Helen Woodford Lead Pensions Lawyer Scotland

Helen joined the firm’s pensions team in 2023, advising clients across the UK from her North-East base and the firm’s Edinburgh office.

She has specialised in pensions law since qualification. Helen recognises pensions issues are complex and constantly evolving, she strives to advise her clients with clarity, in a manner tailored to their specific situation and requirements.

Clients with whom Helen has built longstanding relationships range from employers and pension trustee boards of global corporations with large ongoing defined benefit pension schemes to smaller entities with open or closed defined benefit arrangements and defined contribution occupational or personal pension plans.

Helen’s client base has straddled many sectors including energy, manufacturing, retail and transport. She has also acted for many pension trustee boards and employers operating within the charity and not-for-profit sector.

Helen is a full member of the Association of Pensions Lawyers and a member of the Pensions Ombudsman’s Legal Forum.

• General pension scheme governance advice on compliance with relevant legislation, case law and regulators’ guidance
• Interpreting the provisions of existing pension scheme documentation and drafting or reviewing new definitive documentation and smaller scheme deeds, policies, and member communications
• Advice in relation to the design or review of various employer funding proposals and liability management exercises
• Exit debt liability advice including the statutory and scheme methods for dealing with such debts
• Working on larger projects such as pension scheme mergers, de-mergers, scheme closures and buy-in and buy-out exercises
• Advice in relation to complaints under schemes’ internal disputes resolution procedures and to the Pensions Ombudsman
• Assisting with pensions issues arising in a HR context, such as in relation to auto-enrolment compliance and settlement agreements
• Advising on the pensions aspects of corporate sales and acquisitions
• Public sector scheme experience, including advising Admitted Bodies and sub-contractors on LGPS participation and liability