Working on a standalone basis, as well as alongside other complementary practice areas, including corporate/commercial and employment, Blake Morgan LLP's Cardiff-based pensions team advises employers and trustees across a range of advisory work, as well as in the context of corporate transactions. 'Focused and responsive' legal director Gillian McCue provides 'very accurate advice', particularly on public and third sector-related pensions matters, where she is able to leverage the firm's overarching understanding of the unique challenges facing clients in the space including health and social care entities and further education providers. Splitting his time between London and Cardiff, Ron Burgess regularly advises trustees on their ongoing fiduciary duties associated with running private sector pension schemes.
Pensions in Wales
Blake Morgan LLP
Practice head(s):
Ron Burgess
Other key lawyers:
Rupert Graham-Evans; Gillian McCue
Testimonials
‘Gillian McCue is bright, very focussed and responsive – she provides accurate advice.’
Key clients
NHS England
Welsh Government
Reading Borough Council
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Mous Products
Michael Weinig (UK) Limited 1990 Pension Scheme
BSN Social Care Limited
Trivallis Limited
Work highlights
- Advised a Wales-based engineering company on pensions buy-in insurance contract with JUST Retirement Limited.
- Providing pensions advice to a theatre and entertainment provider on the takeover of a Welsh theatre venue.
- Advising a social housing provider on withdrawing from the Local Government Pension Scheme and making changes to its other pension arrangements.
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
‘Well-connected across the industry and from a policy perspective’, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provides ‘a plain English and common sense approach’ to trustees and employers across a wide range of standalone matters and in a corporate support capacity (including scheme mergers). ‘Very pragmatic and solutions-oriented’ team head Stuart Earle is key to the office’s success and provides ‘a joined up service’ to clients in heavily regulated sectors across a myriad matters, including on funding arrangements and risk management strategies. Earle also leads the firm’s relationship with NEST Corporation, as well as advising several financial services on the establishment of new SIPP products. Senior associate Collette Davies is particularly adept at handling public sector-related pensions matters.
Practice head(s):
Stuart Earle
Other key lawyers:
Ian Davies; Collette Davies; Jen Green
Testimonials
‘Really well-connected across the industry and from a policy perspective.’
‘The team provides a plain English and common sense approach.’
‘The strength of the Cardiff pensions team is the sheer knowledge and expertise of the people involved.’
‘The very pragmatic and solutions-oriented Stuart Earle is a standout partner.’
‘Stuart Earle goes to great lengths to provide a joined up service that covers all angles.’
‘Stuart Earle’s advice is always accurate, apposite and pitched to be understandable to all members of the Board, regardless of their previous experience.’
‘Collette Davies provides an unfailing service to support the Board and ensure efficient governance of the scheme.’
Key clients
Nest Corporation
National Grid plc
Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water
Trustee of the SSE Southern Group of the ESPS
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Volkswagen
Microsoft / Trustee of the Nokia Group Pension Scheme
Trustees of the Morgan Advanced Materials Pension Schemes
People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals Retirement Benefits Plan
Robert Bosch Limited
Work highlights
Hugh James
Acting on its own, as well as being able to draw upon expertise across other complementary practice areas, including employment, corporate and commercial, should the need arise, the 'excellent' pensions team at Hugh James is an increasingly popular choice among public and private sector clients on both standalone advisory matters, as well as transactional mandates, including in the context of due diligence reports and outsourcing. The 'bright and commercial' Louise Price takes the lead on the non-contentious front, while Richard Locke regularly handles contentious employment matters as part of his wide-ranging commercial litigation prowess.
Practice head(s):
Louise Price
Other key lawyers:
Richard Locke; Abigail Flanagan
Testimonials
‘It is an excellent pensions team, particularly in the area of statutory schemes (and particularly in Wales, where they have a dominant market position).’
‘They go the extra mile for clients and have very strong support from elsewhere in the firm.’
‘Louise Price is bright and commercial and an absolute pleasure to work with!’
Key clients
Transport for Wales
Cynon Taf Housing Association
The Wallich
Coastal Housing Group
National Library of Wales
Ceredigion Recycling and Furniture Team (CRAFT)
Swansea County Council
Denbighshire County Council
Work highlights
- Successfully represented CRAFT, instructed by its current directors Sharon and Scott Thomas, at the original trial. One of the Defendants, Mr Derek Clifford Pope, sought permission first from the High Court and then from the Court of Appeal to bring an appeal against that decision. Both courts declined, finding there was no real prospect of an appeal succeeding.
- Continuing to represent claimants in group litigation alleging that they had been persuaded by an unregulated entity to transfer their personal or occupational pension scheme into a Self-invested Personal Pension in order to invest in a high-risk non-standard investment.
- Provision of independent financial advice from specialised team to provide holistic service to private and corporate clients and can manage group schemes dovetailing with employment law needs.