Our pensions team advises employers and trustees of schemes varying in size from a few million pounds to several billion pounds. We provide a full range of services relating to occupational pension schemes, including drafting and interpretation of pension scheme documentation, general advisory work, advice in relation to acquisitions, disposals and mergers, scheme amendments, investment management agreements, trustee training and seminars and independent trustee services.

In addition to our own practice, our pensions team works very closely with our corporate teams, providing pension support on acquisitions and disposals including advising on the impact of any defined benefit scheme on such transactions. We offer clear, expert advice and a complete range of services to both pension scheme and corporate clients, working closely with senior directors, managers, consultants and trustees - both nationally and internationally - to devise strategies tailored to each client. Our team includes experts in the area of corporate governance for pension schemes, including the implications of ethical investment policies.

Clients value our depth of experience and our technical excellence. According to Chambers & Partners 2005, we “fight through the legal quagmire of pensions issues”, have a “can do approach” and “high credibility in the industry.” Our expertise is recognised by various professional bodies; in the UK, we are the only adviser to be appointed to the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority's (OPRA) panel of legal advisers from the South West region, and are active members of the Association of Pension Lawyers.

• acting for employers and trustees in relation to scheme amendments, scheme mergers and re-organisations
• advising on numerous transactions in relation to the effect of the "moral hazzard" provisions of the Pensions Act 2004
• advising trustees on the interpretation of pension scheme documentation and, in a number of cases, applying to the High Court for rectification relief

Paul Matthews
t +44 (0)117 917 3592
paul.matthews@osborneclarke.com