header-logo header-logo

14 May 2025
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
printer mail-detail

Freeths—James Dean

Firm bolsters pensions team with partner hire in Bristol
National law firm Freeths has appointed partner James Dean in Bristol to lead the growth and development of the national pensions practice. He joins from Simmons and Simmons.

With more than 20 years’ experience as a senior pensions lawyer, James has worked across a number of City and national firms advising on all aspects of pensions law. His particular specialisms include pension scheme restructuring, pension change projects, as well as M&A, regulatory and central government pensions work.

He has led on a number of high-profile projects recently including advising in relation to the circa £300m allocation of surplus in a multi-employer pension scheme, the implementation of a Crown guarantee for a circa £1.5bn pension scheme and advising several government departments on managing multi-billion-pound pension liabilities.

Commenting on his appointment, partner and national head of employment, pensions and immigration, Rena Magdani said: 'We are delighted to welcome James to the firm. He is a highly regarded pensions lawyer with a wealth of experience. His extensive expertise in pensions law and impressive track record will be an invaluable asset to our team and clients, perfectly complementing our commitment to providing outstanding legal services. We look forward to the valuable contributions he will make as we continue to enhance and grow our practice.'

James Dean added: 'Joining Freeths at such an exciting stage in the firm’s ongoing upwards trajectory, I am delighted to be spearheading the firm’s national pension offering as well as working with existing colleagues to expand the firm’s already excellent capabilities. With many challenges facing the industry as we continue to go through a period of great change in UK pensions, I look forward to helping clients navigate this as well as continuing to build the Freeths’ team.'

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross

Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross

Firm strengthens global fund finance practice with London partner hire.

DWF—Stephen Webb

DWF—Stephen Webb

Partner and head of national planning team appointed

mfg Solicitors—Nick Little

mfg Solicitors—Nick Little

Corporate team expands in Birmingham with partner hire

NEWS
Contract damages are usually assessed at the date of breach—but not always. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Gascoigne, knowledge lawyer at LexisNexis, examines the growing body of cases where courts have allowed later events to reshape compensation
The Supreme Court has restored ‘doctrinal coherence’ to unfair prejudice litigation, writes Natalie Quinlivan, partner at Fieldfisher LLP, in this week' NLJ
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts
back-to-top-scroll