Overview

We have a long track record of handling pensions disputes for some of the UK’s largest occupational pension schemes, and for leading insurers and global professional services firms. We handle all types of disputes concerning UK pension arrangements - from complaints before the Pensions Ombudsman, regulatory investigations and proceedings before the Determinations Panel of the Pensions Regulator, through to litigation in the High Court and appellate courts. We also advise regularly on risk management, alternative dispute resolution and avoiding litigation.

Our pensions experts combine both deep technical knowledge and substantial pensions disputes experience, but can call upon the broader dispute resolution skills of the firm’s litigation practice to ensure the optimum blend of expertise for each case.

We pride ourselves on addressing the issues raised in any pensions dispute in their overall context. The issues involved in litigation concerning occupational pension scheme cannot be separated from the other crucial aspects of the scheme itself including funding, investment decisions and relations with members/employees which need careful and sensitive handling.

Our recent experience includes resolving issues concerning the interpretation of scheme rules, the scope and exercise of powers of amendment, trustees' duties in relation to the exercise of their powers, apportionment of deficit repair contributions in multi-employer schemes, investment disputes, complex insolvency-related disputes, surplus distribution issues, claims arising from transfers and potential pensions liberation, and regulatory activity concerning scheme governance.

The team acted for the trustee in the landmark Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund deficit contribution litigation, for which the team was shortlisted for the Litigation Team of the Year Award by The Lawyer and commended in the FT Europe Innovative Lawyers Award.