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Pensions

Pensions is our business. We have provided pensions advice for more than 25 years and act for more than 500 pension schemes with a total value of over £300 billion. Whether you are a trustee, sponsoring employer or a provider of services to pension funds, our multiple award-winning, enthusiastic, 50-strong Pensions team has the capacity and experience to help you.

What makes us different? We provide pragmatic advice that helps our clients to decide on a course of action. If you have a pensions problem, we will offer you a solution.

All of our partners are noted as either leading individuals, notable practitioners or key lawyers in prominent legal directories The Legal 500 UK and Chambers and Partners UK.

To access all of our award winning publications, including materials from recent UK Pensions campaigns and other regular briefings notes please visit our Pensions Thought Leadership Library.

About Us

Our pensions lawyers are located in each of our four UK offices (London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester) and we have pensions and benefits specialists in 23 of our overseas offices. We are supported by experts across the firm (domestically and internationally) in financial services, tax, labour and employment, disputes and commercial law.

Our clients include trustees and corporate sponsors of private sector defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes of all sizes. We are experts in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and have acted for almost half of the funds in the LGPS in England and Wales. We have also advised government bodies, non-departmental public bodies, investment managers, insurers, pension intermediaries and, with our Institutional Investors Practice Group colleagues, sovereign wealth funds. We have a broad perspective on pensions issues due to the diversity of our client base.

We are well known across a range of sectors, including utilities, manufacturing, chemicals, engineering, automotive, healthcare, financial services, infrastructure, education, local government and charity/not for profit.

We win a lot of awards! In fact, we have won 18 national UK pensions industry awards in the last 18 years, based on the quality of our advice, our action-focussed communications and our innovative work within the pensions industry.

We Are Leaders

We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of pensions developments and actively seek to influence UK government policies on savings and retirement. We respond to government consultations on proposed policy changes, we actively contribute to all the major UK pensions professional bodies, including Society of Pension Professionals, Association of Pension Lawyers and The Pensions Management Institute, and we provide secondments to some of our major clients’ in-house pension departments, as well as to The Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund (PPF). Our involvement with these organisations gives us insights into legal and industry developments – invaluable when giving advice to our clients.

We have been involved in a number of industry “firsts”! To give you a few examples, we advised on:

  • The first public sector pension plan to finalise a bulk annuity purchase
  • The first longevity swap
  • The first financial support direction
  • The first large pension plan to enter the PPF assessment period
  • The first use of The Pensions Regulator’s material detriment test outside of the EU/the US

On the Horizon

There is never a dull moment in pensions! The new Pension Schemes Act 2021 introduces many new powers for The Pensions Regulator (TPR), including the ability to issue fines of up to £1 million in certain circumstances and to play a bigger part in corporate transactions, as well as enabling better means of preventing pension scams and introducing big changes for the scheme funding regime. TPR is formulating its new single code of practice, which is more than a simple consolidation of the existing codes, meaning that all pension trustees will need to take some action in response to it. Over the next year, we can also continue to expect a lot more discussion around investment choices and the impact of environmental, social and governance factors, including climate change. GMP equalisation will continue to be a big part of the pensions landscape for many trustees, especially when deciding how and if they will top up pensions in relation to past transfers. Sitting alongside all of this, the pensions industry needs to remain on high alert for cyberattacks and data breaches, with remote working increasing the potential exposure for schemes.

The firm has immense expertise in pensions law and related areas including investments and banking. The firm provides a complete pensions service including preparation of legal documents, legal advice, information about developments in pensions law as well as pensions training.

COVID-19

We provide support to trustees on their response to the challenges caused by disruptions to service and economic volatility, in addition to carrying out scheduled actions identified in their business plans.  

Data Protection and Security

Pension plans hold large amounts of member data, much of which is sensitive or financial. As the legal obligations in respect of data protection ramp up and the threat of cyber-attacks increase, we help clients navigate the legal and practical minefield. Working closely with our data protection specialists, we help clients ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), guard against data losses and react appropriately to any data breaches. 

