James Bruce is an associate in the Pensions team of Osborne Clarke and based in the London office. He qualified in September 2026 after previous work in Tax, Incentives, Banking, IP and Corporate. 

Key focus areas

  • Advising on all aspects of public sector pension schemes, including scheme governance and regulatory compliance.
  • Advising on pension risk-transfer transactions, including buy-ins and buy-outs, from inception through to completion.
  • Drafting and negotiating scheme documentation and providing strategic advice to trustee boards.
  • Supporting clients on the pensions aspects of corporate transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and restructurings.

Who I advise

  • UK public sector and quasi-public bodies 
  • Private employers across multiple sectors

Sector focus

  • Local Governance – acting for councils and administering authorities under a national framework
  • Mass Employers – acting for employers across multiple sectors and scales regarding their pension schemes

How I help clients

James focuses on providing clear, practical advice that delivers the insight clients require, by combining commercial insight with a strong background in technical areas of law. 

Notable experience

  • Acting for a national aerospace and information security company, conducting the first in a series of systematic reviews of client trust deeds and rules in light of regulatory changes in 2027.
  • Advising an international bank regarding the use of discretionary powers under its pension scheme.
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