With a strong track record handling benefit redesigns, scheme closures, and liability reductions together with de-risking transactions, the broad team at CMS advises on an array of pensions matters. Practice head Maria Rodia has substantial experience in de-risking matters, acting for insurers and reinsurers, and advising energy sector clients. Mark Atkinson is active in a multitude of structural issues including buy-ins, buy-outs and PPF entries, while Keith Webster and Johanna Clarke are especially knowledgeable of defined benefit schemes and DC master trusts. Also key are Caroline Kurup, who is noted for advising a number of large master trusts and well-known brands, and ‘superb negotiator’ Mark Jenkins, who focuses on insolvency and restructuring mandates including apportionment arrangements and CVAs.

Praised for its ‘very strong knowledge of the pensions sector’, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is experienced across the full gamut of pensions matters, acting for large employers, pension schemes, and insurers. Operating nationally and internationally with experience extending to the cyber and GDPR aspects of pensions work, the team is co-led by Francois Barker, who has a wealth of experience advising major schemes, and Jeremy Goodwin, who is highly rated for his pensions work and is active in ESG-related mandates. For quality and risk issues, Sarah Swift is a key port of call, and Mark Latimour is regularly approached for his extensive expertise on de-risking, insurance and investment mandates. Laura Brook has extensive governance and DB scheme experience, as does Michael Jones, who leads the firm’s national DC practice. Charlotte Cartwright is also recommended and has wide-reaching experience advising on pension restructurings and M&A-related matters.

The ‘very capable, first-class quality team’ at Linklaters LLP has experience ranging from advising on ESG and fiduciary management issues to liability management work, alongside handling funding agreements and fund consolidations, including transfers to master trusts. Commended as a ‘trusted adviser’ and ‘the best in the business’, Claire Petheram spearheads the team, while Philip Goss has experience in de-risking buy-in and buy-out transactions, funding negotiations, and funding arrangements. Rosalind Knowles has experience across pensions law, assisting on trust law and regulatory issues. Sarah Parkin and John Sheppard also handle a wide variety of pensions work for both trustees and employers, and counsel Alasdair Smith is also of note.

The pensions and long-term savings department at Pinsent Masons LLP is commended by clients for being ‘technically strong’, ‘pragmatic and commercial’, and ‘helpful, proactive and responsive’. With a broad set of capabilities, the practice has seen a number of recent mandates relating to bulk annuity and risk transfer transactions, as well as a strong pipeline of master trust mandates spanning complex transfers, funding arrangements, and climate-related investments. Stephen Scholefield heads up the national team, with Mark Baker taking the reins in the London office. Focusing on regulatory and international matters, Raj Sharma is a key name for advisory and transactional work, while Matthew De Ferrars co-leads the national risk transfer team, which handles buy-outs, longevity transactions, and scheme wind-ups. Also noted are senior associates Chris Burke, Charlotte Moss, and Stewart Murphy.

Pension specialist boutique firm Sacker & Partners LLP fields a large and deep team, which has extensive experience in issues ranging from high-value risk transfer transactions to the outsourcing of trustee executive functions. The practice is headed up by David Saunders, who has notable experience advising on DB and DC pension arrangements, including mergers and demergers, scheme funding issues, and de-risking projects. Other key names include Janet Brown, who is noted for her experience in large multi-employer DB schemes across the oil, chemical, and university sectors; Fuat Sami, who has expertise in advising on M&A, restructurings, and de-risking matters; and Stuart O’Brien, who is highlighted for his focus on finance and investment issues. Jacqui Reid and Philippa Connaughton are further key names of note. Edward Hayes retired at the end of 2023.

Acting for trustees, sponsors, and insurers, Slaughter and May‘s ‘very knowledgeable and pragmatic’ team has a strong track record in handling a broad range of pension work, which encompasses derisking transactions, funding structures, mergers, and board issues. The practice also stands out for advising employers in the energy and utilities sectors, and handling advisory work arising from scheme overfunding and cyber security incidents. Charles Cameron leads the practice and has particular experience in advisory and transactional matters within the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Daniel Schaffer, who is praised as a ‘problem solver’ with ‘high levels of commercial awareness and credibility’, handles a combination of contentious and non-contentious issues including redesigns, funding and covenant matters, and restructurings, while Chris Sharpe focuses on collective defined contribution schemes and de-risking deals. Isobel Carruthers is another key contact.

