Principal Associate – Pensions

Overview

In this Principal Associate role, you will advise trustees, employers and insurers on broad pensions matters, supporting risk transfer and scheme changes. You’ll join a high-performing, award-winning pensions team known for practical, plain-language guidance backed by strong technical standards. The role combines senior legal work with business development and profile-raising to grow client relationships. You will operate across large, strategic projects and complex regulatory changes, contributing to the team’s market leadership. This is a chance to shape high-profile pensions solutions within a supportive, development-focused environment.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working
• bonus scheme
• generous annual leave
• private medical insurance
• generous pension allowance
• life assurance

Responsibilities

• Advice to trustees, sponsors and insurers on a range of pensions issues, including day-to-day and strategic matters
• Prepare benefit specifications, discretions tables and advise on benefit-related matters for risk transfer or continuation
• Execute risk transfer exercises (buy-ins, consolidations) and advise on ongoing liability management
• Interpret scheme rules, resolve benefit discrepancies, and handle scheme documentation and changes
• Assess impact of legislative changes and case law on schemes and relevant commercial drivers
• Support scheme mergers, wind-ups, and liability reduction exercises
• Advise on investment management agreements and related investment issues
• Develop business relationships and participate in marketing, profile-raising and BD activities

Key requirements

• Qualified Solicitor with 6+ years’ PQE
• Experience in pensions advisory (trustee and sponsor) and pensions risk transfer
• Led large, strategic projects for trustees and major employers
• Experience with bulk purchase annuities and risk transfer in ongoing client contexts
• Proven ability to supervise junior lawyers and collaborate across teams
• Strong drafting, attention to detail and time management
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage client relationships and participate in BD and marketing activities

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Negotiation skills
• Team collaboration
• Pensions advisory (trustee and sponsor)
• Pensions risk transfer and bulk annuities
• Scheme documentation and benefit specifications

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