Pensions

Our experience

We handle the full range of pension issues relating to defined benefit and defined contribution schemes.

Ongoing work includes drafting scheme documentation and providing legal advice on issues such as scheme funding, benefit design and investments. We advise on interpreting scheme rules, exercising discretions and managing pension disputes.

We have expertise in risk reduction and risk transfer exercises, including liability management and other one-off projects like scheme closures, mergers, buy-outs and wind-ups.

When it comes to pension issues on corporate transactions, our support covers everything from assessing pension arrangements to interacting with the Pensions Regulator and advising on the employer debt regime.

We can help you with auto-enrolment compliance. This includes advising on who is within scope of the regime, contractual enrolment, salary sacrifice arrangements and changing to a new provider.

Our clients

Our clients include trustees, employers, pension consultants, actuaries and administrators operating nationwide. We work alongside a wide range of insurers on risk transfer transactions.

We understand the sectors in which many employers operate and, working internationally, the issues that can arise when scheme employers are part of an overseas group. We often advise clients with little knowledge of UK pensions.

In relation to public sector pensions, we have acted for a number of Local Government Pension Scheme administering authorities, NHS trusts, independent schools, academies, higher educational establishments and private sector contractors.

Our significant experience in public sector pensions, particularly involving the local government, healthcare and education sectors sees us advising regularly on admissions to and exits from public sector schemes and the use of risk sharing mechanisms.