South: BDB Pitmans strengthens pensions team

Leading law firm BDB Pitmans has expanded its partner-led pensions department. Lee Colgate has joined the firm as a legal director from Charles Russell Speechlys, alongside Joseph Navas and Harinder Sangha, who have been appointed as solicitors. Navas and Sangha were previously at Placidi & Co and Eric Robinson Solicitors respectively.

Having trained at legacy Pitmans, Colgate brings over 12 years’ experience advising on all aspects of pensions law. He advises pension scheme trustees, employers and individuals on day-to-day pension issues and disputes, commercial matters, pension scheme design, liability mitigation and contingent asset agreements, mergers and restructuring. Colgate has particular expertise in pension issues on public sector outsourcing. He will be based in BDB Pitmans’ London office.

Joseph Navas and Harinder Sangha join the firm’s Southampton office. Navas' practice is focused on matters arising under the Pensions Act and Finance Act, with his instructions often having involved insolvency, regulatory and employment aspects. Sangha is well-versed in dealing with complex disputes, acting for both employers and employees on workplace disputes, covering a breadth of discrimination and termination issues and has garnered considerable experience in this space since qualifying in 2014. 

These appointments closely follow BDB Pitmans’ Southampton office move from The Avenue to its new modern, 6,200 sq ft premises in the heart of the city centre at Grosvenor House, Grosvenor Square.

BDB Pitmans’ pensions department, under the guidance of partner Chris Netiatis, provides a comprehensive range of services for both employers and trustees offering pragmatic and clear pensions advice to clients.

Andrew Smith, managing partner of BDB Pitmans, commented: “On behalf of the firm, I would like to welcome Lee Colgate, Joseph Navas and Harinder Sangha to BDB Pitmans. These latest hires are in response to a continued increase in client demand and feeds into our ambitious growth plans across our London and regional offices in Cambridge, Reading and Southampton."