Neil Bowden
Partner
London
Neil Bowden
Partner
London
Contact details
Neil advises a mixture of trustees and employers on their pension arrangements with a client base including some of the biggest funds in the UK. Recently, Neil has assisted clients with key strategic changes such as benefit reviews, contingent funding arrangements and closure of schemes to future accrual, as well as guiding them through the changing regulatory environment (particularly the impact of auto-enrolment). He also has a great deal of experience in liability management, including advising in a number of the significant recent buy-in and longevity swap transactions.
Neil sits on the Legislative and Parliamentary Subcommittee of the Association of Pensions Lawyers and also served on the committee of the Society of Pension Consultants. He regularly speaks at industry conferences and training events.
"Neil Bowden, who leads the team, has probably unrivalled experience across a wide range of schemes and circumstances. He wears this experience lightly, being down to earth and pragmatic, whilst never losing focus on the interests of members." Legal 500 UK 2021 (Pensions (Non-contentious))
"Jane Higgins and Neil Bowden are both excellent and a real pleasure to work with. They understand what is required, and produce no more and no less." Legal 500 UK 2021 (Pensions (Non-contentious))
"Neil Bowden has a deep knowledge of pensions law and our trustees followed him from his previous firm." Legal 500 UK 2021 (Pensions (Non-contentious))
"Neil Bowden is a good communicator and pragmatic." Chambers UK 2021 (Pensions)
"Neil Bowden is highly regarded for his work advising trustees and sponsors on the many facets of their pensions arrangements including in liability management and significant buy-in transactions. Sources say: "His key strengths are pragmatism, communication, and his advice," adding: "He is a very easy lawyer to work with and very readily understands our team." Chambers UK 2019 (Pensions) - ranked: Band 1
"The "excellent" Neil Bowden." Chambers UK 2019 (Pensions)
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1998
Admitted as solicitor, Scotland, 1997
Related articles
Publications: 27 November 2023
Pensions: Joint DB & DC trustee agenda update - December 2023
Welcome to our monthly update on current legal issues for trustees of DB and hybrid pension schemes, designed to help you stay up to date with key developments between trustee meetings, and to support…
Publications: 27 November 2023
Publications: 27 November 2023
Publications: 20 November 2023
Experience highlights
Advising the Trustee of a financial institution pensions schemes on their industry changing GMP equalization high court application. The test case provided clarity in an industry issue that had been unresolved for almost 30 years and affects the majority of UK pension schemes, with an estimated impact of around £20 billion.
Advising on the pension aspects for the implementation of bank ring-fencing on two of the big four high street banks. These were complex, long running projects involving multi-billion pound contributions to the pension arrangements, sectionalisation of schemes, negotiation with trustees and sponsors and clearance from the Pensions Regulator.
Advising on many of the biggest buy in and longevity transactions in the market. In particular Neil has guided the ICI Pension Fund through their long running de-risking programme with more than a dozen transactions over a 6 year period. He also advised the a financial institution Pension Scheme Trustee on their market leading longevity swap in 2020.
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1998
Admitted as solicitor, Scotland, 1997
Recognition
"Neil Bowden is a high-profile pensions solicitor with particular expertise in advising trustees on strategic direction and risk mitigation. Sources say: 'He is able to explain complex issues clearly and concisely, and react in a thoughtful and measured way, even with limited preparation time.'"
Chambers UK 2018 (Pensions)
"Neil Bowden is highly regarded for his work advising trustees and sponsors on the many facets of their pensions arrangements including in liability management and significant buy-in transactions. Sources say: "His key strengths are pragmatism, communication, and his advice," adding: "He is a very easy lawyer to work with and very readily understands our team."
Chambers UK 2019 (Pensions) - ranked: Band 1
