Overview

Our Northern Irish pensions lawyers are dual-qualified in England and Wales, as well as Northern Ireland. With specialist knowledge and experience in the area, our team advises over 35 Northern Irish pension schemes.

As well as our Northern Irish clients, we work closely with a wide range of consultants, actuaries, scheme administrators and independent trustees based in Northern Ireland. We also work with numerous law firms in Northern Ireland without specialist pensions advisers. We provide the unique expertise on Northern Irish pensions that their clients need.

Our team provides its advice through our Northern Ireland entity, Burges Salmon (Northern Ireland) Limited when required. Authorised and regulated by the Law Society of Northern Ireland and a member of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, this is often beneficial to our clients.

Areas of focus

We offer the full range of pensions legal advice to our clients in Northern Ireland, including the following:

  • Advising employers of the impact pension schemes have on their business and handling issues such as scheme funding and reconstructing.
  • Advising trustees on managing governance of schemes and mitigating personal risks from their involvement.
  • Significant moral hazard investigations by the Pensions Regulator in Northern Ireland.
Experience

Advising employers in public sector schemes (including employers in NILGOSC). Clients include the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company.

Acting for schemes entering the Pension Protection Fund, such as the Herdmans Pension and Life Assurance Scheme.

Acting for the trustees on the imposition of contribution notice in Desmonds.

Advising the INTO Scheme on an ongoing basis.

Acting for the Ulster Independent Clinic Pension & Life Assurance Scheme.

Advising on the Ulster Carpet Mills Retirement Benefits Plan.

Advised on a major project for The Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) .

Advising the trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland pension scheme.

Advising on the Ballyvesey, J&J Haslett (a subsidiary of Musgrave), Mivan and Quinn Group final salary pension schemes.

Meet the team
Clive Pugh

Clive Pugh Partner

  • Pensions Regulatory
  • Pensions Services
  • Pensions Legal Advice 
Richard Pettit

Richard Pettit Partner

  • Pensions Regulatory
  • Pensions Services
  • Pensions in Northern Ireland

What others say...

Extremely friendly and responsive team, giving good advice.

Legal 500 2024

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