Pinsent Masons LLP offers ‘all-around excellent advice and support’ to clients in the banking, oil & gas, energy and public sectors. Ruth Tobias leads the ‘knowledgeable, prompt and helpful’ team which excels at advising on the simplification of benefits structures, ensuring clients remain contractually compliant in addition to assisting with data protection issues. Tobias is noted for her work on direct benefit schemes, often advising clients on section 75 obligations, pension sharing orders and flexible apportionment arrangements. Both Ian Gordon and Cameron McCulloch increase the practice's strength in risk management. Amie Bain is adept at handling a wide range of matters relating to defined benefit (DB) schemes.
Pensions in Scotland
Pinsent Masons LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Ruth Tobias
Autres avocats clés:
Ian Gordon; Cameron McCuloch; Amie Bain; Alison Shackleton
Les références
‘Ian Gordon is simply the pre-eminent pension lawyer practising in Scotland. He cannot be beaten.’
‘Alison Shackleton is outcome-focused, keeping the big picture in mind so as to deliver results and is extremely effective in doing so.’
‘Cameron McCulloch is very good at distilling and communicating the key points for his clients and calibrating his approach when negotiating with other lawyers and advisers to achieve the required outcomes.’
Principaux clients
Plumbing & Mechanical Services (UK) Industry Pension Scheme
Babcock Naval Services Pension Scheme
Barnett & Hall Holdings Pension Scheme
Edrington Group Pension Scheme/ Highland Distillers Pension Scheme
Trustees of the University of Aberdeen Superannuation and Life Assurance Scheme
Texas Instruments Limited Plan
Walkers Shortbread Limited
BP Pension Trustees Ltd
Norit (UK) Ltd Pension & Life Assurance Scheme
KION group pension schemes
TotalEnergies
Trustees of the Horizon Pension Scheme
Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC)
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the trustee of the £2bn Plumbing Pension Scheme on complex and sensitive employer dispute cases.
- Advised the trustees of the £1.2 billion Horizon pension scheme on a project to assess and document the benefits across all of its 200+ sections.
- Advised the trustee on a significant and complex £250m buy-in with Canada Life covering five pension schemes and over 3,000 members in the same corporate group.
Shepherd and Wedderburn
The ‘pragmatic’ pensions team at Shepherd and Wedderburn often handle high-profile schemes for domestic and international blue-chip clients. The practice leadership team consists of Andrew Holehouse, Louisa Knox, Edwin Mustard and Kirsty Headden. The group is active in the energy, transportation, education and manufacturing sectors. Holehouse assists clients with scheme amendments and offers day-to-day pension advice whilst Knox is hailed as ‘the best pensions lawyer in Scotland’. Mustard is a key contact for public sector clients, whilst ‘great communicator’ Headden offers trustees Cyber Security and GDPR-related advice.
Responsables de la pratique:
Andrew Holehouse; Louisa Knox; Edwin Mustard; Kirsty Headden
Autres avocats clés:
Richard Jones; Daniel Boynton
Les références
Kirsty Headden is excellent, pragmatic, solution-focused and proactive.’
‘Superb breadth and depth of knowledge.’
‘Kirsty Headden is a great communicator, personable and trusted.’
Principaux clients
The Trustees of the Association of British Insurers Pensions and Assurance Scheme
Trustee of the Stagecoach Group Pension Scheme
The Trustees of the University of St Andrews Superannuation and Life Assurance Scheme
Trustee of the Hyster-Yale UK Retirement Plan
Trustee of the abrdn (SLSPS) Pension Scheme
Trustees of the A.G. Barr plc Retirement Benefits Scheme
Trustee of the Universal Music Group Pension Scheme
Trustee of the Scottish Hydro-Electric Pension Scheme
Trustees of the Brewin Dolphin Retirement Benefits Scheme / Trustees of the Brewin Dolphin Pension Fund
Trustees of the Miller Group Limited Pension Scheme
Trustees of the Orica Pension Scheme
Trustees of the Beam UK Pension Plan
Brodies LLP
Praised by clients for providing ‘pragmatic and practical’ advice, Brodies LLP is a key contact for the trustees of large pension schemes. Juliet Bayne heads the practice, which is active in the oil & gas, education and real estate sectors. Bayne is qualified to advise on all types of schemes, working on deferred premium buy-ins, illiquid asset sales and flexible apportionment arrangements. Alistair Hill is adept at handling scheme mergers, GMP equalisation and regulatory compliance. Jennifer Crawford is well-equipped to assist both trustees and employers with a wide range of work.
