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Jessica Kerslake

Partner

Email

jessica.kerslake@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 20 3088 4710

Offices

London

V-CARD
Jessica has over 18 years’ experience advising the trustees and sponsors of some of the largest UK pension funds on every aspect of UK pension provision. 

She also advises several large UK companies on their pension strategy and on transactions where there is a pension scheme in scope.

Jessica has significant experience advising on member and adviser disputes, governance and regulation (including the UK pensions regulator’s powers), large scale rectification exercises, transactions, liability management, benefit designs and risk transfer. Jessica sits on the Legal Panel for the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association and regularly advises on policy and regulation.

Jessica also has a particular specialism in pensions tax law and she provides annual pensions tax training through the Association of Pensions Lawyers.

Expertise

Experience

Representative matters

  • A financial institution on its strategic partnership within the wealth, investment and financial planning sector. The parties will enter into an alliance to create a market-leading wealth management proposition which will combine the financial institution’s significant client base, multi-channel distribution and digital capabilities with the investment and wealth management expertise and technology capabilities of its counterpart.
  • AGA Rangemaster on the GBP129m recommended cash offer by the Middleby Corporation for the entire issued share capital of AGA Rangemaster.
  • Adviser to the Trustee of a £9 billion pension fund, advising on all general day to day matters and on several projects, including 4 buy-ins, a large scale rectification exercise and an administration transfer.
  • Relationship partner for the Trustee of a £5 billion DB and DC pension scheme advising on all aspects of governance, regulation and member interactions together with various projects including a pensions increase exchange, GMP conversion, a liability management exercise and several buy-ins.
  • Adviser to a large insurance company (employer side) on all strategic matters including the closure of its multiple pension schemes, surplus and accounting issues, and a scheme merger/consolidation of its schemes.
  • Ball Corp on its £1.4 bn risk transfer to Rothesay Life.
  • A large insurer on the pension’s aspects of its dividend payment.
  • A multinational telecommunications company on the pension’s aspects of the Virgin Media/O2 merger.

Pro bono

  • Jessica has a particular interest in education and diversity initiatives. She assists with the firm's “Smart Start” programme and has run several diversity events with students in local schools.
  • Jessica sits on the board of advisers to the Fair Education Alliance.
  • Jessica sponsors the firm's relationship with the Schools Consent Project.

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker at the Association of Pensions Lawyers Conference, November 2022
  • Frequent speaker at Society of Professional Pensions annual conference

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Association of Pension Lawyers
  • Co-Chair of A&O’s Black lawyers Affinity Group
  • Co-Chair of A&O’s Race & Ethnicity Committee
  • Legal advisory committee of the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association
  • Society of Professional Pensions

Recognition

“Knows our scheme backwards, is very proactive, and has a very good style in terms of explaining things clearly.”
Legal 500 UK 2019
“Jessica is a star. She communicates complex details succinctly. Her very key strength is her communication skills.”
Chambers UK 2019

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2006

Academic

BA, Law, Reading University, 2003
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.