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gunnercooke is the fastest growing corporate law firm in the UK, now making its mark globally. We comprise a rapidly growing number of experts spanning legal and other disciplines. Clients benefit from flexible options on fees to suit their needs, access to a wider network of senior experts throughout the relationship, and legal advice which is complemented by an understanding of the commercial aspects of running a business.
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Michael M Jones
Expertise
Michael has over 20 years’ expertise in advising companies, trustees and individuals on all legal aspects of employer-sponsored occupational and personal pension schemes. Michael has particular market expertise in advising charities and not for profit entities and in public sector outsourcing. The scope of his advice includes charity law consequences for pension scheme liabilities, amending and winding up schemes, scheme interpretation issues, scheme mergers, sales and acquisition issues, buy-ins and buy-outs, surplus and deficit issues, complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman and scheme funding discussions. He also advises private individuals in respect to transfers, fixed protection issues and overpayment issues. He regularly contributes to industry publications and has previously spoken at a number of conferences on pensions matters. Michael features in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Michael Advises
- Corporate acquisitions, disposals and re-organisation
- Providing advice to Pension Scheme Trustees
- Merger of pension arrangements, including into master trust
- Salary Sacrifice
- Management of closure of final salary or defined benefit pension schemes to future accrual for employers
- Strategic reviews of employer benefit provision
- Advice to individuals regarding enhanced protection issues
- Advice to contractors in relation to outsourcing and participation in the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Liability management exercises
Experience Highlights
- Persuading HMRC to re-instate enhanced protection status for an individual with unintended pension accrual
- Assisting a corporate with the £600m buy-out of its pension liabilities.
- Advising trustees regarding the incorrect equalisation of normal retirement dates.
- Advising a charity regarding charging its property to its pension scheme in exchange for lower contribution rates.
- Advice to a charity exiting the Local Government Pension Scheme and entering into a deferred debt agreement.
Career History
Previous Law Firms
- Norton Rose Fullbright
- Baker McKenzie
- Charles Russell Speechlys
Memberships
- Association of Pension Lawyers
- Charity Law Association
Education
- Royal Holloway College, University of London BA (Hons)
- University of Law
- Admitted as a Solicitor May 2000
Expertise
Back to top
Michael has over 20 years’ expertise in advising companies, trustees and individuals on all legal aspects of employer-sponsored occupational and personal pension schemes. Michael has particular market expertise in advising charities and not for profit entities and in public sector outsourcing. The scope of his advice includes charity law consequences for pension scheme liabilities, amending and winding up schemes, scheme interpretation issues, scheme mergers, sales and acquisition issues, buy-ins and buy-outs, surplus and deficit issues, complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman and scheme funding discussions. He also advises private individuals in respect to transfers, fixed protection issues and overpayment issues. He regularly contributes to industry publications and has previously spoken at a number of conferences on pensions matters. Michael features in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Michael Advises
Back to top
- Corporate acquisitions, disposals and re-organisation
- Providing advice to Pension Scheme Trustees
- Merger of pension arrangements, including into master trust
- Salary Sacrifice
- Management of closure of final salary or defined benefit pension schemes to future accrual for employers
- Strategic reviews of employer benefit provision
- Advice to individuals regarding enhanced protection issues
- Advice to contractors in relation to outsourcing and participation in the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Liability management exercises
Experience Highlights
Back to top
- Persuading HMRC to re-instate enhanced protection status for an individual with unintended pension accrual
- Assisting a corporate with the £600m buy-out of its pension liabilities.
- Advising trustees regarding the incorrect equalisation of normal retirement dates.
- Advising a charity regarding charging its property to its pension scheme in exchange for lower contribution rates.
- Advice to a charity exiting the Local Government Pension Scheme and entering into a deferred debt agreement.
Career History
Back to top
Previous Law Firms
- Norton Rose Fullbright
- Baker McKenzie
- Charles Russell Speechlys
Memberships
- Association of Pension Lawyers
- Charity Law Association
Education
- Royal Holloway College, University of London BA (Hons)
- University of Law
- Admitted as a Solicitor May 2000
Testimonials
“Michael is an excellent pensions lawyer.”
“He provides thoughtful and considered advice on a prompt basis.”
Chambers and Partners UK
2023“Michael M Jones is considered a go-to for charity and not-for-profit pensions advice”.
Legal 500
2022“Highly professional and accessible, taking time to explain and de-mystify the complex issues they were dealing with.’
Client
‘Michael M Jones ..[is] responsive, friendly and communicative.’
Client
‘Michael [is] good at identifying the key issues and focusing …advice where it is most effective. [Michael is] also commercial and understand the working of their clients’ business, as well as how to get the best out of their interactions with other professional advisers.’
Client
“I would recommend their depth of knowledge, response times as well as the proactive nature of the advice‘.”
Client
“‘Michael Jones is an exceptional lawyer. He is extremely knowledgeable and his advice is always practical‘.”
Client