Advising across the full spectrum of defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, Travers Smith LLP’s pensions team is led by Susie Daykin, who oversees a broad practice handling work ranging from risk and liability management issues to investments, and governance issues. The practice also stands out for assisting with covenant work, defined contribution matters, including transfers to master trusts, and ESG-related mandates. Daykin is known for her expertise in de-risking transactions in particular, while ‘top-class all-round pensions expert’ Dan Naylor is another key name in this area, with notable knowledge of end game planning and pensions insurance. For governance issues, Daniel Gerring is a go-to name, while David James has experience acting for large occupation pension schemes. Other key names include ‘exceptional lawyer’ Andy Lewis, Niamh Hamlyn, and Chris Widdison.

Pension specialist firm Arc Pensions Law is a key port of call for trustees, insurers, and multinationals on complex risk mitigation issues, regulatory compliance, restructurings, windups, and transactions. The practice is headed up by Anna Rogers, who has a wealth of experience across pensions, especially in defined benefit schemes. Beth Brown has a focus on governance and pension insolvency matters, while Jane Kola is recommended for restructurings, investment matters, and risk oversight. Also central to the team’s offering, including on risk mitigation and funding issues, is Anna Copestake, who receives praise for her ‘legal knowledge and industry awareness’. At the associate level, Rhiannon Barnsley assists with legacy issues, regulatory compliance, and GMP equalisations, while Riccardo Bruno advises on residual risk coverage, regulatory issues and acquisitions.

Baker McKenzie‘s ‘experienced’ pensions team is engaged on a range of complex matters, drawing upon the firm’s wealth of expertise across other departments, providing a ‘very consistent’ approach for both international and domestic clients and trustees. The team is led by the highly experienced Arron Slocombe, who covers the full spectrum of mandates, including buyouts and liability management issues, scheme mergers and regulatory clearance work. He is supported by Jeanette Holland, who regularly manages large-scale restructurings and projects involving the mitigation of pensions risks. Jonathan Sharp is a key contact for pensions advice in a multijurisdictional context, while Tom McNaughton advises both pension scheme trustees and the sponsoring employers across a wide range of industries. Danielle Klinger routinely assists international clients with the pension aspects of acquisitions and divestitures.

Operating from its offices in London, Bristol and Edinburgh, Burges Salmon LLP has a particularly strong reputation for handling high-profile pensions regulatory work. The team is led by Richard Knight, who splits his time between Bristol and London, and is a long time adviser to major pension scheme clients. Clive Pugh is an expert in pensions regulatory and funding matters, clearance issues and alternatives to buy outs, while Richard Pettit assists with complex issues concerning systemic errors in pension scheme documentation. Michael Hayles is a key contact for public sector work, and Alice Honeywill has a particular focus on large projects, encompassing mergers, corporate restructurings, buy-ins and buy-outs. High-profile client work is also conducted by Susannah Young, while Chris Brown and Crispin Freeman are also key contacts.

Clifford Chance LLP is active in cross-border transactional pension cases and high-value advisory work, working on a breadth of  issues, including scheme valuations, buy-in and buy-out transactions, GMP equalisations, and pension scheme closures. The team is led by Hywel Robinson, who is highly experienced in asset pooling matters and cross-border membership issues. Clare Hoxey possesses ‘excellent market knowledge‘ and provides advice to a range of clients on pensions regulator powers and pension-related criminal offences, LDI exposures and scheme valuations. Sarah McAleer works on a range of issues, including intra-group reorganisations, disposals and acquisitions, valuation negotiations and options for contingent covenant support.

DLA Piper’s pensions team provides advice across multiple jurisdictions and practice areas, acting for trustees and employers on a range of issues relating to DB and DC schemes. The team is led by both Matthew Swynnerton and Amrit Mclean; Swynnerton leads the core pensions team, providing ‘excellent’ advice to multi-jurisdictional large sector clients, and Mclean leads the de-risking team and is a key contact for insurer clients. Tamara Calvert is a key contact for pensions advisory work and acts for a roster of household name clients, while Joel Eytle particularly focuses on regulatory work.

