Janet Brown

About

Janet deals with all aspects of pensions advice to employers and trustees of both DB and DC arrangements and governance committees of contract based schemes. Her work covers standard documentation work, mergers and de-mergers, corporate transactions and helping both schemes and employers through the increasing world of pensions legislation.

Janet is the day to day partner on a number of large multi-employer DB schemes across the oil, chemical and university sectors and also advises on DC schemes in terms of investment and auto-enrolment compliance.

Janet has written for Professional Pensions on conflicts of interest and Pensions World on various issues such as record keeping, bankruptcy, and pensions reform. She is also a regular speaker having spoken at the PLSA local groups, APL and Pensions Trustee Circle.

Janet’s recent work has included:

• working for trustees and employers to creative solutions to valuations – including overseas guarantees, funding packages and contingent assets
• working on a large UK employer’s move to a contract based DC arrangement with a governance committee
• dealing with Beckmann claims (in relation to early retirement on grounds of redundancy)
• dealing with scheme funding issues and The Pensions Regulator
• apportionment and debt on the employer matters
• advising on auto-enrolment requirements.

Memberships and Qualifications

Membership of professional bodies:
Association of Pension Lawyers (Full Member)
Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (Central London Group Member and DB Council Member)

Career history

Qualified: 1997, England & Wales

Pensions experience since: 1997

Joined Sackers: 1998, Associate: 2004

Joined partnership/LLP: 2006

Employers: Biddle (now part of Pinsent Masons LLP) (1995-1998)

Academic history

University/College:

King’s College, University of London (1991-1994)
College of Law, London (1995)

Degree: LLB (Hons) – Law degree

Further Information

Testimonials:

• “We love Janet. She is smart and makes pensions law fun. She is obviously a very clever lady with an encyclopedic knowledge of her field.” – Chambers UK 2023
• Clients say “Janet advises us with clarity and enthusiasm” – Legal 500 2023
• Janet Brown’s clients include trustees and employers seeking advice on pensions issues. She works with both on scheme mergers and corporate transactions.
  “She is technically able and pragmatic.” “She’s a down-to-earth, approachable lawyer who gives pragmatic legal advice.” – Chambers UK 2022
• “Janet Brown – down-to-earth, practical, knowledgeable. She fills us with confidence – nothing gets past her. We love her wit and style. She is an absolute gem!” – Legal 500 2022
• Clients say “She’s really great and also has a knack for explaining things in simple language that even the most inexperienced trustee could understand.” – Chambers UK 2021
• “Janet Brown is pragmatic and down to earth” – Legal 500 2021
• Janet Brown is regarded among her peers as “technically very able and user-friendly,” while clients note: “She has a very straightforward approach to pensions-related issues and provides excellent support.” Her clients include trustees and employers seeking advice on the full range of pensions issues – Chambers UK 2020

Presentations:

• PLSA local groups on buy-ins and buy-outs, corporate restructuring and debt management
• APL on consultation and section 67 of the Pensions Act 1995.

Extracurricular interests and activities:

Tenacious, but snail paced, runner over 5km, 10km and once a year I haul myself round the Great North Run; half marathon. Other time is occupied with worrying about Sunderland AFC’s progress and trying to cram in the book club’s read of the month.