Maxwell Ballad

Max has a well-rounded experience of pensions having started his career working in-house for the corporate trustee of one of the UK’s largest pension schemes more than 30 years ago. He qualified as a legal executive when he moved to a global law firm in 1998. Whilst he was there, he initially did independent trustee work, mainly winding up pension schemes of insolvent employers and early transfers to the Pension Protection Fund.

At the global law firm he advised trustees and employer on day-to-day pensions issues as well as being involved in projects such as employer restructuring, liability management and scheme mergers.

Max spent five years at a boutique pensions law firm before moving to Freeths in 2023.

His experience includes:

• Scheme mergers (sectionalised and unsectionalised);
• Benefit specifications and buy-ins/buyouts;
• Scheme wind-ups;
• Transfers to master trusts;
• Drafting scheme documentation;
• Acting for representative beneficiaries in rectification/construction claims;
• Resolution of disputes with scheme members;
• Advising on section 75 disputes and restructuring issues;
• Advising in relation to the Local Government Pension Scheme and other public service schemes.

Max is listed as an Associate to Watch in Chambers & Partners (2025 edition) for Pensions.