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Pensions and lifetime savings

Our innovative, highly ranked pensions team is known for its pragmatic, clear legal advice. Our clients benefit from our extensive experience across a wide range of schemes and cutting-edge cases. 

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We have one of the largest Pensions and Lifetime Savings teams in the UK providing exceptional coverage across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

As a firm we provide a seamless service, supporting pension schemes in all areas of pensions law and also drawing upon the expertise of colleagues in other specialist areas.

Pragmatism, responsiveness, cost-effectiveness and efficiency are at the heart of everything we do. We work in partnership with our clients.

Our established position as technical experts in our field means we advise on the most complex pensions legal issues in a plain English way with a commercial approach.

We advise pension scheme trustees, sponsoring employers, public sector funds, and commercial pension providers. Our clients – some of whom we have been working with for more than 30 years – span the private and public sectors, commercial providers, not-for-profit organisations as well as religious and educational bodies. We also provide specialist UK legal advice to our international clients and coordinate advice across multiple jurisdictions.

Our lawyers sit on pensions industry boards and committees and are members of professional associations.

Our expertise

Cyber security, data protection and AI

We have specialist lawyers with cyber security, data protection and artificial intelligence (AI) experience, who can help your pension scheme to build its cyber resilience, respond to a cyber incident and assess the risks and opportunities from AI.

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Journey planning and risk transfer

Our experienced team of pensions lawyers are perfectly placed to guide you with long-term journey planning for your scheme, with a breadth and depth of expertise in navigating the legal and commercial complexities of risk transfer and end-game solutions.

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Regulatory and transactions

Our pensions lawyers are market leading experts on regulatory issues and provide expert advice to help assess and mitigate regulatory risk including on transactions involving DB schemes.

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Pension providers and pension investors

We provide expert legal advice to pension providers and investors, guiding them through the complex legal and regulatory landscape of establishing and managing pension products, platforms and investment funds.

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Defined benefit

Deep and wide expertise in occupational, commercial and public sector defined benefit (DB) pensions. With over thirty years’ experience, we deliver reliable support and commercial solutions for our clients.

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Defined contribution

We are experts in all areas of Defined Contribution pensions. From master trusts to value for money assessments, we deliver pragmatic and commercial solutions for a range of DC clients.

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Public sector pensions

Our public sector pensions lawyers provide expert advice on public sector pension schemes, including outsourcing, scheme governance, and regulatory compliance for a range of clients.

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Pensions disputes

Combining in-depth pensions law knowledge with dispute resolution expertise to advise employers, trustees and individuals on the full range of pensions litigation.

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Focus areas

Pensions in Scotland

There are certain aspects of trust law and pensions legislation where the position North and South of the Border differs. Burges Salmon is delighted to have one of the largest Scottish pension practices based in its Edinburgh office.

The Scottish pensions team are experts in advising on the differences between the two jurisdictions and are frequently instructed to bring a little tartan to bear in pension scheme proceedings.

If you would like to discuss how we can assist with Scottish-specific aspects of your pension scheme, please contact Helen Woodford, Lead Pensions Lawyer for Scotland.

Night View Of Waverley Station in Edinburgh Scotland

Pensions in London

Our London-based pensions team ensures we can provide the full range of pensions advice to all clients seeking legal advisers with a London presence.

Our office is located in the heart of the City and the team advises employers and trustees on the full range of issues facing occupational defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes.

If you would like to discuss how the London team could help you, please contact Steven Hull.

Motion blurred shoppers walking along London high street

Pensions in Northern Ireland

A number of our partners and lawyers are dual-qualified – practising in both Northern Ireland and England and Wales.

With specialist knowledge and relevant experience in the area, our team advises employers and trustees in respect of a significant number of pension schemes across Northern Ireland.

If you would like to discuss how we might be able to assist you in this area, please contact Clive Pugh or Richard Pettit.

aerial view of the city centre and river in Belfast

Environmental, Social and Governance

Trustees and sponsoring employers are increasingly required to consider ESG factors, including in relation to pension scheme investments, governance and employer covenants.

We can help you navigate the regulatory environment, ensuring your scheme meets its legal obligations, and the Pensions Regulator’s expectations, as well as identifying ESG-related opportunities.

If you would like to discuss how we might be able to assist you in this area, please contact our Pensions Legal Director, Kate Granville Smith.

The living wall on the Athenaeum Hotel Piccadilly London

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

With ED&I high on our agenda, we are committed to helping trustees and employers understand how ED&I affects their pension scheme, set objectives, and implement strategies to achieve them.

If you would like to discuss how we might be able to assist you in this area, please contact our pensions senior associate, Charlotte Osmond.

Work colleagues gathered around computer

Pension provider advice

Our team advises pension providers on SIPPs, SSAS, and stakeholder pensions, covering regulation, taxation, compliance, and disputes.

