In a make-or-break period for offshore firms, Maples and Calder was regarded as one of the standout names, with the firm’s well-regarded management building successfully on the audacious growth strategy that has seen the firm become arguably the first practice to cover every key offshore centre.

Given the amount of regulation and legislation affecting occupational pensions – including the A-Day implementation of reform of the UK’s pension regime and new age discrimination laws – there was little surprise that the City’s only sizeable pensions boutique, Sacker & Partners, would be active.