Pensions
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 2
About
Provided by Baker McKenzie
As leading advisers for over 35 years, the Baker McKenzie London Pensions practice provides comprehensive advice, from strategic journey-planning to day-to-day for over 300 clients, many of whom are long-standing, often for decades.
"Pensions" can involve pensions, banking and funds (innovative plan funding vehicles, use of non-cash assets, parent company guarantees), corporate and restructuring, employment, regulatory and investment and, on occasion, property, advice. They have a truly experienced team with extensive "Pensions" knowledge and know-how to address all of their clients' issues.
A key area of strength and growth is their multi-jurisdictional transaction and carve-out specialism, working in collaboration with the Corporate and Employment teams on numerous high-value, high-profile transactions. They support clients with current challenges, helping navigate critical issues from insolvency/restructuring, through suspension of deficit contribution payments to member financial assistance.
Advising trustees, corporates and providers, they have a deep understanding of issues, allowing them to take a holistic approach that differentiates them from other firms that mainly represent one client type just doing pure pensions.
They draw on expertise across multiple disciplines to provide the solution, working with Banking & Insolvency, Employment, IT/Commercial, Derivatives and Funds teams, acting as a truly "one-stop-shop".
Chambers Review
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.
Work Highlights
- Baker McKenzie advised the Trustee of PerkinElmer on a £130 million buy-in of all the scheme’s assets with Standard Life.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The advice given by the team, was balanced, giving the client a clear understanding of the relevant factors and the relative strength of various assumptions underpinning the advice."
"They are always available when needed and happy to jump onto calls to discuss urgent points."
"I have absolute confidence that with Baker McKenzie I am receiving the best advice relating to the issues that matter."
"There is no issue that Baker & McKenzie cannot advise on."
"They are very able at tackling complex and challenging matters."
"The advice given by the team, was balanced, giving the client a clear understanding of the relevant factors and the relative strength of various assumptions underpinning the advice."
"They are always available when needed and happy to jump onto calls to discuss urgent points."
"I have absolute confidence that with Baker McKenzie I am receiving the best advice relating to the issues that matter."
"There is no issue that Baker & McKenzie cannot advise on."
"They are very able at tackling complex and challenging matters."
Notable Practitioners
Arron Slocombe leads Baker Mckenzie's London pensions team. He assists employers and trustees with a wide array of pensions issues, including scheme mergers and buyouts.
"Arron and his team take a complex subject and distil it to the critical detail required for senior stakeholders to make good decisions."
"Arron has been our lawyer for many years now and he has the total respect and confidence of the Trustees and the Company."
"Arron Slocombe is an experienced, pragmatic and effective adviser."
Jeanette Holland frequently assists clients with all areas of pensions law, including advising on scheme mergers, closures and regulatory investigations.
"Not only is she incredibly knowledgeable of matters impacting defined benefit pensions, her experience is priceless when it comes to informing strategy and tactical decision-making."
"As well as her comprehensive knowledge of pensions law, she is also amazing at understanding the issues we face and explaining things in a way non-specialists are able to readily understand."
"Jeanette is tenacious and forthright when necessary. She has a very good grasp of the broader financial context within which defined benefit schemes in particular have to operate."
"We have had a long working relationship with Jeanette, and again her detailed client knowledge is very valuable. She also displays excellent team management."
Jonathan Sharp is regularly called upon by both employers and trustees seeking counsel on an array of funding arrangements, tax issues and scheme mergers.
"Jonathan is truly excellent with comprehensive knowledge and a real eye for where we need to consider risk. He is superb at explaining issues in terms non-specialists can understand."
"Jonathan was a pleasure to work with and is very prompt in responding and pragmatic when discussing issues."
"He is excellent when it comes to mergers and acquisitions, and has a breadth of knowledge that spans across all pensions."
"Jonathan is easy to speak to and offers practical, pragmatic solutions."
Ranked Lawyers at
Baker McKenzie
London (Firms)
Members
Provided by Baker McKenzie