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Burges Salmon boosts public sector pensions offering with two new appointments amidst LGPS reforms

By Richard Knight

31 Oct 2025 3 min read

We have strengthened our Pensions and Lifetime Savings practice with the appointment of Gary Delderfield, who joins as a partner, and Alec Bennett, who joins as a senior associate.

Both join from Eversheds Sutherland where Gary, a nationally recognised lawyer, was head of public sector pensions and Alec was a key member of the public sector pensions team. They advise on all aspects of pensions law, acting for funds, trustees, employers and providers on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious pensions issues. Gary and Alec have particular experience in public sector pensions law, supporting both public and private sector clients on matters across central government, education, local government, NHS and voluntary sectors.

They join Burges Salmon’s market-leading Pensions team to support the growth of our public sector pensions offering.

“Our ability to attract leading talent like Gary and Alec reflects our commitment to providing clients with unparalleled expertise across the full spectrum of pensions law. With the introduction of the Pension Schemes Bill and, notably, the government’s plans to reform the legal framework governing Local Government Pension Schemes and asset pooling in March 2026, our clients face a pivotal period of change and complexity. This continued investment in our people and practice enables us to respond dynamically to the evolving needs of our clients, providing critical support and guidance as they navigate these significant reforms.”

Richard Knight, Partner and Head of Pensions and Lifetime Savings

“We are thrilled to join Burges Salmon, a firm renowned not only for its excellent expertise in pensions law, but also for the collaborative, supportive culture it nurtures, one that consistently earns the trust and respect of clients and peers across the industry. With the upcoming reforms to the LGPS and a fast-evolving legal landscape, there is a real opportunity to help clients navigate the complexities with confidence and I look forward to continuing to work with Alec and my new colleagues to support our clients.”

Gary Delderfield

Following a string of recent appointments across Bristol, London and Edinburgh, including the recent hire of pensions director Michael Dando in August and the appointment and promotion of partners Steven Hull and Chris Brown, our Pensions team has grown by 46% in the past 12 months. Richard adds: “By broadening our reach and capabilities, we ensure we remain at the forefront of the pensions industry, pooling the skills from across the team to service our growing client base.”

Burges Salmon’s Pensions team is highly regarded in the legal industry, advising many of the UK’s trust-based occupational pension schemes and acting on some of the most complex and high-profile cases. Our pensions clients – some of whom we have represented for more than 30 years – span the private and public sectors, not-for-profit organisations as well as religious and educational bodies, and the team continues to build upon its trusted status in the international arena, providing specialist UK legal advice to its international clients and coordinating advice across multiple jurisdictions.

Recognising that innovation in the pensions industry is vital to understanding its ever-changing landscape, we have brought to market a number of interactive tools to shape best practice and support clients meet their statutory requirements, including an ESG Pensions toolkit and a UK Pensions for International Companies Triage tool.

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