Macfarlanes LLP
The pensions advisory practice at Macfarlanes LLP is experienced in assisting trustees, lenders, and employers on issues such as DC master trusts, the management of occupational pension schemes, and the pension-related aspects of corporate transactions. Camilla Barry co-leads the practice and brings her expertise in the powers of the pensions regulator, while fellow co-head Andrew Barton is the key contact for de-risking matters. Other names to note within the team include senior counsel Madison Isted and senior associate Stacey Yon. Faye Jarvis joined the practice from Hogan Lovells International LLP in November 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Macfarlanes team are testament to the view that a large team is not necessary if you have the right individuals. From a pension de-risking perspective they provide a full service and are willing and able to tackle any problem we throw at them.'
'Their depth of industry knowledge and keen sense of the commercial as well as legal elements of any transaction sets them apart from their competitors.’
‘Andrew and Madison are real experts in their field. They are able to anticipate areas where we might have concerns in advance of our raising them, which makes the drafting process much more streamlined, as they ask the right questions before we have even thought of them.'
'Their attention-to-detail is second-to-none and we always value their ability to simplify drafting to tackle any problem. Working with them is a pleasure every time.’
‘Macfarlanes are a smaller practice than others but one with a huge level of industry knowledge in the UK pension de-risking market. They deliver a personalised and very human service based on their wealth of experience.’
‘Andrew and Madison present a great team from a client perspective. Andrew has a huge level of knowledge of the industry and any problems encountered he has often seen - and indeed solved - before.'
'Madison has an incredible eye for detail and picks up on errors or dangers in proposed wording that has often eluded others during review. A real standout is how well they both work as a team- better than any others I've worked with.'
'They understand each other's strengths and contribute accordingly to deliver a perfect level of client service.’
Key clients
- Legal and General Assurance Society Limited
- Barloworld UK Limited
- The Pension SuperFund
- BMS Group
- Spirit Aerosystems Inc.
- Apollo Management International LLP
- GBT Travel Services UK Limited
- Pernod Ricard S.A.
- Darty Limited
- The Trustees of the United Airlines Pension Scheme
Work highlights
- Advised Legal & General on a £370m defined benefit pension risk transfer (buy-in) transaction with the trustees of London Heathrow’s BAA Pension Scheme.
- Adivsed Barloworld UK Limited and Barloworld Pension Trust Limited in relation to buy-in of the Barloworld UK Pension Scheme with Just Group.
- Advised PSF Capital Reserve and related parties on their revised submission for assessment of The Pension SuperFund further to feedback from the Pensions Regulator as a superfund under its defined benefit consolidator guidance.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Camilla Barry, Andrew Barton