Solicitor - Pensions NQ - 3

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:

• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Well-organised and self-motivated.
• Communication skills at all levels.
• Approachable and a team player.

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

With ten offices in England and Wales our well-established presence stretches from west to east, ensuring clients can access a full-service legal offering no matter where they’re located. We’ve expanded significantly in Birmingham, Cardiff and the Thames Valley, and our merger with Hewitsons resulted in a full service regional hub being established in the heart of the Waterside innovation area centre of Northampton. Our London and Cambridge continue to grow apace.

HCR suits people who love a challenge and want to work in an environment where careers thrive on the back of hard work and personal merit. Our people enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, and whilst our clients drive our development, it is our people who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial mindsets together to solve problems and help our clients succeed.

HCR’s growth constantly creates opportunities for people who want to go places and make a difference, your career plan can become part of our growth plan. At HCR you can expect to work with friendly, energetic, ambitious people, who love getting stuck into a client problem, and enjoy celebrating a good outcome.

As a Times Best Law firm, among the UK Top 60, we provide the full range of services that you would expect to organisations, business leaders and individuals. However, in our mission to give everyone the opportunity to experience a different kind of legal service we take an entrepreneurial approach. We’re flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients, delivering the best outcomes for them.