Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs' team has a notable focus on the regulated utilities sector, particularly on water, nuclear, and electricity-sponsored pension schemes. The team also advises on master trusts, pension investments, scheme consolidations, and regulator interventions. Co-head of the practice Wendy Hunter is well-equipped to assist its clients with the pension-related elements of corporate transactions, whilst co-head and Birmingham-based Matthew Giles namely offers specialist advice on defined benefit pension plans and deficit management strategies. Other names to note within the team include public sector expert Kirsty McLean, and the 'excellent, proactive' senior associate Archana Gupta. Clifford Sims is also recommended for pensions investment cases. Chris Harper was promoted to the partnership in May 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Good support for one another, with the ability to call on wider experience pools from the firm.’
‘Very knowledgeable, proactive, and will speak up on issues and come forward with suggestions or solutions.’
‘Archana Gupta is excellent, proactive, and very much part of the client team.’
'An extremely experienced and knowledgeable team. Available and responsive. Extremely skilled at responding to the diverse Trustee board.'
'Wendy Hunter has a fantastic relationship with the Trustee and is great at translating complex legal positions into intelligible, balanced advice. Always available if needed, and great to discuss issues informally with.'
'Pragmatic, personable, calm in crisis, professional and always looks for solutions rather than problems.'
Key clients
- Essex County Council / ACCESS Pool
- Combined Nuclear Pension Plan Trustees Limited
- Action for Children Pension Fund
- Cobham Pension Plan
- Amey OS Pension Scheme
- Agfa UK Pension Plan
- Fiat Group Pension Plan
- West Midlands Pension Fund
- Thames Water Pension Scheme
- UNISON Staff Pension Scheme
- Anglian Water Group Pension Scheme
- Aviva Master Trust
Work highlights
- Advised on multiple market significant buy-ins including the £530m for Cobham Pension Plan, £400m for Amey OS Pension Scheme, and £200m for Agfa UK Group Pension Plan.
- Advised the Combined Nuclear Pension Plan on a £250m transfer from two of its twelve sections to a newly created scheme, sponsored by Westinghouse Electric.
- Advised on numerous new pension fund investment mandates across public and private sector arrangements totalling more than <£1.5bn.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Wendy Hunter, Matthew Giles