Responsables de la pratique:
Juliet Bayne
Autres avocats clés:
Jennifer Crawford; Alistair Hill; Maureen Burns
Les références
‘Pragmatic and practical advice delivered in a manner understandable to the layman.’
‘Very knowledgeable and very prompt at responding to any problem/concern in a calm and professional manner.’
‘Maureen Burns is a standout associate. She makes complicated subjects easy for all to understand.’
Principaux clients
Trustee of the Menzies Pension Fund
Trustees of the Scotia Gas Networks Pension Scheme
Trustees of the University of Glasgow Pension Scheme
Chivas Group
Trustees of the Quintiles Scotland Pension Scheme
First Milk Limited
Trustees of the Aon McMillen Retirement Benefits Scheme
Trustees of the United Wire (2002) Pension Scheme
North East Scotland Pension Fund
Berry UK Pension Trustees Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the Trustee of the Menzies (Aviation) Pension Fund (BESTrustees Limited) on a £260 million deferred premium buy-in with Just Group plc, securing members’ benefits and supporting the company’s desire to de-risk the pension scheme.
- Advised Mears Group plc, a UK-wide housing and social care provider that repairs and maintains over 700,000 social homes, on the pensions aspects of an Enterprise Agreement worth £125 million per annum with North Lanarkshire Council.
- Acted for the Trustees of the United Wire (2002) Pension Scheme on bulk transfers to the Scottish Widows Master Trust, WTW’s Lifesight Master Trust and the settlement of residual benefits and wind-up of a Defined Contribution pension scheme.
Burness Paull LLP
Burness Paull LLP is noted for taking a ‘client-orientated approach’ in its pensions practice, which is spearheaded by the ‘experienced, pragmatic and extremely knowledgeable’ Margaret Meehan. The team focuses on disputes, the creation of new pensions products and changes to benefits packages. Meehan often acts for blue chip clients whilst Sarah Phillips advises on the full range of matters related to defined benefit schemes. Liam Young stands out for his knowledge of TUPE transfers and insolvency matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Margaret Meehan
Autres avocats clés:
Liam Young; Sarah Phillips; Eilidh Robertson; Richard MacDonald
Les références
‘‘Margaret Meehan and Liam Young are a dream team. Their skills, knowledge and experience complement each other perfectly.’
‘Eilidh Robertson is extremely diligent, always on time and a real pleasure to work with.’
‘Margaret Meehan is experienced, pragmatic and extremely knowledgeable. Hugely practical and calm and always keeps us right.’
Principaux clients
Phoenix Group
Abrdn
Ansell Healthcare Inc.
Trustees of the Kwik Fit Group Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
Trustees of the Church of Scotland pension schemes
Trustees of the Scottish Milk Retirement Benefits Plan
Kemira Oyj
MiddleGround Capital
Edinburgh Woollen Mill (in administration)
Baker Hughes Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the trustees of the Scottish Milk Limited pension scheme on a complex de-risking project and several intricate points relating to interpretation of the scheme’s governing documentation.
- Advising the Phoenix group on a number of business-critical matters, both contentious and non-contentious.
- Advising the trustees of Kwik Fit’s pension scheme on a range of pensions issues, including the implementation of auto-enrolment legislation; the implications of the removal of the statutory lifetime allowance; and the entitlement of members to tax protection.
Morton Fraser MacRoberts
James Keith and Martyn Shaw jointly lead the pensions team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts, which is noted by clients for providing ‘exceptional service’. The practice regularly advises clients on risk management, scheme liabilities and the bulk transfer of assets. Keith has an ‘excellent working knowledge’ of schemes in the private, public and third sectors. Shaw offers clients ‘strong, positive’ advice and is well-known for his work on asset-backed funding arrangements and the division of pension proceeds post-divorce.
Responsables de la pratique:
James Keith; Martyn Shaw
Les références
‘James Keith puts in the best expert opinions I have seen in the 35 years of practicing law.’
‘I work with both pension partners, Martyn Shaw and James Keith, both are excellent.’
