Andy Lewis

Andy Lewis

Partner

Andy is a partner in our Pensions team.

UK pensions

Andy has expertise across all areas of UK pensions law, helping businesses and trustees find effective ways to navigate this complex area. He is a thought leader on ESG and sustainability within pensions. Other regular work includes major pensions projects such as scheme reorganisations, liability management and risk transfer, benefit changes, difficult funding settlements and section 75 debt risk. Andy is known for his practical approach and has been described as an "excellent, pragmatic adviser" and "highly personable".

M&A and transactions

Andy also regularly advises on the pensions aspects of M&A and other corporate activity.  He has a particular specialism in major cross-border deals and operational carve-outs, working as part of a seamless legal team on the HR workstreams in some of our highest profile deals. Clients have complimented his ability to provide simple, clear advice on difficult issues.

Diversity, inclusion and pro bono

Andy is a member of the firm's LGBTQ+ Group and provides pro bono legal advice to the well-known LGBTQ+ charities, Just Like Us and GiveOut. He also volunteers at the City Law School Public Legal Advice Clinic and has provided pro bono legal advice on individual personal pension complaints. He has spoken on diversity and inclusion in pensions in various settings, including for the Association of Pension Lawyers and PLSA, and is a founding member of O:pen, the industry-wide network for LGBTQ+ professionals and their allies working in pensions.

ESG and sustainability

Andy is a highly sought after practitioner on pensions ESG and sustainability.  He is an influential contributor to a number of industry initiatives and thought leadership programmes in this area, including advising the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment on their landmark policy paper A legal framework for impact (UK): integrating sustainability investment goals across the investment industry.  Other policy work includes collaborating with the Impact Investing Institute on a variety of projects, and advising the World Wildlife Fund on pensions climate change legislation and net zero targets.  Andy has written widely on ESG for the pensions industry, with commentary appearing in the PMI's ESG Report, Trust Law International journal and the International Comparative Legal Guide to ESG Law. He has worked with a number of master trust and £5bn+ schemes on their first wave TCFD (climate change) reports and setting net zero targets.  He also supports schemes and sponsors on the legal aspects of ESG investment strategy, policy and implementation agreements and disclosures. 

Industry recognition

He is a past winner of the Adviser of the Year award at the Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards. Andy sits on the Communications Committee of the Association of Pension Lawyers. He is also a member of PLSA's Central London Group Committee.

Work Highlights

  • The Associated British Foods Pension Scheme on all scheme matters including new investments and currency hedging arrangements, flexible apportionment arrangements, automatic enrolment and day-to-day administration and governance.
  • Employers in a variety of sectors on the closure or amendment of defined benefit pension schemes by contractual agreement with employees.
  • Micro Focus International plc on its US$8.8 billion acquisition of the software business of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise.
  • Ancala Partners LLP on its acquisition of Portsmouth Water.
  • A major consulting firm's direct contribution pension scheme trustee on a significant change to investment options and transition to a master trust.
  • A scheme in the automotive sector on a complex three-way pension scheme reorganisation and merger.
  • Micro Focus International plc on its US$ 2.5 billion sale of its SUSE business.
  • A number of reorganisations of death-in-service arrangements into 'excepted group life' schemes.
Andrew Lewis is a hugely impressive up and coming pensions partner. He has excellent technical knowledge combined with first class communication skills which make his advice robust and very clear. He is pragmatic, responsive and builds excellent relationships with the trustee board.
Legal 500, 2023
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