Chloë Bell successful in preliminary issue trial on Beckmann Rights in pension schemes

31 March 2026

On 19 March 2026 judgment was handed down in Charles Mendes v Slater and Gordon (UK) Limited following a 3-day preliminary issue trial on the issue of limitation.

Chloë successfully argued that the limitation period for “Beckmann Claims” (after the CJEU decision C-164/00 Katia Beckmann v Dynamco Whichloe Macfarlane Ltd [2002] ECR I-04839) under TUPE is 6 years from the date of an employee’s redundancy and that a new limitation period does not arise on each on which a pension payment was or would have been due.

The application of the Limitation Act 1980 to Beckmann Claims has never been considered before. The decision answers those previously unanswered questions of law which continue to affect thousands of employees particularly those who were previously members of public service pension schemes.

Chloë was instructed by Kate Fox at Thompsons Solicitors LLP.

The judgment can be found here.