Pensions and Trusts, Chancery and Commercial, Financial Services, Disciplinary and Regulatory

Barrister specialising in Pensions and Trusts, Chancery and Commercial, Financial Services, Disciplinary and Regulatory.

Called 2004, Middle Temple.

Michael Uberoi practises in commercial and regulatory litigation, with a particular focus upon pensions and financial services. He is recommended as a Leading Junior by the legal directories in both Pensions and Financial Services.

Michael’s ongoing work includes rectification matters, indexation work, professional negligence matters (involving solicitors, actuaries, and administrators), commercial disputes involving allegations of fraud, and regulatory work (for both Defendants, and the Regulators) involving the Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Pension Protection Fund, and Lloyd’s of London.

The 2023 legal directories say “Michael is a superstar – he’s got incredible judgement and is very knowledgeable about some of the more difficult areas of pensions” (Pensions, Chambers & Partners, 2023) and that he “knows the subject area inside out” (Pensions, Chambers & Partners, 2023). In Financial Services, he is described as “personable, technically outstanding, and very hard working and responsive” (Financial Services Regulation, Legal 500, Leading Junior). The Directories also describe him as “an exceptional advocate”, who is “very dynamic and bright”.

Michael is a member of COMBAR and the Chancery Bar Association. He is also called to the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Some examples of current or very recent work include:

Acting for the professional trustee in litigation involving disputed historic pension increases granted by directors / trustees of a major company scheme in proceedings before the High Court (Fetherston & Ors v Dalriada); Acting for the trustees in the rectification of a scheme arising out of incorrect pension increase rules (Viavi Solutions UK Limited v Viavi Pension Trustee UK Limited [2022] EWHC 2565 (Ch)); Acting for the Defendant (a leading underwriter) in enforcement proceedings brought by Lloyd’s of London, in which the regulator requests a lifetime ban and a multi-million pound fine for alleged non-financial misconduct; Acting for the Defendant IFA in proceedings before the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FCA, arising out of transfers out of the British Steel Pension Scheme; Acting for the successful scheme member in a fully contested oral hearing before the Pensions Ombudsman, in which findings of dishonesty were made against the Respondent professional trustee, as a result of a failure to manage conflicts of interest (PO-22369, re the Allen, Allen & Ms E SSAS pension scheme, publication date December 2022, [2023] 032 PBLR (049)); Instructed by the Pensions Regulator in proceedings before the Upper Tribunal in relation to high value breaches of the employer related investments legislation, by a senior trustee.

Chancery Bar Association COMBAR Association of Pension Lawyers (APL) (Education & Training Sub-Committee) Financial Services Lawyers Association Michael is called to the Bar of Northern Ireland

St. Anne’s College, Oxford

Golf