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CMS further strengthens UK pensions practice with appointment of 19th partner

13 April 2021

Building on the continued growth of the UK pensions practice, CMS is pleased to announce the promotion of Laura Clarke to partner. Laura’s appointment brings the total number of partners in the UK Pensions team to 19 and follows the move of partner Jae Fassam to the firm’s Edinburgh practice from Pinsent Masons and promotion of London-based partner Mark Jenkins in 2020 and recruitment of six other pension lawyers in the last year.     

Laura joined the firm in 2010 as a trainee and advises trustees and employers on all aspects of UK pensions law including regulatory investigations, pension scheme data protection compliance and Pensions Ombudsman disputes. Over the last two years, Laura has particularly been focussing on assisting trustees with Pensions Regulator moral hazard power investigations, advising on trustee compliance with its “relationship supervision” programme and preparations for the changes being brought in with the Pension Schemes Act 2021. 

Laura also recently set up the CMS Pensions Independent Trustee Network which brings together independent trustees for knowledge sharing sessions on a regular basis and is also the secretary to the Pensions Ombusdman’s Liaision Group.

Head of UK Pensions at CMS, Mark Grant, comments:
“We are delighted to welcome Laura to the partnership. Laura is a standout pensions specialist, boasting a strong pensions advisory practice. This is a well-deserved promotion and a reflection of Laura’s contribution and commitment to our clients and the firm. We look forward to Laura helping to support the continued growth of our business in the pensions sector."

CMS’s 67-strong Pensions team continues to go from strength to strength. In the last year the team has picked up three industry awards: Pensions Lawyers of the Year at the Professional Pensions UK Pensions Awards 2020, Pensions Law Firm of the Year at the Pension and Investment Provider Awards 2020 and UK Pensions Rising Star Award for Supporting Development 2020 and has been top-ranked in Chambers and Legal 500 legal directories for over a decade. 

CMS has promoted 52 new partners across the globe, with 23 announced in the UK. Women made up 43% of new partners in the UK, and 37% globally.