Squire Sanders Hammonds sees two UK pensions partner exits

Two Squire Sanders Hammonds pensions partners have left to join Eversheds and Stephenson Harwood.

Squire Sanders' Birmingham-based global practice group head Francois Barker will join Eversheds in the New Year as head of its local pensions team, succeeding Ingrid Everson, who will continue as a fee earner at the firm.

Barker has been at the firm for 16 years, including nine as a partner, and took up the role as global pensions head on 1 January 2010, following a management rejig that saw the firm's employment and pensions teams split into two.

Eversheds London senior partner and pensions head Anthony Arter commented: "We are always looking for excellent partners to help us continue to build our pensions practice. Francois will head the Birmingham practice and will also work across our UK and international practices."

Meanwhile, Stephenson Harwood has recruited pensions partner Fraser Sparks for its London office. Sparks has spent 13 years at the transatlantic firm after joining legacy Hammond Suddards in 1998 and making partner in 2008.

He has worked with clients including the FIAT group, as well as trustees of pension schemes sponsored by Western Power Distribution, Allianz Insurance, Galliford Try and Elementis.

Sparks said: "I am joining the firm during a pivotal time for the pensions industry where issues with legislation, such as the employer debt provisions, still need to be resolved and we have the challenge of auto-enrolment to implement."

The Squire Sanders exits come after the firm saw 
City finance partner Iain Shurwood leave the firm last month to join LG.