International legal practice Osborne Clarke has bolstered its Bristol-based pensions practice by taking over the entire pensions team of top 100 UK law firm BDB Pitmans.
The five-strong team will add significantly to Osborne Clarke’s pensions capacity, taking the practice’s headcount to seven partners, 20 lawyers and six specialist support staff. 
The move follows the decision by BDB Pitmans, which has offices in London, Cambridge, Reading and Southampton, to stop operating its own in-house pensions practice,
Instead it will work with a small number of specialist firms, including Osborne Clarke.
Osborne Clarke said the addition of the BDB Pitmans team fulfilled one of its strategic objectives to increase the size and experience of its pensions practice and strengthen its services to employers and trustees on all areas of pensions law and practice.
The enlarged team will advise on all aspects of pensions law but will continue its focus on risk transfer work – including buy-ins and buy-outs as well as transfers to superfunds – Pension Protection Fund work, public sector pensions and pensions disputes for pension schemes, corporate clients and pension providers. 
Osborne Clarke’s pensions clients range from billion-pound schemes such as the Pension Protection Fund, the Local Government Pension Schemes, Imperial Tobacco and BAE Systems, to smaller schemes with assets of several million pounds.
BDB Pitmans pensions clients will be able to transfer to Osborne Clarke following the relocation of the firm’s team, which includes partners David Hosford and Chris Netiatis, two senior associates and a legal director.
Osborne Clarke head of pensions Jonathan Hazlett, pictured, top, who will lead the enlarged team, said: “We’ve known David and Chris both professionally and personally for a number of years. We’re delighted they have decided to join Osborne Clarke.
“David, Chris and their team will add substantially to the size and expertise of our existing team here at Osborne Clarke and will allow us to better service our national and international clients and help them respond to the challenges, opportunities and transformation drivers that the pensions industry currently faces.”
BDB Pitmans was formed through the 2018 merger of Bircham Dyson Bell (BDB) and Pitmans Law.
BDB Pitmans head of pensions David Hosford, pictured, added: “We built our pensions practice at Pitmans and latterly BDB Pitmans with a dedication to excellent client service and value, and a focus on providing clear and robust advice that works in the real world.
“It has become increasingly clear that we need greater scale to be able to meet our goals and continue to develop the services we provide.
“We considered opportunities with various firms before deciding Osborne Clarke is the best fit – the team at Osborne Clarke shares our focus and values, and combining our resources brings scale, enhances an already market leading brand, and gives us the right platform to deliver ever better client service.”