Environmental, Social and Governance

We provide support to pension schemes and other institutional investors against a backdrop of increasing governance and disclosure requirements, and mounting pressure from member action groups. We regularly deal with drafting and reviewing environmental, social and governance (ESG) and responsible investment policies, advising on fiduciary duties and ESG litigation/shareholder engagement. . 

Investment

Investment decisions are a fundamental part of the pension trustee role. Corporate sponsors also have an interest in managing investment risk, as they bear the ultimate cost of poor supervision, low returns and unexpected liabilities. One of the key ways in which trustees can minimise risk is to ensure that expert legal advice is taken before entering into any investment agreements – this is not only to negotiate better terms and demonstrate the proper discharge of trustees’ fiduciary responsibilities, but also to offer protection if things go wrong. The courts have repeatedly shown little sympathy for institutional investors who do not understand their obligations because they have failed to take advice on investment documentation.

Within our market-leading Pensions Practice, we advise on all asset classes and strategies, handle buy-in/buy-out and other de-risking work, and help to secure member benefits, whether for ongoing pension plans or those in the process of winding up.

Public Sector 

Apart from day-to-day pensions work for local authorities and employers, we advised the UK government on the reform of LGPS investment regulation and on options for achieving cost savings through collective investment vehicles. This advice culminated with a new prudential regulatory framework in 2016, which removed artificial constraints on asset allocation. We have provided advice to almost half of the 89 LGPS funds in England and Wales before and during their structuring of new pooled investment solutions, working with colleagues in financial services, procurement and tax. 

Pensions Disputes 

We start from the premise that prevention is better than cure. Therefore, we regularly advise on risk management strategies, including the design of internal control procedures, conflict of interest issues and on protections available to trustees and corporate sponsors should things go wrong.

If they do, our pensions disputes team – made up of contentious and non-contentious lawyers – is on hand to assist. Disputes are by their nature fact-specific, so they require bespoke solutions, taking into account commercial and financial constraints and the possibility of reputational damage to a business, a pension plan or an adviser. We work with clients to handle complaints and guide them through mediation, litigation or regulatory processes if this becomes necessary.

We have specialist expertise dealing with member complaints, documentation mistakes/ambiguities, trustee liabilities, professional negligence claims, investment claims and The Pensions Regulator interventions.

Risk and Journey Planning

Sponsors of defined benefit pension plans continue to grapple with the cost and risks associated with these arrangements. Meanwhile, trustees are expected to adopt an integrated risk management approach. We help clients implement risk management strategies and find efficiencies within their pension arrangements. Whether as part of a long term journey plan or an isolated project, our experts bring a wealth of experience including funding and security arrangements, enhanced transfer and commutation exercises, pension increases exchanges, plan restructurings, and investment solutions via Liability Driven Investment programmes, longevity swaps and buy-ins/buy-outs. 

International Service 

We provide assistance for multinational employers on all aspects of pensions and related benefits for individuals and corporates. We advise on all aspects of international benefits, whether relating to plan structures, risk, governance, corporate activity or investment issues.

Taxation and Benefits

Working closely with our Tax Strategy & Benefits and Labor & Employment teams, we offer expertise in helping trustee boards, corporate sponsors and public service bodies manage pension plan change. We are experienced in developing and advising on the implementation of alternative, tax-efficient compensation structures and guiding employers through automatic enrolment duties.

Regulatory Support

We regularly advise clients on interactions with The Pensions Regulator. This includes where a sponsoring employer is undertaking corporate activity, where a pension plan valuation is under discussion or in the unfortunate event of a breach of the law. Equally, we have expertise in advising on financial services authorisation and perimeter issues for trustees and local authorities. 

Trustee Service 

We have provided an independent trustee service through The Trustee Corporation Limited for more than 30 years – some of these plans have been at the forefront of innovative practices. 

Our Finger Is on the Pulse

We support our clients with the strategically important hot topics that they face, as and when they happen. Currently clients are looking for support on areas such as Brexit, de-risking exercises, data protection compliance, cybersecurity and contracts with third parties. 

