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Geoffrey Topham

e-mail gtopham@3sb.law.co.uk

Geoff undertakes litigation and advisory work in a number of Chancery fields, with the main emphasis on occupational pension schemes (in which area he has been a specialist for over 20 years), and also trusts and estates.

He has a long track record of pensions litigation, including the landmark cases of Courage (1987), Imperial Tobacco (1990), Lloyds Bank (1996) and National Grid (2001).  Other major cases include Express Newspapers Pension Scheme (1999), Brooks v Brooks (1996), BT Pension Scheme on pre-emptive costs and USS v Simpson (2004).

Geoff advises some of the leading City and provincial solicitors on occupational pension schemes, acting variously for employers, trustees and members. He also has an extensive trust practice.

  • Professional reputation

    Geoff has been consistently recommended in the Legal 500 (latest, 2007) as one of the top tier of pensions juniors.

    He is listed in Chambers & Partners (2009) as "extraordinarily experienced".  Chambers & Partners (2008) listed him as "extremely popular with clients", "able to explain things in a very clear and straightforward manner", and as providing advice which never deviates from the realistic and commercial.

  • Notable recent cases

    Geoff’s recent cases include:

    • British Vita (2007) where he appeared for representative beneficiaries of a pension scheme in proceedings for compromise of the company’s appeal against the trustees in [2007] PLR 157.
    • Davies v Meadwestvaco Calmar [2008] PLR 161 in which he successfully defended the company’s appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision in favour of his client in the High Court (on appeal from the Pensions Ombudsman): [2007] PLR 217.
    • Alexander Forbes Trustees v Clarke [2008] PLR 145 where he appeared for the trustees of the pension scheme seeking directions as to the statutory order of priorities, under s.73 Pensions Act 1995, on insolvent wind up of the scheme.
    • QH Trustees v Cutts & Anor (2008) compromising disputes on the validity of equalisation of benefits of a scheme in winding up.
    • Close Trustees v Vildosola [2008] EWHC 1267 on the power of his client trustees to make contingent reserves out of income of the English trust to meet their costs of defending an action for breach of trust brought by a beneficiary in California.

  • Professional membership

    • Chancery Bar Association
    • Association of Pension Lawyers.

  • Publications

    Geoff is a contributor to Tolley’s Pensions Law: chapter on Powers & Duties of Pension Scheme Trustees.

  • Seminars and lectures

    Geoff lectures on all aspects of his practice both in Chambers and at venues around England and Wales (including his solicitors’ offices). Recent talks include:

    • ‘The Vildosola Case’ for Withers LLP