England - Yorkshire And The Humber • Employment
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Pensions

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DLA Piper

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DLA Piper‘s ’very strong, commercially minded and solution-focused’ team has a particular focus on manufacturing and financial services clients alongside strong capabilities and experience advising a diverse client base of pension scheme trustees, corporates, and pension providers. Recent work has included buy-ins, corporate restructurings, and providing advice to trustees on GMP equalisation. Andrew McIlhinney leads the team that undertakes significant complex multijurisdictional work. David Young is a pensions litigation specialist, and Simon Evans and Craig Looker are also key names of note.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A very strong, commercially minded, solutions-focused team.'

  • ‘Craig Looker is practical and responsive.’

  • ‘I am always impressed by the quality of advice, service and value provided by Andrew McIlhinney and the wider team with a special notice for my dealings with Simon Evans and his pragmatic approach.’

  • ‘This team builds a relationship with its clients and goes the extra mile to understand the business needs as well as the trustee and members needs. They have a strong resource base to cover any projects we have needed their assistance on.’

  • ‘Very personable, pragmatic and knowledgeable. Andrew McIlhinney goes out of his way to provide a first-class service.’

  • ‘The team are responsive and helpful, knowledgeable and strong communicators.’

  • ‘The individual lawyers on the team have diverse backgrounds and personalities, and each has different specialisms and skills, which together make them very strong and knowledgeable.'

  • ‘Craig Looker is technically excellent and able to explain very complex issues in an inclusive and simple manner. Simon Evans is very down to earth and has a pragmatic approach that delivers great value. Andrew McIlhinney is an excellent lead for the team with whom we have developed a good relationship over the years.'

Key clients

  • Trustee of the Yorkshire Building Society
  • Trustee of Urenco UK Pension Scheme
  • Trustee of the Bibby Line Pension Plan
  • Trustee of the Ronseal Pension Scheme
  • Trustee of the Westinghouse Electric (UK) Pension Plan
  • Sytner Group
  • Dr Marten Group
  • RR Donnelley
  • Bacardi Group
  • National Grid

Work highlights

  • Advising the Trustees of Westinghouse Electric (UK) Pension Plan on the de-sectionalisation of the DB Pension Scheme.
  • Advising the trustees of the Andrew Weir Pension Scheme on the full buy-in of all DB scheme liabilities with Aviva.
  • Acted for Dr Martens Airwair Group Limited on a bulk transfer of DC section (of a formerly hybrid scheme) into the Aviva Master Trust.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Andrew McIlhinney

Other key lawyers

David Young, Simon Evans, Craig Looker