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Our Industry

Recent industry awards won:

  • Educational Initiative of the Year 2020, FT and Pensions Expert PIPA Awards
  • Educational Initiative of the Year 2019, FT and Pensions Expert PIPA Awards
  • Human Resources (Specialist) Firm of the Year 2018, The Legal 500 UK Awards

Shortlisted for:

  • Highly commended in the category Pensions Law Firm of the Year 2022, Pensions Age Awards
  • Pensions Law Firm of the Year 2022, Pension and Investment Provider Awards
  • European Pensions Law Firm of the Year 2022, European Pensions Awards
  • 25 Years of Excellence in Consultancy, UK Pensions Awards
  • Pensions Lawyers of the Year 2022, UK Pensions Awards
  • Best Pensions Law Firm 2022, Corporate Adviser Awards
  • Pensions Law Firm of the Year 2019 and 2020, Pensions Age
  • Innovation Award 2019 and 2020, Pensions Age
  • Pensions Lawyers of the Year 2018, 2019 and 2020, UK Pensions Awards
  • Educational and Thought Leadership Initiative of the Year 2018, 2019 and 2020, UK Pensions Awards
  • Pensions Litigation Firm of the Year 2019, UK Pensions Awards
  • Law Firm of the Year 2018, 2019 and 2020, European Pensions Awards
  • Innovation Award 2018, 2019 and 2020, European Pensions Awards
  • Pensions Law Firm of the Year 2018 and 2020, FT and Pensions Expert PIPA Awards
  • Educational Initiative of the Year 2019 and 2020, FT and Pensions Expert PIPA Awards
  • 20 Years of Excellence in Legal Advice, FT and Pensions Expert PIPA Awards
  • Legal Services Innovation 2018, British Legal Awards
  • PR and Communications Innovation 2020, Legal Week Awards
  • Initiative of the Year 2018 and 2019, Workplace Savings and Benefits Awards

What Our Clients Say About Us

“I have worked with the Pensions team at [Squire Patton Boggs] and its former incarnations for over 10 years. This has been primarily in the area of trustee education, where I have found all those that I have met to be engaging, professional and personable individuals. They are all good communicators and present well in formal and informal situations. They understand the needs of their clients and their audience and deliver complex messages in easily understood and unambiguous language. My clients who have had exposure to [Squire Patton Boggs’] partners and employees always speak very highly of them.” – Nick Hodges, Former Head of Index Funds Distribution, UK Institutional Business at Legal & General Investment Management

“Squire Patton Boggs as a firm is both a pleasure to work with and a breath of fresh air as they are not afflicted with the sense of “self-importance” that emanates from some other firms. I find their fees represent excellent value for money, not least because they actively apply a sense test to all their billing.” – Duncan Brown, Director of Group Pensions, IMI plc

“I have found the whole team at Squire Patton Boggs to be very customer focused, give good advice and provide an excellent service for us.” – Graham Squires, Pensions Manager and Secretary to the Trustee, Jaguar Land Rover Pension Trustees Limited

“The partners and staff of Squire Patton Boggs have always provided a client focussed, diligent and cost effective service. On day to day matters, the advice is comprehensive but pragmatic. On complex issues the firm’s technical resource has been unchallenged, invoking specialist experience from within the firm as necessary. The support provided to the fund by Squire Patton Boggs has been faultless and is greatly valued.” – David Welch, Chairman, Trustee Directors, Tennants Consolidated Limited Pension Fund

“Tremendous strength at partner level for both litigious and advisory work across its UK offices.” – Legal 500 2022 UK

“It does not matter what questions, queries or problems you give the team, they always deal with everything in a calm, efficient and professional manner. I know that I am in good hands and can ask them anything and they will deliver.” – Legal 500 2022 UK

“Probably my top recommendation for pensions litigation. Very strong in the market, superb lawyers and excellent strategic thinking/client care.” – Legal 500 2022 UK