Birmingham-based Elizabeth Gane leads the non-contentious pensions practice at Gowling WLG, supported by the ‘patient yet determined‘ Jason Coates, who has particular experience in scheme governance issues and complex funding negotiations. The ‘very commercial’ Paul Feathers excels in the pensions risk transfer market, advising on a number of high-value matters. Maddy Frost is a noted contact for trustee clients, and Sara Chambers and Suzanne Mortimer are key names are both notably experienced in risk transfer work.

Samantha Brown leads the non-contentious pensions team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, and is praised for her ability to ‘cut through a problem and deliver advice‘. The advisory pensions group assists regulatory bodies, trustees, insurers, and insolvency practitioners, with particular expertise in high-value pensions instructions, including bulk annuity and reinsurance transactions, public and private M&A, restructurings and pension asset management products. Brown is supported by Rachel Pinto, who has particular expertise in advising on pension de-risking transactions. Michael Aherne is particularly noted for mandates in the energy sector, and regularly works with global asset managers.

Mayer Brown International LLP draws upon its deep sector expertise to provide non-contentious pension advice, including advising the trustees of significant pension schemes, and handling pension restructuring issues, insolvencies and investment work. Jay Doraisamy and Andrew Block co-lead the pension team; Doraisamy advises trustee and employer clients on a wide range of complex pensions arrangements, while Block excels in rule re-writes, scheme mergers and reorganisation mandates. Richard Evans has particular experience in liability management issues and buy-in and buy-out matters, while Giles Bywater is praised as an ‘expert in the pensions field’. Duncan Watson made partner in January 2024, and Iain Wright retired in December 2023.

Squire Patton Boggs fields a ‘proactive and engaged‘ non-contentious pensions practice, with key expertise spanning de-risking and risk transfer solutions, corporate support work, compliance mandates, interventions, investments and ESG issues. The firm also has knowledge of acting for clients in the regulated utilities sectors, especially water, nuclear and electricity sponsored schemes, and not-for-profit organisations. Wendy Hunter heads up the pension practice, advising employers and trustees on scheme documentation and the pension aspects of corporate transactions, especially public to private sector transfers. Hunter is supported by Kirsty McLean on mergers, benefit changes and buy-ins; she also advises on the impact of new legislation, day-to-day compliance issues and member complaints.

Stephenson Harwood advises on non-contentious pensions matters, acting for large household name clients on offshore, private and non-standard pension schemes. The team is led by Philip Goodchild, who advises a number of employers and trustees on high-value schemes; Stephen Richards is also a key name in the high-value pension scheme space. Naeem Noor has a notable advisory practice, which ranges from scheme closures to future accrual and portfolio diversification issues, and also handles the pensions elements of corporate transactions.

Dentons' non-contentious pensions team has experience spanning the breadth of pensions law, with notable knowledge of DB and DC schemes, life assurance arrangements and healthcare trusts. The team provides cross-border transactional expertise, and also excels in advisory work. Eleanor Hart heads up the practice and leverages her corporate knowledge to handle cross-border transactions and restructuring issues. Carolyn Saunders joined the practice in September 2023, and is well regarded for her ESG work, particularly regarding trustee duties relating to climate change and diversity issues.

David Gallagher, who is described by clients as ‘one of the best pension lawyers in the industry‘, leads the non-contentious pensions team at Fieldfisher. Gallagher is noted for his knowledge of the electricity industry, while Michael Calvert has expertise in the pension elements of corporate transactions and restructurings. Jeremy Harris works from the firm's Manchester office, and has extensive experience advising on pensions regulatory matters. Another key contact is Sebastian Reger, who specialises in derivatives, structured finance issues, debt capital markets work and investment arrangements.

Utilising the expertise of the firm's pensions and insurance departments, Macfarlanes LLP provides expert advice to clients on a broad range of pensions matters and insurance-based pension risk transfer transactions, as well as advising on scheme management issues; the team also assists with pension aspects of corporate transactions and restructurings. The team is led by Faye Jarvis, who handles complex funding arrangements, liability management issues, mergers and demergers; and Andrew Barton, who excels in de-risking work. Madison Kaur has significant experience in advising insurers and reinsurers on pension de-risking issues.

