Allen & Overy's global pensions practice comprises over 40 pensions specialists across our international network of offices. It is one of the longest standing and highly respected pensions practices. The team has a wide range of skills and talents, but what unites the team is the quality of our people, dedication to our clients and the desire to be the best. The London group comprises three partners, three consultants, twelve associates, two trainees and two senior professional support lawyers.
Key responsibilities
Our pensions practice is at the forefront of developments and market practice ensuring that our clients receive the most commercial and up-to-date legal advice supported by the highest level of service standards. We are dedicated to working with pensions funds and their sponsors on all aspects of pensions provision, from benefit and structural changes and trustee responsibilities to dispute resolution and negotiations over financial support and liability management. Pensions work for investment funds/managers, alternative buy-out providers, and private equity and trade buyers completes the picture.
In addition, our pensions practice has a strong advisory background built on experience of working with a client base evenly split between trustees and employers. This has given us a sound base from which to look at the overall picture – a perspective that some of the more trustee-only practices may lack. Our three partners also have a hands-on approach, ensuring a consistently high quality of service.
Recent high profile work includes advising:
Successfully represented the Prudential on the recent High Court judgment relating to discretionary pensions benefits.
Advising the trustees of a large scheme on introducing a cap on pensionable pay being effected via member consents outside the scheme rules.
Advising the trustees of the main HBOS defined benefit scheme in the Lloyds Banking Group on funding issues in the wake of the Lloyds/HBOS merger.
Advising the trustees of the Burmah Castrol pension fund on the transfer of the scheme's liabilities into the BP pension scheme following the BP Group merger.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for highly motivated lawyers (6 months - 3 years PQE) who combine good academic credentials with sound practical experience, good business judgment and strong interpersonal skills. Candidates should be articulate, show a genuine interest in the subject and be committed to their continuing development as a lawyer. We are looking for lawyers with the potential and ambition to be leaders in their field and who take responsibility for, and pride in the team's work product.
You should be keen to work within a collegiate team, mentoring and training more junior lawyers, and to be primarily responsible for building and maintaining the client relationships that are assigned to you.
