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Tom is a seasoned restructuring professional, specialising in scenarios involving defined benefit pension schemes. Before joining S&W, Tom led the restructuring pensions advisory practices at a Big 4 firm and a boutique restructuring firm.

Experience 

Tom’s over 20 years of experience include advising lenders, corporates and pension trustees across a range of restructuring, M&A and regulatory investigation scenarios as well as employer covenant assessment in a scheme valuation context.

Tom has completed secondments at the Pensions Regulator and the Business Support team at Lloyds Banking Group.

Notable client work and achievements

  • Advised a global healthcare, pharmacy and retail group on the employer covenant issues regarding the c.£5bn insurance buy-in of its UK pension scheme, then the largest of its type.
  • Helped a major airline reach agreement with its pension trustees regarding pensions funding during the Covid pandemic.
  • Provided expert advice to a media organisation in the context of a Financial Support Direction imposed by the Pensions Regulator.
  • Led pensions restructuring advice to the senior lenders of a global insurer.
  • Employer covenant adviser to the trustees of a major pension scheme in the aviation industry.
  • Led company-side pensions restructuring and CVA support to a national retailer.
  • Have led restructuring advice to both pension scheme trustees and corporate sponsors across multiple businesses in Chapter 11 scenarios.
  • Expert advice to a regulator investigating a major pension scheme.
  • Advised the PE purchaser on the leveraged buyout of a global services business.
Glass building

Article

S&W team comment on latest company insolvencies data for construction industry

New data published today by the Insolvency Service shows that there were 367 construction insolvencies in February 2025, the highest they have been since June 2024. This is a 20% increase from January 2025 (306) and 3% increase from February 2024 (355).

Windows on a building

Article

The team complete a sale of Utopia Distribution Services Limited to DP World Logistics UK Limited

On 13 December 2024, Mark Supperstone and Ben Woodthorpe were appointed as joint administrators to Utopia Distribution Services Limited (UDS or the ‘Company’), a physical entertainment distributor. Immediately following the appointment, a sale of the business and assets was completed to DP World Logistics UK Limited (‘DP World’), the supply chain solutions provider.

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