Based in Bristol, Burges Salmon LLP‘s pensions team has a vast offering covering regulatory work, scheme restructurings, and alternatives to buy outs. Public sector work for central and local governments across the UK and Northern Ireland forms another cornerstone of the practice, with several team members being dual qualified. Team head Richard Knight has extensive experience acting for high-profile pension schemes on restructurings, liability driven investments, and potential closures, while Clive Pugh excels in regulatory and funding matters as well as scheme rescues and managed PPF entries. ’Top-notch pensions lawyer’ Richard Pettit has experience spanning moral hazard investigations, corporate restructurings, and de-risking transactions, with Michael Hayles covering pension projects and LGPS work. Also noted are Alice Honeywill and Susannah Young, together with directors Chris Brown, Crispin Freeman and Kate Granville Smith.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Proactive, personable and top class.’
‘Richard Pettit is excellent, technically superb - never losing sight of pragmatism.’
‘Michael Hayles has a very collaborative approach, is technically excellent and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Great team - one of the largest outside London in terms of strength and depth. Always a pleasure to work with. Good technical knowledge and always an eye for the detail.’
‘Richard Pettit is a top-notch pensions lawyer - on top of the detail and able to ensure that resources are applied where they get the best returns.'
‘Richard Pettit and Suzanne Padmore (plus all supporting teams) have provided a fabulous, dedicated service to a deal with very lengthy and problematic situations.’
‘The pensions team at Burges Salmon provides an all-round excellent service combining technical knowledge, commercial acumen, attention to detail and dedication to the client's objectives.’
‘Suzanne Padmore is a stand-out pensions lawyer with excellent judgement, detailed knowledge of all aspects of pensions law and is a pleasure to work with.'
Key clients
- Honda Group UK Pension Scheme
- AT&T Pension Scheme
- Leonardo Pension Schemes
- Trustees of the C F Fertilisers Pension Schemes
- Trustees of the DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Limited Pension Scheme
- Trustees of three of the four UK DB schemes sponsored by Informa Plc
- Trustees of the London Luton Airport Pension Scheme
- Plumbing Pensions Employers Limited
Work highlights
- Advised the Trustees of the DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Limited Pension Scheme in relation to an application for forfeiture of £5m of benefits of three members of the scheme following their conviction for a £8m fraud against the sponsoring employer.
- Advising the Trustees of the three UK pension schemes sponsored by CF Fertilisers Limited in relation to a restructuring of the sponsoring employer's UK business which has included the permanent shutdown of its Ince plant based in Cheshire and the redundancy of approximately 350 employees.
- Advising the Trustees of two DB pension schemes in relation to a proposal to close the schemes to future benefit accrual, and in relation to a GMP equalisation conversion project, involving an extensive pension increase exchange exercise.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Susannah Young
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Chris Brown
Practice head
Richard Knight
Other key lawyers
Clive Pugh; Richard Pettit; Michael Hayles; Alice Honeywill; Susannah Young; Suzanne Padmore; Chris Brown; Crispin Freeman; Kate Granville Smith