Pension Disputes & Contentious Trusts Associate
iCIMS
Pension Disputes & Contentious Trusts Associate
Salary Not Specified
iCIMS, City of Westminster
- Full time
- Permanent
- Onsite working
Posted 3 weeks ago, 29 Aug | Get your application in now before you miss out!
Closing date: Closing date not specified
job Ref: 028af525de6c4b0da13febce8df558a0
Full Job Description
- Clear, concise and unambiguous preparation and drafting of documentation
- Managing matters, with supervision from Senior Associates and Partners
- Delegating to trainees and paralegals
- Conducting legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources
- Assisting in the preparation of legal articles
- Developing internal and external network of contacts
- Building excellent working relationships with clients and peers within Stephenson Harwood
- Attending business development and profile raising events
- England and Wales qualified lawyer, of between zero and a few years' PQE
- Training in an established firm, with a desire to focus on contentious work and a willingness to do so in a pensions context
- A technical background in black letter law
- Experience in pensions disputes is desirable, but not essential
- Highly technical mindset, with a focus on accuracy and attention to detail
- Excellent verbal and numerical communication skills
- Ability to acquire, consolidate and apply fundamental and up-to-date knowledge of the law
- Personable and positive attitude to work together in a team
With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service. - A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
- Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family
- A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers
- Tech, cycle and electric car schemes
- The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
- A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when our people experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.
Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.
Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.
We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.
We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.
Our values
Individuality
We encourage creativity and develop talent.
Commitment
To be the best and deliver the highest standard.
Teamwork
We work together to build close, long-term relationships
Straight talking
We say what we mean and do what we say.
These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.
Our vision into 2026
To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.
This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character - the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising
our clients with top performing teams.
A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transportation & trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.
We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.
You can expect:
Team Structure
The Pensions Disputes and Contentious Trusts team sits within the Employment Pensions and Private Wealth Department. The core team comprises 3 partners, 2 senior associates, 4 associates, a trainee, and a solicitor apprentice. The team also works closely with other lawyers in the pensions advisory, private wealth, insolvency, regulatory, and commercial litigation practices, some of which are also deeply involved in the team's matters (as well as working with the rest of the firm's complimentary practices).
The team handles various kinds of disputes arising from pensions schemes, with a particular focus on achieving results by way of alternative dispute resolution and mediations as well as going to Court. Associates work on professional negligence claims, rectification/construction claims, part 8 & part 7 claims, judicial review/public law issues, contract disputes, international disputes, disputes concerning scheme funding, investment claims, RPI/CPI matters etc. Compared to some pensions disputes practices, the team has a broad spread of work, with associates exposed to various types of disputes concerning pension schemes. The team has acted in many of the leading cases in the industry and before the highest courts. The team's clients range from pension scheme trustees to sponsoring employers; from multi-nationals and banks to charities and not-for-profits; from actuaries and scheme administrators to lawyers and documentation providers.
The team, collectively and individually, have been highly recognised or top-ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers directories.