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Outer Temple Chambers
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Pensions

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)

1
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.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

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

Pensions respondent
UK 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 respondent
UK Bar

The set has outstanding clerks who add a personal touch.

Pensions respondent
UK Bar

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

Pensions respondent
UK Bar

The clerks are proactive, personable and very responsive.

Pensions respondent
UK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Andrew Short
Andrew Short
Star Individuals

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.

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

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.

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

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

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Andrew Spink
1
Andrew Spink
1
Band 1

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.

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Naomi Ling
1
Naomi Ling
1
Band 1

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.

Naomi is helpful and engaged.

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

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Nicolas Stallworthy
1
Nicolas Stallworthy
1
Band 1

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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Saul Margo
1
Saul Margo
1
Band 1

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.

Saul is so clever and thoughtful about his cases.

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

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2
David E Grant
2
Band 2

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.

David is consistently outstanding.

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

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

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

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2
Keith Bryant
2
Band 2

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.

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

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

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

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2
Lydia Seymour
2
Band 2

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.

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

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

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

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2
Nicholas Hill
2
Band 2

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.

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.

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.

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

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2
Richard Hitchcock
2
Band 2

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.

Richard is an excellent advocate who supports us really well.

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

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

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3
Philip Stear
3
Band 3

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.

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

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.

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3
Victoria Brown
3
Band 3

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.

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

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U
Elizabeth Grace
U
Up and Coming

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.

Elizabeth is always a valuable addition to the team.

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

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Ranked Barristers at
Outer Temple Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Pensions
Andrew Short KC
Andrew Short KC
Star Individuals
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Andrew Spink KC
1
Andrew Spink KC
1
Band 1
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Nicolas Stallworthy KC
1
Nicolas Stallworthy KC
1
Band 1
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2
David E Grant KC
2
Band 2
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2
Keith Bryant KC
2
Band 2
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2
Richard Hitchcock KC
2
Band 2
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Juniors

London (Bar)

Pensions
Naomi Ling
1
Naomi Ling
1
Band 1
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Saul Margo
1
Saul Margo
1
Band 1
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2
Lydia Seymour
2
Band 2
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2
Nicholas Hill
2
Band 2
View Profile
3
Philip Stear
3
Band 3
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3
Victoria Brown
3
Band 3
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U
Elizabeth Grace
U
Up and Coming
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Members

Provided by Outer Temple Chambers

Charlotte Elves

Gus Baker

Joshua Cainer

Monique Bouffe

Patrick Tomison

Philip Stear