Wendy Hunter
Squire Patton BoggsSquire Patton Boggs fields a ‘proactive and engaged’ non-contentious pensions practice, with key expertise spanning de-risking and risk transfer solutions, corporate support work, compliance mandates, interventions, investments and ESG issues. The firm also has knowledge of acting for clients in the regulated utilities sectors, especially water, nuclear and electricity sponsored schemes, and not-for-profit organisations. Wendy Hunter heads up the pension practice, advising employers and trustees on scheme documentation and the pension aspects of corporate transactions, especially public to private sector transfers. Hunter is supported by Kirsty McLean on mergers, benefit changes and buy-ins; she also advises on the impact of new legislation, day-to-day compliance issues and member complaints.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Strong legal support for complex issues, with good clear explanations to a lay board.’
‘Wendy Hunter has been a great support in bringing new team members up to speed on complex issues quickly and with a good balance between technical explanations and general history of a transaction. She will challenge where needed and provides explanations of issues in a pragmatic way.’
‘Chris Harper - really very engaged, responsive, always with an eye for a practical efficient solution.’
‘Good team offering a great service - have cultivated a real niche for representative beneficiary work.’
‘I particularly appreciate the pragmatic approach taken to member complaints or issues. There isn’t much they haven’t seen before on other clients so we gain from this experience.’
‘They are easily contactable and provide advice that is easily understandable and provided in a timely manner. They feel part of the integrated team and are happy to express views and opinions on matters not directly related to purely legal advice.’
‘Kirsty McLean is an outstanding professional. She considers her advice, ensures it is complete and on message. She explains tricky issues in plain English and ensures her advice is understood and heard. She works very well with other advisers and sets an excellent example to her junior colleagues.’
Key clients
- ACCESS Pool
- Combined Nuclear Pension Plan Trustees Limited
- Aviva Master Trust
- Trustee of the Anglian Water Group Pension Scheme
- Banco Santander, SA
- Trustees of the ICI Pension Fund and ICI Specialty Chemicals Pension Fund
- Trustees of the UNISON Staff Pension Scheme
- Trustees of Lincoln's Inn Staff Pension Scheme and Midland Radio Pension Scheme
- Trustees of Thames Water Pension Schemes
- KLM UK Pension Scheme
- Greater Manchester Pension Fund
- West Midlands Pension Fund
- CNH Pension Scheme / Iveco Limited Pension Scheme / JI Case Limited Benefits Plan
Work highlights
- Advised the trustee of the Aviva Master Trust on the full range of administrative and governance matters including multiple bulk transfers in.
- Acted for the trustee of the first of a new type of occupational pension scheme.
- Advised the £60bn ACCESS Pool on all legal issues, including the governance and structuring of investment arrangements, and the impact of the Government’s consultation in 2023 on reforms to LGPS investment and pooling.
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Practice head
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Wendy Hunter