Pensions | UK

A&O Shearman maintains a leading practice that offers innovative de-risking solutions and advice on changes to cross-border pension schemes. It is recommended for its regulatory proficiency and for work on the pensions aspects of complex corporate transactions. The team regularly advises both trustee and sponsor clients on strategic projects.

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.

Eversheds Sutherland has an impressive nationwide practice that houses a strong bench of pensions experts. The team represents sponsoring employers, scheme providers and trustees in a wide range of work. Its areas of expertise include pensions insurance and master trusts.

Linklaters has an eminent pensions practice which combines contentious and non-contentious expertise. The law firm is recognised for its high-quality advice to a diverse range of clients in corporate restructuring, investment matters and liability management. Its clients include sponsors, trustees and insurance companies.

Sacker & Partners is a distinguished pensions boutique with a broad array of experience in defined benefit and defined contribution schemes. Its team offers expertise from a tax and finance perspective and has strong litigation capabilities. It also has recognised sector-specific knowledge of the financial services, media, energy and retail industries. The firm regularly works with both companies and pensions trustees. Its lawyers are seen leading on innovative matters regarding large scheme restructuring projects.

Arc Pensions Law is a pensions boutique with deep expertise in the field. The team is led by industry-leading practitioners and offers high-quality advice across the full spectrum of pensions issues. Its impressive client base includes both trustees and sponsoring employers.

Gowling WLG is a large national firm offering expertise across the full spectrum of pensions issues for trustees, employers and pension providers. The team is notable for its strength in handling corporate transactions and large buy-ins and buyouts, as well as risk transfer mandates.

Hogan Lovells has a highly regarded pensions team that frequently advises household-name corporate clients and pensions schemes. It is notable for its restructuring, funding and buy-in expertise, as well as its strength in pensions litigation and cross-border matters. The team has significant experience in high-value scheme mergers and is also reputed for its work handling the creation and structuring of master trusts for auto-enrolment.

Pinsent Masons has a national pensions practice with specialists based throughout the UK. Its large team is equally capable when advising on pension derisking, matters relating to public sector pensions and issues around master trusts. Its clients include trustees, blue chip corporates and pension providers.

Slaughter and May has a well-regarded pensions practice that advises on a range of matters, including complex benefit changes and scheme closures. The law firm enjoys a strong reputation for overseeing cross-border transactions and de-risking exercises. It has accomplished advisers to household-name employers who sponsor substantial schemes, with particular expertise working in highly unionised sectors.

Travers Smith is well-regarded for advising some of the industry's largest pension schemes on all aspects of pensions law. It excels at overseeing complex de-risking exercises and cross-border transactions, but is highly capable across the board.

Baker McKenzie's pensions team provides expert advice to employers and trustees in regard to defined benefit and defined contribution schemes and corporate transactions. It is distinguished for offering innovative financing and investment solutions in de-risking projects, including longevity swaps and asset-backed funding.

Freshfields enjoys a reputation for advising on the pensions implications of complex cross-border transactions. The team is distinguished for its deep knowledge and experience of acting for employers in funding and restructuring negotiations with trustees. It has further strength in de-risking, use of surplus and in relation to regulatory actions.

Herbert Smith Freehills has a well-regarded pensions practice that is acknowledged for its work on de-risking and for overseeing the pensions implications of corporate transactions. The team is also respected for the strength of its work on pension investment.

Mayer Brown has a strong pensions practice and advises companies and trustees in relation to some of the largest UK pension funds. The team offers strength in wide-ranging pensions issues, including funding arrangements and liability management.

The pensions team at Osborne Clarke acts for numerous public sector employers and trustees, and is acclaimed for its expertise in Local Government Pension Scheme and investment matters. It also regularly works with clients from the shipping, not-for-profit and financial services sectors, among others. The team is noted for its work handling pensions matters arising from corporate restructuring and insolvency.

Squire Patton Boggs has a notable pensions team that contains leading pensions investment experts. It stands out for its knowledge in local government pension schemes and is acknowledged for its work on the pensions schemes of not-for-profit organisations and utility companies. The team ably assists both trustees and sponsors regarding defined benefit and defined contribution schemes.

