Edward
Smith

Edward advises on all aspects of pensions law and regulatory strategy. He is recognised by clients as providing "excellent, very clear and timely advice in difficult situations" (Legal 500, 2019), "advising in a clear and concise manner that is easy to understand. He is clearly an expert in the subject matter" (Chambers & Partners, 2024) and clients say that “he’s always a joy to work with” (Chambers & Partners, 2025).

As well as maintaining a strong trustee practice and advising employers on the full gamut of endgame, surplus return and run-on strategy, Edward is particularly focussed on assisting corporate sponsors and their other advisers mitigate regulatory risk in both the transactional and business as usual spaces. He has extensive experience of buy-ins and buy-outs, having led the pensions team’s input on three such matters recently. Edward also helps lead the team’s response to GMPe – advising clients on compliance with their legal responsibilities in a proportionate manner.

Edward leads the team's response to the Government's proposals to encourage pension schemes to invest in productive finance (having supported the HM Treasury Working Group developing the Long Term Asset Fund), pensions tax changes (including the abolition of the Lifetime Allowance) and GMP equalisation.