The ‘vastly experienced’ Lesley Browning leads the non-contentious pensions team at Norton Rose Fulbright; she counts trustees, sponsoring employers, master trusts, insurance companies and benefit consultants as clients. The team has a depth of expertise in both corporate and trustee advisory work, and is experienced in high-value global transactions and investments; it also has notable sector expertise, particularly in the transport industry. Shane O’Reilly is also an active member of the team, and is singled out by clients for his ability to 'distill advice to any level of understanding and give a holistic response'.

With a 'very experienced pensions team, which is commercial, pragmatic and easy to work with’, Reed Smith LLP is active across the pensions space, acting for a roster of trustees, employers, industry bodies and regulators. The practice is jointly led by Simon Hartley, Justine Senior and Will Sutton; Hartley and Senior handle the full breadth of pensions work, while Sutton is noted for advising suppliers on public outsourcing projects and public-to-private pension mandates.

Simmons & Simmons' corporate pensions team works on a variety of pensions issues spanning de-risking DB pension arrangements, M&A-related work, GMP equalisation matters and compliance issues. Group head Danny Tsang has a particular focus on corporate pension strategies including scheme restructurings, mergers and de-risking issues, and DB liability management work. Edward Smith has been notably active in advising FTSE 100 companies on pension benefit redesigns, and James Dean handles pension scheme investments and de-risking projects. Laura Friedman is also a key contact.

Taylor Wessing LLP advise both trustees and employers across the breadth of pensions work, covering large and smaller pension schemes. Mark Smith leads the team, advising on the full range of pension issues and schemes, with FTSE 100 companies, public sector bodies and charities on his client roster. Anna Taylor has expertise in investments, funding arrangements, mergers and de-risking issues.

With expertise across DB and DC schemes, Ashurst is notably active in handling the pensions aspects of corporate mandates, leveraging the firm's wider transactional expertise. The group is also active in the rail industry and assists with pension restructurings and refinancing matters. John Gordon leads the practice and acts for a range of UK and multinational employers and trustees.

Irwin Mitchell's pensions practice handles the full range of pensions work, and is particularly well regarded for its knowledge of the higher education, charity and manufacturing sectors. Penny Cogher and Martin Jenkins jointly lead the practice; Cogher handles issues across DB and DC schemes, while Jenkins is a key contact for trustees and sponsors, handling benefit reviews and de-risking matters.

Keystone Law‘s pensions and incentives group utilises the firm’s employment, corporate, tax, regulatory and financial services expertise to provide advice to trustees of pension schemes and employers on all aspects of pension and employee benefit work, including share incentive plans. Monica Ma advises both employers and trustees and has expertise across the employee benefit space, while Ben Hughes focuses on occupational and personal pension schemes. Funds specialist Winston Penhall is also a key contact for investment management advice.

TLT‘s practice has expertise in the financial services and public sectors and also provides advice on regulatory issues, and SIPP and SSAS work. Sasha Butterworth leads the team from Bristol, advising both trustees and employers on all aspects of pension work, with particular expertise in risk regulation and trustee ESG governance work. Other key names include Chris Crighton and Lizzie Stone.

Martin McFall leads the Trowers & Hamlins LLP pensions team, which acts for a varied roster of clients, with noted expertise in the third sector space, including housing and charity clients. McFall has specialist knowledge in advising local authorities and employers on public sector schemes, while Michael Rhode is a key contact for pensions litigation.

The pensions team at Wedlake Bell LLP advises on a range of pensions matters, including employee incentive arrangements, final salary schemes and liability management issues, as well as assisting with the pensions elements of corporate work. Justin McGilloway leads the team, advising a range of employers, trustees, pension providers and individuals in the UK and internationally. Consultant Clive Weber is also an active member of the practice, as are Paul Ashcroft and James Newcome.

Martin Poore leads the Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP pensions team, which acts for a varied roster of clients and excels in the public and voluntary sectors. Poore's expertise encompasses advising on scheme rules and legislative compliance, complex scheme restructurings and liability management initiatives. Suzanne Duff focuses on occupational pension schemes, and Tracy Walsh handles the pensions aspects of corporate work, the employer debt regime and matters relating to the regulator's moral hazard powers.