Tenth New Business Partner To Join Since Start Of 2015

Leading national law firm Irwin Mitchell has added to its fast-growing business division with the appointment of Pensions Partner, Penny Cogher.
 
Penny, who specialises in advising UK and international companies and their pension trustees on their UK pension arrangements, joins from Charles Russell Speechly where she was a partner and Head of Pensions since 2004. Penny also has extensive experience working for charities, and not-for-profit organisations.

She advises on regulatory matters, compliance, risk management and cost reduction exercises (including buys in and buys out and transfers out), funding disputes between trustees and employers, investment matters, public sector outsourcing arrangements, and use of contingent asset arrangements. On the Defined Contribution side, she advises on governance and governance committees, change of provider, the 2015/2016 flexibilities (including what they mean for Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes), life assurance, excepted life assurance and the tax position of high net worth individuals.

She has 23 years’ experience as a pensions lawyer.

Penny joins an expanding Pensions team at Irwin Mitchell, headed by Martin Jenkins who joined the London office of the firm in December 2014. The team also saw the arrival of Partner Andrew Ashley Taylor in the Manchester office in May this year. With Penny joining, the team will have four partners in a team of eleven fee earners based around the country.

Expert Opinion

“Penny is the tenth partner to join our Business Legal Services (BLS) side of the firm since the start of 2015, showing our commitment to building our business expertise and attracting high–calibre lawyers. Our pensions department is going from strength to strength. Pensions are a key concern for our clients in an ever changing legislative environment. We are delighted to have someone of Penny’s experience and reputation joining the firm. We remain committed to investing in the growth of our business team further.”
Niall Baker - Chairman of IM Asset Management & Partner

Earlier this year the firm announced the arrival of Planning Partner Martha Grekos from Eversheds, Corporate Partner Simon Griffiths and Litigation Partner Donna Goldsworthy into the London office.
 
Other partner hires in 2015 are Yorkshire-based Employment specialist Kirsty Ayre and Corporate Partner Philip Goldsborough who both moved to Irwin Mitchell from Pinsent Masons. Restructuring Partner Stephen George, Real Estate Partner Ben Acheson and Commercial Litigation specialist Simon Ellis have also arrived at the Birmingham office of Irwin Mitchell since the start of the year.