Pensions partner joins 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. 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 QROPS), life assurance and excepted life assurance and the tax position of high net worth individuals. Penny 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.
Niall Baker, partner and chief executive at Irwin Mitchell, says: “Penny is the tenth partner to join our business legal services 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.”
