The ‘vastly experienced’ Lesley Browning leads the non-contentious pensions team at Norton Rose Fulbright; she counts trustees, sponsoring employers, master trusts, insurance companies and benefit consultants as clients. The team has a depth of expertise in both corporate and trustee advisory work, and is experienced in high-value global transactions and investments; it also has notable sector expertise, particularly in the transport industry. Shane O’Reilly is also an active member of the team, and is singled out by clients for his ability to 'distill advice to any level of understanding and give a holistic response'.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is a close-knit group of pragmatic knowledgeable experienced pension lawyers who work well alongside clients both individually and as a team.’

  • ‘Lesley Browning is vastly experienced but applies her detailed know-how in developing practical commercial solutions where at all possible.'

  • ‘Industry and subject matter depth of knowledge and experience, pragmatic practical solutions and advice, overall quality of service.’

  • ‘Ability to find pragmatic solutions to difficult problems, completeness and clarity of the advice provided, general responsiveness and feeling of working with a trusted partner.’

  • ‘The team is pro-active with advice and has a broad range of support which is particularly helpful for my complex international sponsor. Advice is always clear and definitive. They are able to explain complex concepts to lay trustees and will ensure that all trustees understand the position before moving on, no matter how long that takes.’

  • ‘I work with Shane O’Reilly who is very approachable, able to distill advice to any level of understanding and give a holistic response. The team are always happy to use the expertise of colleagues on matters in their area of specialism but know their own topic in great detail. They are always up to date with the most recent events.'

Key clients

  • 777 Partners LLC
  • Abellio Transport Holdings B.V.
  • Abellio Transport Holdings Ltd
  • AB Stena Finans
  • ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
  • Accolade Wines Ltd
  • AES Corporation
  • AIG Life Limited
  • AmTrust International Limited
  • AXA UK plc
  • Bain Capital
  • Bank of Ireland
  • Barclays Bank plc
  • Bombardier Inc.
  • The Boston Consulting Group Limited
  • BMO Asset Management (Holdings) Plc
  • Canada Life Limited
  • Carnival plc
  • Carlsberg UK Limited
  • Carrier Pension Trustee Limited
  • Cathay Life Insurance Co. Ltd
  • Charles Taylor Limited
  • Chubb Services UK Limited
  • Civil Aviation Authority
  • Cobalt Energy Limited
  • Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
  • Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Limited
  • Conning Holdings Limited
  • Cooper Tyre & Rubber Co. Europe Limited
  • Corebridge Financial
  • Countryside Partnerships plc
  • Crest Nicholson plc
  • Dalriada Trustees Limited
  • DHL International (Ireland) Ltd
  • Direct Line Group
  • Energizer Brands LLC
  • ERGO Versicherung AG
  • Financial Conduct Authority
  • FTI Consulting LLP
  • GFG Alliance Ltd
  • Grundfos Holding AS
  • HSBC UK Bank plc
  • Hydro Aluminium Deeside Ltd
  • Hydro Aluminium UK Limited
  • Hydro Building Systems UK Ltd
  • Hyperion Insurance Group Limited
  • IMI plc
  • ING Bank NV
  • Invensys Pension Trustee Limited
  • Irish Pensions Trust Limited
  • John Menzies
  • Kaefer Limited
  • Kerry Group Plc
  • Lancaster Landmark Hotel Company Limited
  • Liberty Merchant Bar Plc
  • Liberty Pressing Solutions (Coventry) Ltd
  • Livewire Group International Pty Ltd
  • Lyondell Chemical Europe Inc.
  • Maersk Line UK Limited
  • Markerstudy Group Limited
  • McLaren Technology Group Limited
  • Mercer Limited
  • MS Amlin plc
  • Munich Re
  • National House Building Council
  • Norsk Hydro ASA
  • Northern Marine Management Ltd
  • Olympus Management Limited
  • Oxford Instruments Plc
  • P&O Ferries
  • Post Office Limited
  • QBE
  • RGA UK Services
  • RWE AG
  • Renishaw plc
  • Ross Trustees Services Limited
  • Rothesay Life
  • Royal Bank of Canada
  • RWE AG
  • Sandvik AB
  • Simec Lochaber Hydropower 2 Limited
  • SNC Lavalin
  • Sourceability Global Holdings LLC
  • Stena AB
  • Stena Drilling Limited
  • Stena Line Limited
  • Teacher Retirement System of Texas
  • Trustee of the IPT Group Pension Plan
  • Trustee of the Oxford Instruments Pension Scheme
  • Trustee of the Steel Construction Institute Pension Scheme
  • Trustees of the Bayerische Landesbank Retirement and Death Benefits Plan
  • Trustees of the BBVA London Pension Plan
  • Trustees of the Crown Agents Superannuation Scheme
  • Trustees of the Dover Harbour Board Pension and Life Assurance Scheme (1973)
  • Trustees of the J.J. Churchill Ltd Executive Pension Plan
  • Trustees of the Marylebone Cricket Club Pension and Assurance Scheme
  • Trustees of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi Pension and Life Assurance Scheme
  • Trustees of the Shaw Group UK 1997 Pension Scheme
  • Trustees of the SITA Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
  • Trustees of the Thomson Pension Fund
  • Trustees of the West of England Ship Owners Insurance Services Ltd Retirement Benefits Scheme
  • USAA Limited
  • V. Ships UK Ltd
  • Vitality Life Limited
  • Vroon Offshore UK Limited

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Lesley Browning

Other key lawyers

Shane O'Reilly