Clifford Chance LLP‘s advisory practice is particularly well-equipped to assist its clients with the pensions elements of cross-border transactional cases. The practice advises trustees, employers, and lender clients on a breadth of pensions issues, including scheme valuations, buy-in and buy-out transactions, GMP equalisations, and pension scheme closures. Hywel Robinson, former chair of the Association of Pension Lawyers, leads the team, and is especially experienced in cross-border membership and asset-pooling matters. Clare Hoxey is a name to note for de-risking matters, while Sarah McAleer is a key contact for trustee advisory work. Senior associates Rebecca Trapp and Robert Klepka are also recommended.

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'The team are incredibly attentive to their role in advising the trustees and spare no effort in making sure they have the guidance they need, when they need it - if not before they know they need it!'
'The team are always thinking ahead.'
'Clare Hoxey and Rebecca Trapp work superbly well as a team.'

Key clients

Mitchells & Butlers
Thames & Hudson
Saint-Gobain
The Co-operative Bank

Work highlights

Advised on the demerger of the GKN automotive business, which involves two substantial defined benefit pension schemes.
Advised on a number of buy-in transactions, including for The Co-operative Bank PLC on the £1.2bn all-risks insurance buy-in of its previously uninsured Co-operative Pension Scheme liabilities with Rothesay Life PLC.
Acted as the primary pensions advisers to a FTSE 250 company which specialises in international defence, with global operations and over 28,000 employees who participate in a number of UK (and overseas) pension schemes.