Chris Edwards-Earl
Partner
Chris is a partner specialising in disputes resolution, particularly in relation to pension funds, professional negligence, and regulatory matters.
Partner
Chris is a partner specialising in disputes resolution, particularly in relation to pension funds, professional negligence, and regulatory matters.
Languages – English
Jurisdictions – England & Wales
Chris has considerable experience acting for trustees and employers, parties acting in an interest-based or representative capacity, and for clients pursuing or defending high-value professional negligence actions.
He has advised clients extensively on a range of matters concerning: outsourcing disputes; technical investment based claims; disputes as to the funding of pension schemes; the Pension Regulator's moral hazard regime; the construction and rectification of trust documents; pension claims in insolvency; cross-border disputes arising out of trusts; and, breach of contract and professional negligence claims.
Clients appreciate Chris’s focus on achieving effective commercial outcomes, preserving stakeholder relationships during disputes, and often securing resolutions through mediation rather than litigation.
Chris is a qualified solicitor-advocate, having attained his Higher Rights of Audience. Chris was elected to the Education & Seminars Committee of the Association of Pension Lawyers in 2020. Chris has been recognised as a leading pensions disputes lawyer in Chambers and Legal 500.
Renishaw plc - Corrective construction Court proceedings
Acting for an employer in a corrective construction claim, resolving an anomaly in the drafting of a money purchase underpin in a defined benefit scheme, and thereby avoiding a £1.6bn liability.
Pensions consultancies - Advising on claims brought by trustees and employers of pension funds
Acting on various claims brought by trustees and employers for alleged contractual breaches and breaches of duty in services provided to pension funds.
Trustee of a £2bn+ pension fund - Professional negligence claim against investment consultants and asset managers
Multi party dispute involving a synthetic overlay platform operating contrary to client instructions, causing losses to the fund.
Northumbrian Water Limited - Court proceedings seeking clarity on proper operation of increase provisions
Acting for a corporate as claimant seeking clarity from the Court on how an increase rule, linked to the funding position of the fund, should be operated.
Rail services provider - Part 7 expedited claim in TCC alongside Judicial Review
Multi party challenge of Secretary of State’s decision to disqualify bidders for rail franchises due to bids not complying with the DfT’s proposed risk sharing for pension liabilities.
US based telecoms company - Arbitration and contractual dispute
Arbitration and contractual dispute with an off-shore government regarding the funding obligations of a semi-privatised telecoms company.
Pension Protection Fund - Appeal to High Court from PPF Ombudsman decision
Acting for the Board of the PPF in an appeal regarding the operation of compensation caps for an example member *
Thales Pension Trustees Limited - Part 8 construction application
Acting for the trustee of the Thales UK Pension Scheme in Part 8 proceedings to determine what rate of indexation should be applied to pension increases *
Nortel Networks worldwide insolvency dispute
Acting for the trustee of the Nortel Networks UK Pension Plan & the Board of the PPF, further to insolvency proceedings regarding the allocation of the proceeds of the insolvent group's worldwide asset sales *
* undertaken at a previous firm
