Mark Atkinson

Professional Memberships

-Past Chair, Association of Pension Lawyers

-Associate, Pensions Management Institute

Publications

Contributor to the Pensions Law Handbook (15th Edition), Bloomsbury Professional.

Work Highlights

-Sainsbury’s trustees on large property based Scottish Limited Partnership.

-Booker trustees on a seven scheme merger.

-Headway trustees on a successful application for directions (including success defending, the first instance decision in the Court of Appeal).

-Coca-Cola trustees on captive reinsurance transaction.

-BAA trustees on initially hostile takeover by Ferriovial led consortium and subsequent reorganisation and refinancing.

-Clearing banks on reorganisation of cheque clearing provider.

-Trustees of the BMI Pension Scheme on sale of sponsor and entry into Pension Protection Fund.

-Multiple clients (sponsors and trustees) on negotiating with the Pensions Regulator.

Career

Mark Atkinson is a partner in CMS’ Pensions team. He acts for trustees and companies in relation to occupational pension schemes providing day to day advice along with leading on some of the most structural issues that impact schemes - mergers, buy-out/in, takeover of sponsors, PPF entry and contingent assets. He also acts for claimants and defendants in relation to professional negligence claims involving pension scheme advisers as well as for parties in applications for directions from the Courts.

Mark provides on going advice to many household names including Sainsbury's, BAA, Harrods and Coca Cola.

Education