Department profile
CMS

Pensions

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide


CMS

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Pensions - UK-wide

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

CMS has a large, expert team specializing in all areas of pensions, with experience overseeing de-risking projects, funding arrangements and Pensions Ombudsman claims. It provides high-quality advice to both trustees and companies. The team has a strong client base from a variety of industries including telecommunications, utilities, and banking and financial services.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • CMS advised Clara-Pensions on a transaction with the Debenhams Retirement Scheme to transfer approximately GBP600 million of assets and liabilities into Clara's pensions trust.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • CMS provide cutting edge knowledge and experience of large, complex pension buy-in transactions.

    Pensions respondentUK
  • The CMS team has commerciality and can-do attitude in abundance.

    Pensions respondentUK
  • The team had a proactive approach – they anticipated problems and identified practical solutions.

    Pensions respondentUK
  • CMS has excellent skills and experience which always makes its input extremely valuable.

    Pensions respondentUK
  • The team provide a real value-add to an already experienced in-house team.

    Pensions respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Mark Atkinson
    Band 1Mark Atkinson

    Mark Atkinson

    Mark Atkinson is called upon by clients seeking advice on pension scheme mergers and the pensions aspects of corporate transactions. He also regularly advises on scheme governance and regulatory matters.

    • Mark has a proactive approach, and he builds constructive relationships with the other advisers.

      Pensions respondentUK
    • Mark always impresses. He's an excellent all-rounder who's always able to anticipate things from all angles.

      Pensions respondentUK
    • Mark is overall the strongest pension lawyer I have worked with. He is also extremely easy to work with

      Pensions respondentUK
  • Band 2Keith Webster
    Band 2Keith Webster

    Keith Webster

    Keith Webster assists clients with all manner of complex matters facing large pension plans, including investment issues. His client base includes some of the largest defined benefit schemes in the UK.

    • Keith is very good at diagnosing a situation and coming up with innovative solutions. He’s also a pleasure to work with and always has his client’s interests at heart.

      Pensions respondentUK
    • Keith always delivers clear advice in a calm and thoughtful way. He is very good at anticipating client needs and he's adept at handling all pensions legal issues.

      Pensions respondentUK
  • Band 3Tim Green
    Band 3Tim Green

    Tim Green

    Tim Green is an experienced pensions lawyer who works on all types of issues relating to occupation pensions. He works with both pensions trustees and sponsors.

  • Band 5Emma Frost
    Band 5Emma Frost

    Emma Frost

    Emma Frost works with trustees and employers on the full range of governance, transactional and regulatory matters involving pension plans. She is co-head of the finance practice group at CMS.

    • Emma is a very pragmatic lawyer, who provides clear advice and implementable solutions. She provides an excellent and proactive service.

      Pensions respondentUK
  • Band 5Maria Rodia
    Band 5Maria Rodia

    Maria Rodia

    Maria Rodia is head of pensions at CMS. She is adept at handling a range of pensions issues, such as scheme mergers, benefit design, and buy-ins and buy-outs.

    • Maria has exceptional knowledge and experience. She is a pleasure to work with.

      Pensions respondentUK
  • Band 5Mark Jenkins
    Band 5Mark Jenkins

    Mark Jenkins

    Mark Jenkins is adept at advising both scheme sponsors and trustees on a range of pensions law matters, such as restructuring and de-risking.

    • Client service is very important to Mark.

      Pensions respondentUK
    • Mark is able to think of innovative solutions to complex matters, and he is a superb negotiator.

      Pensions respondentUK
  • Band 6Caroline Kurup
    Band 6Caroline Kurup

    Caroline Kurup

    Caroline Kurup has experience in corporate transactions as well as in advising trustee clients and corporates on the day-to-day running of defined benefit pension schemes.

    • She’s extremely responsive, proactive in seeking to understand what’s going on with our scheme, and curious by nature.

      Pensions respondentUK
    • Caroline is an absolute star. She’s great fun to work with, always on top of her brief and gives us 100% confidence that she has our back.

      Pensions respondentUK
  • Band 6Natalie Mee
    Band 6Natalie Mee

    Natalie Mee

    Natalie Mee advises clients from a wide array of industries on all aspects of occupational pension schemes. She works with both trustees and employers.

    • Natalie is always thinking about the practical and commercial implications of her advice and seeking to understand what we want to achieve.

      Pensions respondentUK
    • Natalie's ability to explain complex legal matters in an understandable way is one of her many key strengths.

      Pensions respondentUK
  • Band 6Peter Coyne
    Band 6Peter Coyne

    Peter Coyne

    Peter Coyne offers clients a broad base of pensions experience, with notable expertise in de-risking. He advises employers and pension plan trustees on the full range of transactional matters and restructurings.

    • Peter uses his industry knowledge and experience to provide clear and pragmatic advice.

      Pensions respondentUK
    • Peter is very knowledgeable and has excellent commercial awareness.

      Pensions respondentUK

Ranked Individuals at CMS (9)

UK-wide

CMS has rankings in the following guides

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership