Led by Rachel Uttley, Addleshaw Goddard’s Leeds pensions team continues to stand out for high-value de-risking work, complex scheme advisory mandates, and pensions support on major corporate transactions. The practice is particularly well known for bulk annuity transactions, with further strength in trustee advisory work, funding issues, and pensions matters involving large sponsors and institutional clients. Jade Murray adds notable depth on strategic advisory work and has a well-established profile in the SIPP and SSAS market, while the wider team brings considerable senior experience across both insurer-side and trustee-side matters.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Rachel Uttley is really impressive and underrated - she is a calm presence even in fast-paced transactions. Rachel is always on top of the details and well prepared, which gives us confidence in her and her team. We value Rachel's negotiating style, which is calm, collaborative, and sensible but not shy about dealing with trickier issues head-on. Adam Lees and Rich Williams provide really valued senior support
- Jade Murray is our "go to". It's great to have her on our side. She is straight-talking, clear, and doesn't sit on the fence. She's very able to deliver tough messages in a way that does not offend. Technically extremely good, with a very good "feel" for the issues, for how issues are likely to land with trustees, advisors, and the Pensions Regulator. First class, and I wouldn't use anyone else by choice.
- The team has considerable collective experience, combined with a strong team ethos and good communication within the group. The result is that each individual is capable of acting effectively, but as a group, they work coherently to provide excellent service to clients. They are clear and transparent about fees and communicate well.
- Jade Murray is not only technically good but is straightforward in her advice and pragmatic. She is able to calibrate the risk within decisions very effectively.
- Rachel Uttley is exceptional - with Rachel in your corner, you know that your back is covered. Alex Fricke is a very capable number two to Rachel and strong in her own right.
- Jade Murray, partner, and Richard Williams, managing associate, complement each other and work well together. They both provide the scheme with great service and always enable the Trustee to make informed decisions on legal and regulatory matters.
- The team, as well as being pension experts, is pragmatic and proportionate. They explain complex issues clearly and facilitate decision-making.
Key clients
- Scottish Widows
- McCormick (UK) Limited
- JCB Finance Limited
- Pension Insurance Corporation PLC
- The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC)
- Whitbread plc
- Trustees of the Ibstock Pension Scheme
- Saga Group
- Trustee of the Asda Pension Plan
- Michelin Plc
- Trustee of the AETC pension scheme
- Anglian Water
- Daily Mail & General Trust Plc
- Trustee of the Kellogg GB Pension Fund
- Trustee of the Cambridge University Press Contributory Pension Fund
- Barclays Bank plc
- De Beers Plc
- Element Six group
- Trustee of the Tioxide Pension Fund
- FNZ Group
Work highlights
Advising the Pension Insurance Corporation on the £4.3bn buy-in of the Rolls-Royce UK Pension Fund.
Advising the Trustees of the Shorts Brothers Pension Scheme in connection with the £4.7BN acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Short Brothers, by Boeing.
Advising the trustee of the Riverside Group Pension Scheme on establishing two new DB pension schemes and large bulk transfers of several legacy schemes and cohorts of members out of TPT’s master trust into our trustee’s three DB schemes.
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