Burges Salmon has seen one of its cases feature in The Lawyer magazine’s Top 20 Cases of 2014 editorial analysis.
On Monday 6 January, The Lawyer revealed its annual selection of the leading civil court cases for the year ahead. It was reported that only the most significant pieces of litigation will appear before the court in 2014, with the best litigation firms (and chambers) securing the top level instructions.
The case that has featured is ‘Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund Trustee Ltd v (1) Stena Line Ltd (2) P&O Ferries Ltd (3) Sealion Shipping Ltd (4) International Marine Transportation Ltd (5) Terence Brown’, which will be heard at the Chancery Division in November 2014. Wilberforce Chambers’ Paul Newman QC and Emily Campbell are acting for the fifth defendant, Terence Brown, having been instructed by Burges Salmon Pensions Litigation partner Justin Briggs.
The case relates to the £272 million pension deficit liabilities that belong to the Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund (MNRPF). The dispute focuses on how liability should be apportioned between the participating employers of seamen employed in the British Merchant Navy. Following its foundation in 1978, approximately 240 employers have joined the MNRPF, which includes some of the largest organisations from the oil and shipping sectors.
The case comprises the Pension Fund Trustee, four employers that will be representing the interests of the different types of employer that will be affected by the new regime, and a representative beneficiary to represent the interests of the members of the fund.
Justin Briggs said: “We are pleased to be involved in one of the most significant cases of 2014, which will see the leading law firms and pensions bar in action. The judgment is set to be a momentous decision on multi-employer pension schemes.”
The full list of cases can be viewed on The Lawyer website.