Clare Coley

Senior associate

Clare Coley

Senior associate

Email Clare

+44 (0)1483 411464

Guildford

Download VCard

Services

Sectors

Clare is a senior associate in the pensions team who advises employers, trustees and individuals on the legal aspects of UK based pension arrangements. She has a particular interest in defined contribution pensions, automatic enrolment, and employee benefits, along with a specialism in both excepted life assurance trusts and salary exchange.

She also advises generally on pensions law, the duties of trustees, and drafting and amending trust documents, providing transactional support to the corporate team and advice on the recovery of overpayments. Before joining the pensions practice in 2016, Clare worked as a solicitor in the firm’s employment team for over 15 years, advising clients on all aspects of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious. With her wealth of experience, she has brought invaluable skills and knowledge on TUPE, discrimination, and contract law relating to employment agreements and benefits to her pensions role. Clare also has experience of advising on issues relating to the McCloud litigation and remedy in relation to the police pension schemes.

I provide clear and straightforward advice on complex pensions matters. As well as getting into the detail of regulations, I provide pragmatic solutions to pensions issues, taking account of the needs of my clients’ businesses. I work closely with our tax, litigation and other relevant teams to provide a cohesive and collaborative service for my clients.

Clare Coley, Senior associate

Clare has been listed as a ‘next generation lawyer’ for her pensions expertise in the latest edition of the Legal 500. While working in the employment team, Chambers UK quoted a client who said, ‘she knows her stuff, is prepared to listen and takes my concerns seriously’. She is a member of the Association of Pensions Lawyers.

Recent work highlights

Large-scale pension and benefits

Advising a large US architectural practice on the implementation of its UK employee benefits platform, including advising on salary sacrifice arrangements, death in service and transitional protection.

NHS Pensions sub-contract

Acting for an incoming subcontractor on its obligations to transferee employees under the NHS Pension Scheme, including advising on warranties and a subsequent successful application for a determination, enabling participation in the scheme.

Life assurance review

Advising an international recruitment business on updating its life assurance arrangements, including tax issues relating to the excepted life assurance scheme.

Complex pensions tax relief

Providing guidance to an international airline on eligibility and tax relief issues for overseas employees with UK employment contracts in a historic group personal pension scheme and new master trust.

Transactional support

Providing pensions support to the corporate team on multiple transactions.

Equalised gender benefits

Advising pension scheme trustees on potential liability to equalise benefits due to a female comparator doing work of equal value to male employees.

Quantum calculation

Providing guidance to an actuarial advisor to inform its calculation of quantum in the context of a buy-out exercise.

Quantum calculation

Providing guidance to an actuarial advisor to inform its calculation of quantum in the context of a buy-out exercise.

External recognition
Rankings from respected legal directories reflect the reputation our lawyers have earned across their key sectors and areas of practice.

What people are saying

The team understands the uniqueness of our business and tailors the advice to us, very collaborative.

Legal 500

Related news and insights
All insights