Leading Associates

Pensions in Scotland

Pinsent Masons LLP

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.

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