Travers Smith LLP
Travers Smith LLP is noted for its ‘pragmatic’ and ‘client-focused’ pensions work, with the team being jointly headed by Susie Daykin and Daniel Gerring. The practice offers clients assistance in matters including de-risking, distress, covenants, and defined contribution pensions, with a particular focus on the endgame for schemes. Clients span employers, insurers, private equity firms, and trustees, with recent work including advice on the transfer of assets to a master trust, advice in part 8 claims, and assistance in multi-million pound buy-in deals. David James is a name to note for his master trust work, while Dan Naylor is a notable contact for pensions insurance and endgame planning work. Andy Lewis, Niamh Hamlyn, and senior counsel Chris Widdison are also key names within the team. Hamlyn was promoted to the partnership in July 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The pensions partners are incredibly strong technically, and very client-focused.’
- ‘David James is the best technical pensions lawyer I have worked with, but is also very commercial, and focused on delivering for the client.’
- ‘As a non-pensions professional I could not manage our DB pension without the guidance I receive from Niamh Hamlyn. She is always on-hand to clarify things for me in a way that I can easily understand. She understands the culture of our company and responds extremely quickly. Niamh is a very pragmatic and knowledgeable lawyer, and always provides an extremely considered response to matters. The delivery of advice is clear, well-documented and conclusions are simply drafted to aid in quick decision making.’
- ‘Travers Smith are a very customer friendly firm and have, in my experience, always integrated very well with the trustees they support. Their advice is always clearly explained and above all pragmatic, avoiding overuse of jargon and technical detail.’
- ‘Their in-depth legal and pensions knowledge is second-to-none. Their responsiveness is always 100%. In terms of innovation, they lead the way in their field on diversity.’
- ‘Travers Smith are unique in that they are pragmatic lawyers who actively seek-out simple solutions to complex problems, and we are confident in their ability to support the trustee board, having understood the brief and the detail of the matter.’
- ‘Susie Daykin is a leading figure in the industry with masses of experience. She's a truly outstanding technical lawyer, great at solving problems, and lovely to work with.’
Key clients
- Akzo Nobel (CPS) Pension Trustee Limited
- AWE Pension Scheme
- British Steel Pension Scheme
- MGN Pension Scheme (Reach Plc)
- Rothesay
- Stena Line Limited
- Unilever UK Pension Fund
- AXA UK Group Pension Scheme
- BAE Systems Pension Scheme
- UN: Principles for Responsible Investment
- British American Tobacco Plc
Work highlights
- Advised the Trustee of the AWE Pension Scheme (Atomic Weapons Establishment) on the negotiation and agreement of a Crown Guarantee.
- Advised the Trustee of the British Steel Pension Scheme in relation to over £4bn of buy-in transactions with Legal & General.
- Worked with the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) to develop and co-author their landmark paper 'A legal framework for impact (UK): integrating sustainability goals across the investment industry'.
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.
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Susie Daykin, Daniel Gerring