types of pension schemes, including public sector.’
- ‘Well respected. A good all-round team which has many strengths and can pull together resources as needed.’
- 'Richard Knight has managed to provide us an excellent service and to create a team which is pitched just right for our needs.'
- 'The Burges Salmon pensions practice is unique in terms of its size; it is one of the largest pensions practices in the UK and therefore has access to a large number of highly experienced pensions lawyers.'
Key clients
- Trustees of the Honda-Group UK Pension Scheme
- Plumbing Pensions Employers Limited
- Trustees of the CF Fertilisers UK Limited Pension Scheme
- Trustees of the Archaeological Organisations Pension Scheme
- Methodists Ministers’ Pension Scheme and Trustees of the Pension Scheme for Lay Employees of the Methodist Church
Work highlights
Advising on funding negotiations, governance responsibilities, investment management agreements, climate change reports, GMP equalisation, and legal issues related to liability-driven investments and security arrangements.
Advising the trustees of the three UK pension schemes sponsored by CF Fertilisers Limited. Advising the other two trustee boards on future pension planning in addition to assisting on day-to-day pension matters including in relation to scheme governance, cyber security, GMP equalisation and benefit queries.
Advising the trustee of a DB pension scheme with assets of approximately £65m and a charity sector sponsoring employer in connection with potentially invalid deeds stretching over a period of 30 years. Strategic advice has included advising on and drafting documentation to address the issues and limit further liability (in compliance with intricate statutory provisions).
Lawyers
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
Richard Knight
Other key lawyers
Helen Woodford; Kelly Beattie; Sarah Moody; Shannon Wright-Davies