Addleshaw Goddard’s Leeds-based pensions team is noted for its size and depth of experience, with a number of senior lawyers handling a broad mix of advisory and transactional work. The team is led by Rachel Uttley and Jade Murray, who advise on de-risking issues, scheme wind-ups, and regulatory matters. The team also has expertise in the SIPP and SSAS space, with Murray acting for providers and platforms. Richard Shelton and Jonathan Stewart play a key role in delivering complex transactional support and advising on scheme governance and pensions disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The pensions team is very strong. Both technically very good but also pragmatic and able to direct the client to what is important.’
‘Jade Murray - outstanding. Very thorough, understands the client perspective and ensures focus on what matters. Rachel Uttley - very thorough and strong technically.'
‘A relationship based service, focused on outcomes, clear advice and guidance and always deliver high quality and actionable advice.’
‘Rachel Uttley - a fantastic lawyer and trusted adviser. Can deal with complexity and provide clear, rationale and actionable advice.’
‘Breadth of knowledge, depth of resources, commercial understanding.’
‘Ultimately quality people are what drives our decision making when selecting legal advisers.’
‘Extremely knowledgeable but also commercial and pragmatic. Jade Murray is exceptional.’
‘The ability to combine strong black letter law knowledge, excellent attention to detail and in-depth knowledge of the insurance market to produce succinct, pragmatic advice.’
'The whole team are very detailed in their approach and we totally trust that they will have thought of and captured everything. Although the work is clearly very detailed, they are then able to succinctly summarise their advice in a form that is easy to read and understand.'
'Excellent advisers and able to explain things without any jargon; very collaborative. Excellent pensions knowledge, and able to advise on a range of matters.'
Key clients
- McCormick (UK) Limited
- JCB Finance Limited
- Pension Insurance Corporation PLC
- The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC)
- Trustees of the Joseph Holt Staff Pension Scheme
- Trustees of the Ibstock Pension Scheme
- Trustee of the Asda Group Pension Scheme
- Saga Group
- Trustee of the Asda Pension Plan
- Michelin Plc
- Trustee of the AETC pension scheme
- Anglian Water
- Britvic Plc
- Trustee of the Cambridge University Press Contributory Pension Fund
- De Beers Plc
- Element Six group
- FNZ Group
- Hachette UK Limited
- Rathbones
- Vaillant group
Work highlights
Advising Coventry Building Society on the pensions aspects of its c.£800m acquisition of The Co-operative Bank.
Advising Pensions Insurance Corporation on the pensions, finance and reinsurance issues arising from its £1.2bn buy-in transaction with the Total UK Pension Scheme.
Advising the SAGA Group on a series of strategic corporate transactions and joint ventures and a complete refinancing of its corporate debt.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Rachel Uttley
Other key lawyers
Jade Murray; Richard Shelton; Jonathan Stewart