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Pensions (non-contentious)

Hogan Lovells International LLP

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Katie Banks leads the ‘exceptional’ non-contentious pensions team at Hogan Lovells International LLP. The practice is well-equipped to advise its clients on de-risking matters, novel funding solutions, master trust cases, and buy-ins and buy-outs. The team’s noteworthy recent work includes the completion of the £600m buy-out of liabilities in one section of ITV’s pension scheme. Claire Southern is experienced in advising large international clients such as Axa, while Duncan Buchanan brings more than thirty years of pension experience to the team. Other key contacts include Edward Brown and associate Beth Sheehan. Faye Jarvis left the practice in November 2022 for Macfarlanes LLP.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team is very pragmatic and also conveys messages in plain English rather than legalistic language. If we encounter problems across other disciplines, they can always find an expert to help.'
  • 'Claire Southern, Katie Banks and Beth Sheehan all provide pragmatic advice, are able to think outside the box and write in language that is easy for the layperson to understand.'
  • 'Hogan Lovells has a deep understanding of the UK pensions market and in dealing with us as a longstanding client. The team provides an excellent series of webinars and seminars to keep trustees and other pensions professionals up-to-date with current UK and international legislation too.'
  • 'Claire Southern and her team understand the complexities of the different schemes within our pension fund and always provide legally sound yet pragmatic advice.'
  • 'Service levels and responsiveness are both very good. This is particularly the case when work is urgent. Hogan Lovells provides excellent training sessions for its clients.'
  • 'Both Katie and Beth have an excellent understanding of our pension scheme and its history. They work exceptionally well with the trustee and the plan's other advisers. They are quick to bring our attention to matters that will impact our scheme. Both are approachable and are happy to take the lead or offer a supporting role to our other advisers as required.'
  • 'Beth is excellent at enhancing our understanding of matters. Katie has a wealth of experience advising pension schemes across a range of scenarios and offers practical and pragmatic advice. Both have a good understanding of the expectations of the various regulatory bodies and guide us to ensure these are met'
  • 'The specialist legal knowledge of the team is best in class. The advice is always clear and factors in the complexities associated with our arrangements. The team have a strong knowledge of how we do things and their advice is always on-point.'

Key clients

  • Gallaher Trustees
  • SEGRO Pension Scheme
  • PwC
  • Ford
  • AA
  • ITV
  • Pension Protection Fund
  • McKinsey
  • Law Debenture
  • Aon Minet Pension Scheme
  • Stena
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Kingfisher
  • Pilkington Superannuation Scheme
  • General Dynamics UK Retirement and Death Benefit Scheme
  • Centrica
  • Capital Cranfield Trustees Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised PwC (administrators of the McColl’s business) in relation to the rescue of McColl’s two defined benefit pension schemes; the joint administrators from PwC completed a sale of the business and assets of McColl’s to Morrisons Group, McColl’s largest supplier in May 2022.
  • Advised the trustee of the Gallaher Pension Scheme on the annuitisation of its £1.7bn scheme with Standard Life.
  • Advised the trustees of three pension schemes in the Centrica group on the entry by them into a £10bn outsourced chief investment officer arrangement with Schroders.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Duncan Buchanan
Hall of fameHogan Lovells International LLP
After qualifying as a solicitor in 1990, Duncan Buchanan realised he had a passion for pensions, which he has concentrated on since 1992. His wealth of experience is second to none and he has been an asset since he joined us as a partner in 2006.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Claire Southern
Hogan Lovells International LLP
People are often surprised to find out that Claire's a pensions lawyer. She's learned to take that as a compliment. She enjoys working closely with clients to find solutions to their problems and believes that pensions law is much improved by some straight talking and a sense of humour. Claire likes variety and this is reflected in the wide range of clients and matters that she works on. She has developed specialist practices in trustee friendly derivative instruments and the VAT recoverability of pension scheme expenses.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Katie Banks

Other key lawyers

Claire Southern, Duncan Buchanan, Edward Brown, Beth Sheehan

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