Advising across the full spectrum of defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, Travers Smith LLP’s pensions team is led by Susie Daykin, who oversees a broad practice handling work ranging from risk and liability management issues to investments, and governance issues. The practice also stands out for assisting with covenant work, defined contribution matters, including transfers to master trusts, and ESG-related mandates. Daykin is known for her expertise in de-risking transactions in particular, while ‘top-class all-round pensions expert’ Dan Naylor is another key name in this area, with notable knowledge of end game planning and pensions insurance. For governance issues, Daniel Gerring is a go-to name, while David James has experience acting for large occupation pension schemes. Other key names include ’exceptional lawyer’ Andy Lewis, Niamh Hamlyn, and Chris Widdison.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Travers Smith provide a dedicated team of specialists who are thorough, articulate and pragmatic. They are mindful of client strategy whilst advising appropriately.’
‘David James goes even beyond the extra mile to make sure we get the attention we need. We are a small client for Travers Smith but we are always made to feel we are a very important client.'
‘The best pensions team in London.’
‘David James is the best pensions lawyer in London - smart, commercial and thoughtful.’
‘Daniel Gerring is a stand-out partner and lawyer. His knowledge of DB Pensions and regulation runs deep and broad. He is also an individual who offers exceptional advice always with a dose of pragmatism.'
‘Travers Smith have leading experts in this sector. They are deeply committed and very client focused.’
‘Attentiveness. Breath of knowledge and ability to communicate complex/technical information in such a way it can be understood by those with no knowledge of the topic.’
Key clients
- AXA UK Group Pension Scheme
- BAE Systems Pension Scheme
- British Steel Pension Scheme
- C&J Clark Pension Fund
- Hanson Industrial Pension Scheme
- Nest
- Rothesay
- Unilever UK Pension Fund
- Vodafone Group Pension Scheme
- ZF UK Pensions Trust Limited
Work highlights
- Advised the Trustees of BAE Systems Pensions Schemes on the outsourcing of the investment management of approximately £23bn of pension scheme assets to Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM).
- Advised the British Steel Pension Scheme on the fourth £2.7bn buy-in transaction, taking total buy-ins to £7.5bn.
- Advised Rothesay on its £2.7bn buy-in of the Thales UK Pension Scheme, resulting in benefits being secured for over 16,000 members.
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Practice head
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Susie Daykin