Pensions (non-contentious)

Sacker & Partners LLP

Pension specialist boutique firm Sacker & Partners LLP fields a large and deep team, which has extensive experience in issues ranging from high-value risk transfer transactions to the outsourcing of trustee executive functions. The practice is headed up by David Saunders, who has notable experience advising on DB and DC pension arrangements, including mergers and demergers, scheme funding issues, and de-risking projects. Other key names include Janet Brown, who is noted for her experience in large multi-employer DB schemes across the oil, chemical, and university sectors; Fuat Sami, who has expertise in advising on M&A, restructurings, and de-risking matters; and Stuart O’Brien, who is highlighted for his focus on finance and investment issues. Jacqui Reid and Philippa Connaughton are further key names of note. Edward Hayes retired at the end of 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Collectively the firm is an absolute subject matter expert on pensions.'
'The level of collaboration is outstanding - the team is always incredibly solutions focused. There is always someone of a very high quality available to deal with requests.'
'The people at Sackers are delightful to work with - across the board. Over the last few months, we have had the pleasure of working with a number of new colleagues brought in to help with a major project. The team is knowledgeable and friendly.'
'The Sackers team always provides timely pragamtic advice on a wide range of complex pension issues that we face as a long standing pension scheme. We are always made to feel like we are the only customer.'
'They are the ultimate pension trustee specialist firm, with breadth and depth for everything you could possibly need in pensions, from GDPR to litigation to transactions and investments.'
'Highly professional, practical and experienced and a pleasure to work with.'
'Very talented team that successfully navigated us through a very complex and difficult dispute.'

Key clients

Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP)
Aviva Master Trust
TFL Pension Fund
John Lewis Partnership Trust for Pensions
Bank of England Staff Pension Fund
Trustee of the Boots Pension Scheme
The Trustee of the GSK Pension Scheme and the GSK Pension Fund
The Trustee of the TotalEnergies UK Pension Plan
Airways Pension Scheme (APS)
The Trustee of the Nationwide Pension Fund
Credit Suisse Pension Scheme

Work highlights

Advised the trustee of the Sal Pension Scheme (SALPS) on all aspects of a large bulk annuity transaction, insuring a total of c.£6.5bn of liabilities and covering the pensions of 40,000 members.
Advised the Trustee of the Boots Pension Scheme on its landmark £4.8bn buy-in with Legal & General, insuring in total £4.8bn of liabilities and covering the pensions of all 53,000 retirees and deferred members of the scheme.
Advised the Trustees of the £590m Sears Retail Pension Scheme on their agreement to enter into the UK's first superfund transaction with Clara-Pensions.