With expertise across pensions, financial regulation, tax, and fintech, we assist with FCA authorisation, scheme management, and regulatory challenges. We provide tailored, pragmatic advice to help clients navigate a complex landscape.

London Canary Wharf skyline at dusk with tech network overlay

Pensions in Scotland

There are certain aspects of trust law and pensions legislation where the position North and South of the Border differs. Burges Salmon is delighted to have one of the largest Scottish pension practices based in its Edinburgh office.

The Scottish pensions team are experts in advising on the differences between the two jurisdictions and are frequently instructed to bring a little tartan to bear in pension scheme proceedings.

If you would like to discuss how we can assist with Scottish-specific aspects of your pension scheme, please contact Helen Woodford, Lead Pensions Lawyer for Scotland.

Night View Of Waverley Station in Edinburgh Scotland

Pensions in London

Our London-based pensions team ensures we can provide the full range of pensions advice to all clients seeking legal advisers with a London presence.

Our office is located in the heart of the City and the team advises employers and trustees on the full range of issues facing occupational defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes.

If you would like to discuss how the London team could help you, please contact Steven Hull.

Motion blurred shoppers walking along London high street

Pensions in Northern Ireland

A number of our partners and lawyers are dual-qualified – practising in both Northern Ireland and England and Wales.

With specialist knowledge and relevant experience in the area, our team advises employers and trustees in respect of a significant number of pension schemes across Northern Ireland.

If you would like to discuss how we might be able to assist you in this area, please contact Clive Pugh or Richard Pettit.

aerial view of the city centre and river in Belfast

Environmental, Social and Governance

Trustees and sponsoring employers are increasingly required to consider ESG factors, including in relation to pension scheme investments, governance and employer covenants.

We can help you navigate the regulatory environment, ensuring your scheme meets its legal obligations, and the Pensions Regulator’s expectations, as well as identifying ESG-related opportunities.

If you would like to discuss how we might be able to assist you in this area, please contact our Pensions Legal Director, Kate Granville Smith.

The living wall on the Athenaeum Hotel Piccadilly London

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

With ED&I high on our agenda, we are committed to helping trustees and employers understand how ED&I affects their pension scheme, set objectives, and implement strategies to achieve them.

If you would like to discuss how we might be able to assist you in this area, please contact our pensions senior associate, Charlotte Osmond.

Work colleagues gathered around computer

Pension provider advice

Our team advises pension providers on SIPPs, SSAS, and stakeholder pensions, covering regulation, taxation, compliance, and disputes.

With expertise across pensions, financial regulation, tax, and fintech, we assist with FCA authorisation, scheme management, and regulatory challenges. We provide tailored, pragmatic advice to help clients navigate a complex landscape.

London Canary Wharf skyline at dusk with tech network overlay

Products and tools

Significant current and ongoing regulatory reform while dealing with uncertain economic conditions have provided a unique set of challenges for trustees, employers, and their legal advisors. Burges Salmon has been at the forefront of developing innovative strategies to meet these challenges and build better, more connected relationships with our clients, including:

TPR General Code of Practice checklist for occupational pension schemes

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TPR General Code of Practice checklist for public service pension schemes

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Our team

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Examples of our work

Honda Group UK pension scheme

Advising on funding negotiations, governance responsibilities, investment management agreements, climate change reports, GMP equalisation, and legal issues related to liability-driven investments and security arrangements.

AT&T pension scheme

Providing strategic UK pensions advice on all matters relating to a £250 million DC section and £150m DB section, executing full buy-in, supporting work towards buy-out including GMP equalisation and advising on cyber security breach response.

Leonardo pension schemes

Advised on the closure to accrual of two DB schemes (£1.2 billion, £1.5 billion), implemented GMP equalisation, and managed DC scheme amendments (£220 million), assisting with trustee documentation, and provided lead advice on harmonising three trustee boards into one trustee board overseeing all three schemes (including extensive trustee training).

Hampshire Council

Advising the Council on all aspects of its Hampshire Pension Fund within the LGPS, including on admission agreements, governance and investment.

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What others say

“Burges Salmon are able to make complex situations simple”

Chambers, UK 2025

“The pensions team at Burges Salmon provides an all-round excellent service combining technical knowledge, commercial acumen, attention to detail and dedication to the client's objectives.”

Legal 500, UK 2025

“A strong team with strength in depth, they offer pragmatic and commercially sensible advice, are a pleasure to work with and inspire confidence that I have them in my corner. ”

Legal 500, UK 2025

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Insights

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The Pensions Pod

Listen as experts from across Burges Salmon as well as select special guests discuss a range of issues relevant to the pensions industry. We consider topical issues, the latest pensions news and insights, and practical tips to help trustees and employers navigate the ever changing pensions landscape.

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Our newsletter

Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in pensions law with our monthly “Pensions Law Update” newsletter. We will use your contact details to send you emails about the latest pensions news, thought leadership and events.