Head of pensions at Ashurst Morris Crisp , Maria Stimpson , is respected by peers and is successfully building an experienced team of senior assistants. Despite a transactional bias, the practice handles a significant amount of on-going advisory work. Ian Gault at Herbert Smith is cultivating a sound pensions practice and represents an impressive list of clients, including the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries and Time Warner. The firm is advising the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency on the pension aspects of its proposed privatisation. The promotion of Alison Brown in April 2001 boosted the team.
Clients report a good, professional service.
The experienced Hugh Arthur at Macfarlanes is widely respected across the industry. The team also works closely with the firm's funds group. He is the only full-time pensions partner at the firm, but Monica Ma and Philip Orange combine the discipline with employee benefits and insurance, respectively. On-going pension fund retainers include GlaxoSmithKline, Bass and William Hill. Carolyn Saunders is nurturing a very good practice at Taylor Joynson Garrett .