Emily McKechnie

Pensions CV

Emily has wide experience of a range of pensions-related matters, including the statutory, regulatory, and professional liability issues commonly encountered in relation to pension schemes.

Recent cases include:

• Pilots' National Pension Fund [2010] EWHC 1573 (Ch) - ranked by The Lawyer as one of the top 10 cases for 2010. Emily acted for the representative active self-employed competent harbour authority in the Part 8 proceedings concerned with the construction and operation of the Pilots' National Pension Fund (with Michael Furness QC). Emily continues to advise the seventh defendant in its individual capacity in relation to the ongoing appeal proceedings (with Timothy Howe QC).
  
  
• Entrust Pension Limited v Prospect Hospice Limited - ongoing litigation relating to the construction and effect of the deeds and rules of a pension scheme for members working in the hospice and health care industry (with Jonathan Evans).
  
  
• Nortel Networks - acting for the Canadian parent companies of the Nortel Networks Group in relation to proceedings commenced by the Pensions Regulator for financial support directions under section 43 of the Pensions Act 2004 (with Christopher Nugee QC and Jonathan Evans).
  
  
• Lehman Brothers - acting for a number of companies in the Lehman banking group in response to proceedings commenced by the Pensions Regulator for financial support directions under section 43 of the Pensions Act 2004 (with Paul Newman QC).
  
  
• Musawi v (1) Bevis Trustees Limited (2) Legal & General Assurance Society Ltd [2009] EWHC 1915 (Ch) - Representing the trustees of the BCCI staff pension scheme in the High Court on appeal from a decision of the Pensions Ombudsman, in response to a member's request for compensation and a partial transfer of benefits to a different pension scheme.
  
  
• Regularly advising the Pension Protection Fund in relation to applications for review under section 207 of the Pensions Act 2004 and applications for maladministration under section 206 of the Pensions Act 2004.
  
  
• Acting on behalf of the trustees of the BCCI staff pension scheme in a High Court application to strike out a claim brought by a scheme member for an enhanced early retirement pension scheme (with Paul Newman QC).
  
  
• Representing an international airline company in relation to its claim for damages for professional negligence against the administrator of the airline's pension scheme (with Michael Furness QC).
  
  
• Representing a firm of independent financial advisers in defence to a claim by trustees of an occupational pension scheme for professional negligence. The case involved complex issues concerning the construction and value of a deferred annuity policy (with Michael Tennet QC).
  
  
• Acting for the Pensions Regulator in prohibition proceedings against a pension scheme trustee (with Michael Tennet QC and Jonathan Hilliard).