Josh Sheppard

Josh Sheppard is a Senior Associate at Gowling WLG (UK) LLP in the Pensions Disputes team. He is trusted by clients to identify and resolve potential mistakes early to avoid costly pension disputes, and when necessary, to correct errors through the courts. He specialises in Part 8 claims, primarily acting on behalf of trustees and representative beneficiaries, as well as in parallel professional negligence claims. He also manages complex member complaints under schemes' internal dispute resolution procedures and submissions to the Pensions Ombudsman, providing vital mid to senior support. His recent highlights include rectification claims and claims for declaratory relief on matters including the equalisation of male and female normal retirement dates, the use of surplus, and the validity of the appointment and removal of trustees and the scheme’s purported closure. Josh also has a proven track record of resolving issues and ambiguities with pension schemes outside of the courts. His clients include Virgin Media Limited, Mitchells & Butlers Pensions Limited, the London Borough of Croydon, and the representative beneficiaries of the HSBC Bank (UK) Pension Scheme, the ASD Retirement Benefits Scheme and the Pennon Group pension scheme.