About The Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a lawyer to join our pensions team. The team specialise in finding commercially effective solutions to pensions problems, drafting scheme documentation and advising on transactions involving pension schemes.
The successful candidate will:
Provide good quality, consistent, timely, solution focussed and pragmatic pensions law advice to trustee and employer clients across the public and private sector.
Contribute specific, technical analysis of the pension law aspects of corporate activity and take a role in negotiations to ensure an appropriate outcome.
Contribute to the internal legal knowledge management system and support the learning and development of colleagues and clients through formal or informal training.
Represent and support the firm both internally and externally.
Responsibilities:
Draft scheme documentation.
Provide high quality robust legal advice on the interpretation of scheme rules, the exercise of discretionary powers and the management of pension disputes, including the instruction of Counsel where appropriate.
Advise on issues such as scheme funding, benefit design and investments.
Work on risk reduction and risk transfer exercises, including liability management and other one-off projects such as incentive exercises and scheme closures, mergers, demergers, buy-outs and wind-ups.
Provide support on mergers, acquisitions or disposals, covering everything from an assessment of the seller's pension arrangements to advice on warranties and the employer debt regime.
Advise on compliance with the auto-enrolment regime, including the use of contractual enrolment and salary sacrifice arrangements, whether particular individuals are within the scope of the regime and the implications of changing to a new provider.
Advise on public sector pensions, particularly involving the local government, healthcare and education sectors (including admissions to and exits from public sector schemes and the use of risk sharing mechanisms).
Provide specialist advice, knowledge management and training to other business units.
About You
Essential and desirable criteria:
Essential:
A qualified solicitor 0-3 years' PQE with experience relevant to the role with a current practising certificate in England and Wales.
A mix of transactional and advisory work behind you, gained as part of a reputable pensions team and a willingness to continue with both strands of work.
Relevant legal knowledge of, e.g., the Pensions Act 1995, Pensions Act 2004, Pensions Act 2008 and related legislation.
Experience of providing consistent, clear, audience tailored, legal advice on a range of pension law matters.
Able to prioritise a portfolio of work with competing deadlines and use own initiative.
Desirable:
Good negotiation, communication and persuasive skills.
Knowledge of public sector pensions landscape and the regulatory framework in which such schemes operate.
Person specification:
Because pensions law is technical and highly regulated, attention to detail and accuracy.
Well-organised and self-motivated.
Communication skills at all levels.
Approachable and a team player.
About Us
Benefits of working with us:
Private Medical Insurance
Sight tests / Glasses discounts
Scottish Widows Pension Scheme
27 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
Bonus scheme
Electric vehicle scheme
International secondments for 0-5 PQE
Happy People / Perks at Work benefits portal
Cycle to Work scheme
Life Assurance
1/3 gym membership contribution
Flu vaccinations
As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don't just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients.
If this opportunity sounds of interest to you, please make an application and submit your CV.
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