Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP’s Leeds pensions team is known for its broad expertise across defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, advising trustees and employers in sectors such as the energy, utilities, and rail industries. Gemma Hanley leads the team, focusing on DB schemes. Kate Sheehan, who is dual-qualified in pensions and employment law, advises on complex scheme changes and discrimination issues. Catherine Lonergan has extensive experience in buy-ins, scheme closures, and GMP equalisation issues.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘I have worked with Eversheds Sutherland over many years, and with many individuals, and I have always experienced good service and advice from them. They are knowledgeable on all aspects of pensions law and address issues in a pragmatic way. They are a pleasure to work with.’
‘I currently work with Gemma Hanley on a pension scheme. She has always presented issues in a clear and thorough way, explained the options available (if any), and made appropriate recommendations. She is easy to deal with, and is well liked and respected by the pension scheme trustees I sit alongside.’
‘Very responsive and wide range of skills available at the firm.’
‘Very easy to work with and contact. Gemma Hanley is always available.’
‘My experience of working with Gemma Hanley and team at Eversheds Sutherland is that they have provided a consistently excellent, timely and highly professional level of service.'
‘Gemma Hanley at Eversheds Sutherland has without a doubt been one of the most knowledgeable, professional, kind, gracious and helpful people I’ve ever worked with.'
‘The Team at Eversheds can be relied upon to deliver a service to its clients catering for varying degrees of understanding in a particular subject. Their advice is clear and comprehensible when delivered in a verbal setting or in a written communication.’
‘Honest and credible with advice and information delivered in a very friendly way. Both Kate Sheehan and Gemma Hanley can be found to be very approachable on the most complicated of subjects. Their honest and down to earth approach has been welcomed.’
'The team has developed a good reputation for dealing with pension scheme clients, especially so for Northern based clients such as us.'
'Always available for important matters, whatever time!'
Key clients
- Trustees of the NTL Pension Plan
- Trustees of the Greggs 1978 Retirement & Death Benefit Scheme
Work highlights
Represented the Trustees of the NTL Pension Plan in relation to the Court of Appeal hearing in Virgin Media v NTL.
Advising a client in relation to the National Minimum Wage consequences of the provision of voluntary flexible benefits and salary sacrifice to many thousands of employees.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Gemma Hanley
Other key lawyers
Kate Sheehan; Catherine Lonergan