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Outer Temple Chambers

Pensions

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)

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Outer Temple Chambers

Rankings

About

Provided by Outer Temple Chambers

Outer Temple Chambers has for many years been widely regarded as the go-to set for pensions, employee benefit trusts and other commercial trust cases, hence our Band 1 ranking in Chambers & Partners.


The team is unique in being able to offer dual-expertise specialists in pensions law and complementary specialisms like banking, financial services, employment and (having regard to the 2021 Pension Schemes Act) criminal regulatory proceedings. We understand the intricacy and complexity of corporate restructurings, scheme mergers, the most technical court applications under CPR Part 8, or hard-fought litigation under CPR Part 7 and long-running regulatory procedures. We also offer mediation and ADR.


A great number of practitioners in the team are members/ committee members of APL and the Pensions Litigation Court Users Committee.


Members of the team have consistently been instructed in the leading pension cases of the last decade and regularly act for major industry bodies, including the Pensions Regulator and the Pensions Protection Fund.

Examples of the more significant pensions cases of the last decade include:

  • Re: Axminster Carpets
  • Box Clever (to the Court of Appeal)
  • Gleeds v Aon & Ors
  • Re: Britvic (to the Court of Appeal)
  • Re: Barnado’s (to the Supreme Court)
  • Silentnight contribution notice proceedings
  • Lloyds Bank GMP litigation
  • Safeway v Newton
  • McCloud v Lord Chancellor; Sargeant v LFEPA
  • Re: Univar
  • The 2019 Rail Franchising Litigation
  • Re: BIC UK (to the Court of Appeal)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Pensions - London (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Outer Temple Chambers demonstrates notable expertise in a broad range of contentious and non-contentious issues pertaining to pensions law. Its barristers are highly adept at handling Part 7 professional negligence claims and Part 8 actions, as well as cases regarding scheme deed rectifications and regulatory proceedings. Barristers at Outer Temple Chambers regularly act for the Pensions Regulator and the Pensions Ombudsman, as well as employers and trustees. Clients state that the set "offers in-depth pensions expertise across all levels". Set members have a wealth of experience appearing before all levels of the court system. The team have been described as being "involved in the most important and complex cases in this field". Key cases include Virgin Media v NTL Pension Trustees II Ltd and Others, a case that considers amendments to contracted-out pension schemes.

Matt Sale is the practice director.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks are excellent - highly responsive, efficient and professional.

    Pensions respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks are first rate - extremely responsive (mere minutes or seconds even in acknowledging communications) and adept at marshalling more than one barrister to obtain fee estimates.

    Pensions respondentUK Bar

  • The set has outstanding clerks who add a personal touch.

    Pensions respondentUK Bar

  • Clerks, in particular Matt Sale, are very professional and swift as well as being friendly and great communicators.

    Pensions respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks are proactive, personable and very responsive.

    Pensions respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Andrew Short
    Andrew Short

    Andrew Short

    Andrew Short KC is highly sought after for his specialism in matters where pensions issues intersect with employment law. He is seen acting in some of the most significant pension disputes, often with discrimination or equalisation aspects. His client list includes trade unions and representative beneficiaries.

    • Andrew is enthusiastic and approachable. He is always willing to talk through his advice with a view to ensuring it is what the client needs.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Andrew provides thorough and cogent advice in a clear and concise manner.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Andrew is willing to work with us and clients to develop and deliver best overall strategy on matters, rather than restricting himself to technical legal points.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Andrew is smart, approachable and sensible, and our clients trust him.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Andrew is sensitive to the client's position and commercial drivers.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Andrew Spink
    Andrew Spink

    Andrew Spink

    Andrew Spink KC is an authoritative and experienced advocate well known for his handling of high-profile pension disputes. He frequently undertakes regulatory work as well as Part 7 and 8 claims in relation to pensions. He also offers experienced advice on the inflation index to be applied to pension increases.

    • Andrew is really user-friendly and hard-working, and brings a huge amount of gravitas and intellectual discipline to everything. He is a real solutions finder who looks through the issues.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Naomi Ling
    Naomi Ling

    Naomi Ling

    Naomi Ling specialises in both pensions and employment law, and is an expert in professional negligence, discrimination and rectification disputes. She is particularly strong at representing public sector organisations, as well as private employers and trustees. She provides advice on pensions-related commercial agreements, contractual entitlements and the drafting of trust deeds.

    • Naomi admirably grasps both the big legal and commercial issues and what clients need.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Naomi is helpful and engaged.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Naomi has a strong legal mind and is able to distil complex legal concepts into a form accessible for clients and courts alike.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Nicolas Stallworthy
    Nicolas Stallworthy

    Nicolas Stallworthy

    Nicolas Stallworthy KC stands out for his impressively broad pensions practice, covering regulatory, professional negligence and tax implications. He is widely recommended for complex pensions issues and often acts in sensitive cases, such as those concerning insolvency, equalisation and scheme merger issues.