Stephenson Harwood handles a wide array of pensions matters on behalf of trustees and sponsoring companies. The team is well versed in advising on investment opportunities, liability reduction and restructurings. It is capable of advising on both contentious and non-contentious pensions matters. It regularly works on matters relating to both defined benefit and defined contribution plans.

Addleshaw Goddard has a notable practice that stands out for its work across a range of pensions matters, including SIPPs, asset-backed funding arrangements and corporate transactions. The firm works with an enviable roster of clients, including regional businesses and national corporates. Its sector expertise covers retail, financial services and energy. It is experienced in complex matters involving insolvency.

Burges Salmon is highlighted for its deep expertise in the full spectrum of pensions matters, ranging from funding questions to regulatory compliance. The firm regularly services trustees, as well as offering industry knowledge to both public and private sector organisations. It is adept at handling issues concerning both personal pension schemes and occupational pension schemes. The team is also recognised for its handling of scheme consolidation.

Clifford Chance has a notable pensions team that is experienced at advising both corporate sponsors and trustees. The team is capable of advising on all types of pension matters and it also has the enviable capacity to handle multi-jurisdictional issues.

DLA Piper advises sponsoring employers and trustees across the full spectrum of pensions issues. The team is able to apply knowledge in tax, finance and restructurings to its pensions advice, and is also experienced at advising on the pensions implications of corporate transactions. The team is recognised for its ability to provide multi-jurisdictional advice.

Fieldfisher has an established pensions practice known for its expertise when advising on pension schemes in the utilities, energy and transport sectors. The firm handles complex benefit amendments, buyouts and pensions issues relating to corporate transactions for corporate sponsors and trustees.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a broad pensions practice that is noted for servicing insurance companies, trustees and large corporate sponsors. The team is experienced in all areas of pensions and regularly handles cross-border pensions matters. The firm is also recognised for its work in pensions disputes.

Shoosmiths advises trustees and sponsors on the full gamut of pensions law, including scheme closures, transfers and mergers. It has further experience of automatic enrolment and equalisation issues. The team also assists with the pensions aspects of corporate transactions and restructurings.

Dentons is home to an experience pensions team that works with clients on all types of pensions advisory matters. The group is able to leverage the firm's global footprint to advise on the pensions aspects of cross-border transactions.

Hill Dickinson has extensive experience handling matters concerning scheme funding as well as mergers, restructures and closure to future accrual. It advises the trustees and sponsors of high-profile schemes and is noted for its niche expertise in the shipping sector.

Reed Smith has a full-service pensions offering and advises both trustees and employers on defined benefit and defined contribution schemes. The team is noted for its work on amendments to scheme rules and on investment issues, as well as advising on scheme mergers and consolidation.

Simmons & Simmons has an established practice noted for its representation of trustees and employers in connection with the full range of pensions law. The firm is recommended for its insight into the financial services, investment and energy industries. Its particular strengths include advising on scheme mergers and the pensions aspects of corporate activity. The team is further recognised for its de-risking advice for defined benefit schemes.

TLT delivers advice on the full range of pension queries, and benefits from strength in matters concerning investments and public sector pensions. The firm is well regarded in the financial services and banking sectors and counts trustees of large schemes and well-known sponsoring employers as key clients. It is also noted for its SSAS and SIPP advisory practice.

Walker Morris advises on scheme amendments, buy-ins and buyouts, transfers and corporate transactions. The team acts for a range of clients, possessing particular expertise in matters impacting schemes in the privatised utilities, public and charities sectors. It supports notable US firms in handling UK-related pension issues.

Womble Bond Dickinson's team advises clients across an array of pensions matters, ranging from day-to-day scheme management to corporate transactions. The team possesses particular strength in the public and voluntary sectors. It fields a number of experienced advisers on defined benefit schemes, including management of staff transfers and closures to future accrual. Members of the team advise household-name corporate clients from industries including technology, consumer products and utilities.

Wrigleys Solicitors is recommended for advising trustees and employers on a wide variety of complex pensions concerns. It is known for advising on matters concerning defined benefit schemes, including liability management, benefit amendments and wind-ups.