Capable of handling pension matters across a range of industries, including auto, logistics and finance, the team at Gowling WLG in Birmingham is led by Elizabeth Gane. The team advises clients across a range of pensions challenges, including advising on schemes, employer-side issues, risk transfers and disputes arising from pensions matters. Gane brings experience in advising on funding issues, benefit change exercises and equalisation. Also in the team are Paul Carberry and Christopher Stiles. Carberry handles matters for trustees and employers across the spectrum of pension matters. Stiles brings a particular focus to risk transfer transactions. Joanne Tibbott adds depth to the team with experience in defined contributions. Ben Goldby contributes to the team with a special focus on end-game planning.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Very knowledgeable, approachable, efficient, and a pleasure to do business with. Good understanding of our business and how we prefer to do things.
- Ben Goldby: Excellent communicator and extremely responsive. Takes time to know people personally and understands how to deliver excellent service and pragmatic solutions. Alison Garton: Great at managing workloads and ensuring we receive things on time. Excellent technical knowledge. Josh Sheppard: Superbly calm individual, great communicator and writes communications in a comprehensive non-legal way for people to understand.
- I find Ben Goldby very pragmatic and clear in his communications, which is hugely valued by the Trustee Board.
- Always provide pragmatic advice that gets to the point quickly, and they don't sit on the fence! Great communication style - clear and focused.
- The practice is unique because, in my experience, no other practice comes near it in terms of its prompt, efficient, and cost-effective attention to any and all pension-related issues that we give them. Led by a very capable team leader, Chris Stiles, the whole pensions team offers a very personable, effective, and efficient service.
Key clients
- Trustee of the TPT Superfund
- Trustees of Ridsdale Pensions and Death Benefit
- Arcadia
- Mahle
- Thales UK Pension Scheme
- Trustee of the Unisys Payment Services Limited Pension Scheme, the Unisys Public Sector Pension Scheme and the Unisys Pension Scheme
Work highlights
Appointed as the sole legal adviser to the Trustee of the TPT Superfund.
Advised the Trustee of the Peel Ports Final Salary Pension Scheme on a buy‑in with PIC.
Acted for the Arcadia pension schemes following the group's insolvency.
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Practice head
Elizabeth Gane
Other key lawyers
Paul Carberry; Christopher Stiles; Joanne Tibbott; Ben Goldby