Senior appointment boosts pensions team at Burness Paull

Scottish commercial law firm Burness Paull has strengthened its pensions team with the appointment of Jennifer Adams as a consultant.

An experienced pension scheme secretary, independent trustee and pensions lawyer, Ms Adams brings more than 20 years’ experience of dealing with all aspects of occupational and personal pension schemes, the firm said.

Following a number of years in private practice, Ms Adams was most recently legal director of Edinburgh-based insurance giant Aegon UK plc.

She is also vice chair of the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Board, which assists the Scottish Public Pensions Agency in assuring the effective and efficient governance and administration of the Scottish Teachers’ Superannuation Scheme.

Sarah Phillips, partner and head of pensions at Burness Paull, said: “Jennifer will focus specifically on board and trustee governance, where she will add considerable value to our clients and significant strength to our team.

“The challenges of modern trusteeship mean we have to work closely with our clients to ensure their boards are fit for purpose. Jennifer’s experience in this area and the rapport she has with clients makes this the perfect time for her to return to private practice.”

Jennifer’s appointment makes Burness Paull’s pensions team one of the strongest in Scotland. With eight lawyers across its Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen locations, it has established a strong reputation advising on pension schemes across the UK.

Ms Adams added: “It’s time to approach board and trustee governance in a way that responds to the challenging and complex pensions environment of today while meeting the needs of trustees, employers and the Pensions Regulator. With this in mind, clients want different options and new solutions and that’s what makes the team at Burness Paull such a good fit for me - the approach they take is genuinely refreshing and it is great to be part of it.”