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Philip Smith

Philip Smith | Pensions Lawyer | Employment | Charity Law | Arthur Cox
  • Philip Smith
  • PARTNER, HEAD OF PENSIONS
  • +353 1 920 1204
  • Arthur Cox, Ten Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 T380, Ireland

  • Philip Smith receives emphatic acclaim for his expertise in the pensions field…Sources describe him as “an excellent lawyer, qualified in both Ireland and the UK, with broad experience and a pragmatic, constructive approach.”
    Chambers Europe: Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2017

  • “Sources say [Philip Smith] is ‘unbelievably up to speed on all the details and issues of pensions law, and always makes himself available despite clearly being extremely busy.'”
    Chambers Europe: Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2016

  • Market commentators are impressed by leading pensions partner Philip Smith for his “clarity of thought and purpose. He quickly grasps complex issues, succinctly conveying the action to be taken and the expected outcome.”
    Chambers Europe: Europe’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2015

  • Philip Smith is ‘the best in the business’.
    The Legal 500, 2014

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    Expertise

    Philip Smith is a partner and specialises in Pensions Law and Charity Law. Philip holds practising certificates in both Ireland and Northern Ireland and advises on all aspects of pension schemes both in advising trustees and employers on day to day administration, restructuring, merger, amendment and in relation to corporate transactions. As coordinating partner of Arthur Cox’s Charity Law Group, he advises on the issues affecting charitable and not-for-profit organisations and their Directors/Trustees including preparation of governing documents, assistance with applications for Revenue charity status, and advice on governance issues and fundraising.

    Philip is a member and former Chairman of the Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland and a Fellow and Council Member of the Irish Institute of Pensions Management. Philip is also a member of the Charity Law Association (UK) and is a member of the firm’s CSR Committee.

    Practice Areas

    Pensions and Employee BenefitsCharities

    Publications

    Education
    • BA, 1990, Oxford University
    Professional
    • Admitted as a solicitor in Northern Ireland, 2006
    • Admitted as a solicitor in Ireland, 1999
    • Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales (non-practising), 1994
    Memberships
    • Former Chairman of the Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland (APLI)
    • Association of Pensions Lawyers (the UK organisation)
    • Fellow and Council member of the Irish Institute of Pensions Management
    • UK Charity Law Association
    • Member of the firm’s CSR Committee

    • ‘Comparing the firm with several others in the M&A top tier, another [client] remarks: "Most large law firms provide good legal advice, however, sound commercial guidance is not always as readily available and this is the difference between this and the other firms as far as I'm concerned."’

      IFLR 1000, 2015 edition

      Although the firm is well regarded in all fields, transactional corporate work is one where it excels. “We worked on the other side to Arthur Cox and were very impressed.” says one client.

      IFLR 1000, 2014 Edition

    • Arthur Cox is widely admired for the excellent quality of its legal advice and its overall service. Considered one of the “blue bloods” of the country’s law firms.

      World Tax 2014

      Arthur Cox remains one of the premier Irish law firms, lauded for offering an exceptional quality of service across an impressively broad range of practice areas.

      IFLR 1000, 2014 Edition