‘Martyn Shaw gives exactly what we as clients want – good, strong, positive advice, all at a tight timescale.’
Principaux clients
The Chivas Brothers Pensions Scheme
The Edinburgh Airport Pension Plan
The Trustees of the Malcolm Group Pension Scheme (1989)
The Trustees of Scobie and Junor (Holdings) Limited Group Pensions Scheme
The Ayrshire Metal Products Group Senior Officials’ Pension Scheme
The Hunt Brothers and Company Limited Pension Fund
Gleaner Limited
The Arriva London North and Arriva London South Pension Scheme
The Go-Ahead Group
AOC Holdings Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the trustees of the Edinburgh Airport Pension Plan in connection with the acquisition by a third party of a majority ownership interest of the sponsoring employer, including advising on and adjusting the associated £2 billion intercreditor agreement – with global firms acting for the other parties.
- Advised a Scottish independent school on proposed changes to future pension provision for its teaching staff.
- Provided an expert opinion to the Court of Session in relation to a leading charity’s pension scheme and in support of a scheme documentation rectification process.
Burges Salmon LLP
Burges Salmon LLP offers clients ‘practical advice’ and is skilled at handling problems arising from defined benefit and defined contribution trust schemes. The team, which is led by Richard Knight, focuses on advising trustees on compliance issues and assisting with negotiations. Helen Woodford is a key name within the team and is noted for her expertise in employer funding and internal complaints issues. Kelly Beattie works for a variety of stakeholders and has built a strong track record for representing public sector clients.
Responsables de la pratique:
Richard Knight
Autres avocats clés:
Helen Woodford; Kelly Beattie; Sarah Moody; Shannon Wright-Davies
Les références
‘Practical advice with short turnaround.’
‘Easy to speak to and provides clear comments.’
‘A very approachable, client-focused team who are willing and able to discuss issues on all types of pension schemes, including public sector.’
Principaux clients
Trustees of the Honda-Group UK Pension Scheme
Plumbing Pensions Employers Limited
Trustees of the CF Fertilisers UK Limited Pension Scheme
Trustees of the Archaeological Organisations Pension Scheme
Methodists Ministers’ Pension Scheme and Trustees of the Pension Scheme for Lay Employees of the Methodist Church
Principaux dossiers
- Advising on funding negotiations, governance responsibilities, investment management agreements, climate change reports, GMP equalisation, and legal issues related to liability-driven investments and security arrangements.
- Advising the trustees of the three UK pension schemes sponsored by CF Fertilisers Limited. Advising the other two trustee boards on future pension planning in addition to assisting on day-to-day pension matters including in relation to scheme governance, cyber security, GMP equalisation and benefit queries.
- Advising the trustee of a DB pension scheme with assets of approximately £65m and a charity sector sponsoring employer in connection with potentially invalid deeds stretching over a period of 30 years. Strategic advice has included advising on and drafting documentation to address the issues and limit further liability (in compliance with intricate statutory provisions).
CMS
Noted by clients for housing one of the ‘premier pensions teams in Scotland’, CMS focuses on trustees, employers and insurers. Department head Jae Fassam leads the team, which advises on scheme liabilities, conducts benefits reviews and facilitates transitions to new service providers. Fassam routinely handles liability-driven investment claims, acting a key contact for international corporations, banks and leading pension providers. Claire Miller is an expert in benefit rectification projects, employee training and master trust transfers.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jae Fassam; Maria Rodia,
Autres avocats clés:
Claire Miller; Amanda Cooke
Les références
‘Premier pensions team in Scotland.’
‘Jae Fassam is a technically strong lawyer who is also very personable, responsive and pragmatic.’
‘The team is strong across the board on pensions. CMS has the strength and depth to deal with multiple queries of varying complexity across DB and public sector-related queries.’
Principaux clients
The Trustee of the De La Rue Pension Scheme
Scottish Widows
TotalEnergies Pension Company Limited
Northern Ireland Water Limited
The Trustee of the Gems Sensors Pension Plan
The Trustees of the B.M.A Staff Pension Scheme
Tayside
Helaba (London) Pension and Life Assurance Plan
The Trustees of the Gulf International Bank (UK) Limited Pension Scheme
Airbus Group UK