Wragge & Co has advised on the biggest pension scheme ever to go into the Pension Protection Fund (PPF), helping to secure compensation for more than 6,000 people.

Pensions specialists Peter Shave, Vivien Cockerill and Paul Feathers led a team advising the MG Rover Group Pension scheme trustees, Independent Trustee Services.

The PPF, which was set up under the Pensions Act 2004, was created to provide compensation for under-funded company pension schemes whose sponsoring company became insolvent.

The scheme, whose future was put in doubt when MG Roger went into administration in April 2005, is one of the first funds to fall within the ambit of the PPF. The pension scheme was last month fully transferred to the PPF, following a period of assessment starting on 31 August, 2005.

Wragges head of pensions Glyn Ryland told Legal Week: "This has made a real difference to a great many people in Birmingham. With 4,000-5,000 people involved, including all their dependents, this totals about 20,000 people."

The scheme has now been dissolved, with assets of £415m transferred to the PPF. The members' benefits will now be administered by Capita Hartshead on behalf of the PPF. The PPF was advised by its own legal team, headed by Naomi L'Estrange and David Taylor.