Eversheds Sutherland strengthens top-ranked pensions practice with appointment of former Global Head of Pensions

Claire joins the firm following a career at Linklaters spanning in excess of 35 years, during which she served as Global Head of Pensions. 

Claire has extensive experience advising trustees, sponsors and financial institutions on some of the UK's largest and most complex pensions matters.  These matters include significant and innovative buy-in and buy-out transactions, longevity swaps, funding structures (including those involving contingent assets) and fund mergers and consolidations.    

As one of the UK's most highly regarded pensions lawyers, Claire is widely recognised in both legal industry directories, Legal 500 and Chambers.

Claire holds a Band 1 ranking for Pensions in Chambers UK, and receives significant praise in relation to her role as a trusted adviser with one client noting: "I would not wish to use anybody else for important pensions legal advice - Claire is top notch”.

Claire is also included in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, which describes her as "one of the best pensions lawyers", citing her extensive experience across liability management, DB scheme funding, investment issues, transfers of DC assets and corporate transactions.

Jeremy Goodwin, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:

"We are delighted to welcome Claire to the firm and her appointment is a significant addition to our practice. As a former Global Head of Pensions and one of the profession's leading advisers, Claire brings exceptional experience, market insight and relationships that will be of enormous value to both our clients and our team as we continue to grow our pensions offering."

Claire Petheram, Senior Consultant, Eversheds Sutherland, said:

"I am delighted to be joining Eversheds Sutherland's pensions practice. The team has built an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality advice on complex pensions issues, and I am looking forward to working alongside colleagues to support clients, develop new relationships and contribute to the continued growth of the practice."

Claire's appointment further strengthens Eversheds Sutherland's Band 1 pensions offering and continues the strategic growth of the practice, following the recent appointments of partners Simon Borhan in London and Craig Looker in Leeds. Together, these hires reinforce the firm's commitment to investing in leading pensions talent and enhancing its ability to support clients on complex and strategically important matters across the UK and beyond.