    • Nicolas is a superb silk.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Nicolas's advocacy is very impressive, he's really smart, and his attention to detail is also quite notable - he'll pick up things others will miss.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Nicolas is absolutely brilliant and technically superb. If you need to find an ingenious argument, he'll come up with things nobody else has thought of.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Nicolas has an instinctive understanding of pension dynamics. He is an original thinker who combines leadership with efficient teamworking.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Nicolas is a real star - always a pleasure to work with.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Saul Margo
    Saul Margo

    Saul Margo

    Saul Margo is a standout junior in the pensions market offering expertise in pure pensions litigation and advisory work, as well as issues at the intersection between pensions and employment law.

    • Saul is an outstanding senior junior.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Saul is so clever and thoughtful about his cases.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Saul is one of the best senior juniors in the field and a genuine pleasure to work with.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • David E Grant
    David E Grant

    David E Grant

    David Grant KC is a leading expert in Part 8 and professional negligence claims concerning pension schemes. He frequently appears before the Court of Appeal and High Court. Trustees and representative beneficiaries often seek out his counsel.

    • David is a real expert in the world of pensions litigation and is easy to get along with.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • David is consistently outstanding.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • David Grant is one of the best junior silks at the pensions Bar.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • He is very experienced and very thorough, with lots of experience in rectification cases.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • David is brilliant - very down to earth, user-friendly and meticulous. He never misses a thing.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Keith Bryant
    Keith Bryant

    Keith Bryant

    Keith Bryant KC is highly rated by respondents for his skill in high-value, complex matters, particularly regarding rectification, equalisation and Part 8 claims. Strengths include representing public sector organisations, trustees and representative beneficiaries, as well as individual scheme members. He also has expertise in pensions cases that have employment law aspects.

    • Keith Bryant is approachable, available and commercial.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • He is able to move things along and smooth them through while being on top of the legal complexities.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Keith is responsive and easy to work with. Clients like his style and his advice.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Keith is at the top of his game and is a real joy to work with.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Nicholas Hill
    Nicholas Hill

    Nicholas Hill

    Nicholas Hill is a junior with significant expertise in financial services law. He can boast extensive experience in Part 8 claims, professional negligence and contribution disputes.

    • He is very thorough and we have been very impressed with him.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Nicholas is a rising star in the field of pensions litigation and he's extremely hard-working and diligent. He has detailed knowledge of pensions law.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Nicholas works well in a team and is incredibly hard-working, personable and responsive. He has in-depth pensions knowledge and provides valuable commercial input.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • He goes above and beyond in his service levels, distils complex legal principles into the most accessible form, and is great on his feet.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Richard Hitchcock
    Richard Hitchcock

    Richard Hitchcock

    Richard Hitchcock KC is a well-respected advocate with extensive experience in regulatory cases, in particular concerning equalisation and the reach of the Pensions Regulator's powers. He frequently acts for trustees, members, unions and employers. He is regularly chosen to advise on Part 7 and 8 matters.

    • Richard is technically strong and excellent with clients, who appreciate his ability to drill to the heart of complex issues and explain them in clear, simple terms.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Richard is an excellent advocate who supports us really well.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • He is such a wonderful advocate, an incredible performer in court - confident and natural.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Richard Hitchcock thinks about the commercial impact of cases he is involved in and uses that to tactical advantage.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Philip Stear
    Philip Stear

    Philip Stear

    Philip Stear is adept at handling a range of pensions issues both contentious and advisory in nature, with a focus on private trusts and occupational schemes. His background as a solicitor provides him with a valuable commercial perspective and robust technical experience.

    • Philip uses his years in practice as a solicitor to good effect from a commercial perspective.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Philip is intellectually robust and creative in his thinking on complex areas.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Philip is academically brilliant and completely on top of all the case law and the nuances of an incredibly complex area of law. He thinks creatively to help clients with long-term goals.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Victoria Brown
    Victoria Brown

    Victoria Brown

    Victoria Brown is frequently sought to act in high-stakes and complex pensions matters. She has significant experience in a range of issues including Part 8 proceedings, pensions-related professional negligence cases and discrimination disputes.

    • Victoria is a true team player with a keen eye for detail.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • She is good at identifying points buried away in 5,000-page bundles - Victoria has a really good eye for that.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Elizabeth Grace
    Elizabeth Grace

    Elizabeth Grace

    Elizabeth Grace enjoys a growing reputation in the contentious pensions space and is particularly noted for her experience in matters at the intersection of pensions and employment law. She advises on schemes in both the public and private sectors.

    • Elizabeth is excellent.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Elizabeth is always a valuable addition to the team.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Elizabeth is articulate, helpful, organised and well liked by clients.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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  • Lydia Seymour
    Lydia Seymour

    Lydia Seymour

    Lydia Seymour is recommended for her specialisation in the pension and employment crossover, but is additionally well versed in pure pension disputes. She frequently acts for the Pensions Regulator, employers, trade unions and individuals. She handles rectification, trustee matters and de-risking, among other issues.

    • She is very organised and thorough. Lydia knows her stuff and thinks about how her arguments will be received by the judge.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Lydia Seymour is a real pensions specialist. She has an incredible intellect and is such an incisive thinker.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Lydia is really good. She gets into the detail and cuts through the noise.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar

    • Lydia is very easy to work with and has a quite modest approach. She is highly intelligent and smart.

      Pensions respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at Outer Temple Chambers (13)

London (Bar)

Members

Provided by Outer Temple Chambers

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