Pensions
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7329 4422About
Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP
We have provided specialist pensions advice for over 30 years.
Our pensions team is one of the largest City-based pensions teams advising both pension scheme trustees and sponsors. We provide "full service" pensions legal advice and not simply a "corporate support" service. The typical services we provide include:
- preparing various governing and amending scheme documentation, using our own precedent documents to ensure we provide a cost-effective service to our clients
- advising on questions of interpretation of scheme documents, what benefits the rules provide and what formalities are required for different decisions
- negotiating contracts with service providers, including scheme administrators, investment management and bulk annuity documentation, and advising on any disputes that arise
- dealing with member benefit queries and disputes, from informal queries through to complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman
- preparing policy documents, ensuring consistency in on particular issues
- resolving issues with historic documentation
- clearance applications and liaison with the Pensions Regulator
- restructuring and insolvency solutions
- advising on corporate acquisitions, disposals, mergers, demergers and reorganisations on pension schemes
- providing mediation services to the pensions industry.
Our pensions expertise stretches across the firm, and we have dedicated specialists to assist in all pensions related issues.
Chambers Review
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.
Work Highlights
- Stephenson Harwood advised the Trustees of the RoadChef Retirement Benefits Scheme on various aspects of an insurance bulk annuity contract.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"I just find Stephenson Harwood brilliant because they are very responsive, pragmatic and technically very good."
"The teams we have worked with have been very strong in terms of their technical knowledge and advice."
"The quality of advice is excellent. They always understand what we need."
"I just find Stephenson Harwood brilliant because they are very responsive, pragmatic and technically very good."
"The teams we have worked with have been very strong in terms of their technical knowledge and advice."
"The quality of advice is excellent. They always understand what we need."
Notable Practitioners
Stephen Richards is noted for his work on issues such as pension scheme buy-ins and buyouts. He is also noted for his work on master trusts.
"He's very knowledgeable on the pensions side but also delivers advice in a clear way to people who don't have a pensions background."
"Stephen has great commercial awareness."
"Stephen is an excellent lawyer who provides pragmatic solutions."
"Stephen is highly responsive and pragmatic. He is able to consider and deliver solutions quickly and efficiently."
Philip Goodchild leads the firm's advisory practice group and is frequently engaged by employers and trustees to advise on all areas of pensions law.
"Philip is always available to discuss complex legal matters."
"Philip is a calm and careful presence, and a very good listener."