Pensions

You can't dabble in pensions. As well as in-depth knowledge of the complex statutory regime, you need a detailed understanding of trust law. That combination of expertise is only available in a few sets.

At Wilberforce Chambers, we are leading the way in the field of occupational pensions. Over the past twenty-five years, our members have appeared in almost all the leading cases in this area. As a result, we can offer a wealth of resources and experience, with experts at all levels of seniority. This expertise has been widely acknowledged. Wilberforce Chambers was singled out as a leader by the premier independent researchers, Chambers UK ("unrivalled experience of pensions issues") and The Legal 500 ("the greatest concentration of pensions expertise at the Bar").

As well as top quality advice and first class innovative thinking, clients can expert Wilberforce's down-to-earth, straightforward and fantastically user-friendly service. We pride ourselves on a practical approach to the needs of employers and trustees, who want commercially realistic and cost effective solutions.

We advise on cutting-edge issues affecting pension schemes and their sponsoring employers. Recent examples include:

• Structuring transactions to minimise or avoid the impact of s.75 debts
• Advising on strategies to enable companies that can't meet their scheme liabilities to escape insolvency.
• Advising on proposals to close final salary schemes to new entrants or future accrual.
• Challenging actuaries' certificates of s.75 debts
• Advising on the Age Discrimination Regulations
• Assistance with applying the statutory funding regime
• Clearance applications to the pensions regulator

A particular area of expertise within chambers concerns addressing mistakes in scheme documentation or administration. At least one of our members has appeared in every leading case on rectifying pension schemes or setting aside trustees' decisions on the grounds of mistake. We also handle related professional negligence claims, as well as advising on Ombudsman complaints, drafting representations to the Ombudsman and appealing against Ombudsman decisions.

Pensions group brochure

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