Principal associate - Pensions Lawyer

A leading international law firm is seeking a Senior Associate or Principal Associate to join its highly regarded Pensions team in London. This is an opportunity to join one of the largest dedicated pensions practices globally, advising on cutting-edge developments across the pensions landscape.

You will advise on a broad range of matters affecting Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) occupational pension schemes, acting for trustees, employers, providers and other stakeholders.

The work is varied, strategic and often high-profile. You can expect to be involved in:

• Advisory work for large occupational pension schemes and corporate sponsors
• De-risking projects including buy-ins, buy-outs and longevity swaps
• Investment-related matters
• DB consolidators and scheme restructuring
• DC master trust arrangements
• Pensions disputes and litigation
• Regulatory and governance matters

The team operates at the forefront of pensions law and policy and is closely involved with industry bodies and policy development. As such, you will gain exposure to market-leading and technically complex work.

You will also play an active role in supporting and mentoring junior lawyers and contributing to the continued growth of the practice. Applications are welcomed from those currently in private practice or from lawyers working in-house who wish to return to private practice.

To be considered, you should:

• Be a qualified solicitor with approximately 4–7 years’ PQE in pensions law
• Have strong experience advising on Defined Benefit schemes, with some exposure to Defined Contribution schemes desirable
• Demonstrate strong technical ability combined with commercial awareness
• Be confident managing client relationships and delivering pragmatic advice
• Possess strong communication and influencing skills
• Be able to manage matters independently while working effectively within a collaborative team
• Be comfortable supervising junior lawyers and delegating appropriately

This role would suit an ambitious pensions lawyer looking to work on high-profile matters within a large, market-leading and forward-thinking team.

Contract Type:
Permanent

Specialism:
Legal

Focus:
Employment

Workplace Type:
Hybrid

Experience Level: Senior Management

Location:

London

Industry: Legal

Salary: £140,000 - £170,000 per annum

Job Reference: TQVAL1-2146

BBAB

Date posted: 11 February 2026

Consultant:
Tom Kearney