Overview

The pensions team has strength in depth in all areas of pensions throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We advise insurance companies, personal pension providers and trustees of defined benefit, defined contribution and hybrid occupational pension schemes on challenging issues including scheme funding, mergers, trustee duties and investment (including bulk annuity purchase projects). We also advise corporate clients on the full range of pensions matters including liability management, outsourcing and funding negotiations.

Our leading pensions regulatory team has worked on a number of the most significant Pensions Regulator investigations, including some which have led to the exercise by the Pensions Regulator of its moral hazard powers. We have also advised trustee and corporate clients on schemes which enter a Pension Protection Fund assessment period.

Our public sector pensions practice covers administering authorities of the Local Government Pension Scheme, cross-border public sector schemes, and work for central government departments on all aspects of pensions law. Burges Salmon is on the panels for both central government and local government pensions law work.

Areas of focus

Our expertise in the pensions sector includes the following:

  • Advising on the investments held in occupational pension scheme funds.
  • Advising on pension products and Master Trust arrangements.
  • Trustee advisory for defined benefit, defined contribution and hybrid occupational pension schemes.
  • Corporate advice across all areas of pensions law including funding, mergers, liability management and outsourcing.
  • Public sector pensions work for central government departments, local government pensions, not-for-profit organisations and contractors who participate in public sector schemes.
  • Regulatory pensions advice acting for trustees, corporates and public bodies in cases involving regulatory investigation.
  • Transferring defined benefit schemes to the Pension Protection Fund.
  • Partnered with Willis Towers Watson on a streamlined pensioner buy-in proposition which utilises pre-negotiated contracts with insurers to ensure buy-in contracts can be concluded quickly and at greater value.
  • Legal, tax and FCA regulatory advice and documentation services for providers of personal, small occupational and group pensions including SIPPs, GPPs and QROPs.
Experience

Acting for a UK insurer on a bulk annuity purchase contract with a value in excess of £600 million.

Acting for the trustees of the Brunel Holdings Pension Scheme in the context of an investigation by the Pensions Regulator.

Acting for HM Treasury in relation to the establishment of the Pensions Wise guidance platform.

Acting for the trustees of an occupational pension scheme in securing its pension scheme liabilities on the insolvency of an overseas transport company.

Acting for a UK based employer on the solvent transfer of its pension liabilities in two occupational pension schemes to the Pension Protection Fund.

Establishing a Master Trust to accept transfers from occupational pension schemes.

Acting for administering authorities of the Local Government Pension Scheme on their investment arrangements.

Advising financial institutions on their policy terms for pension products.

Acting for the Department for Transport on the pension aspects of the restructuring of the Highways Agency to create Highways England.

Acting for the Department for Education on the pensions aspects of its social care interventions in Doncaster and Slough.

Advising on excepted life Master Trust arrangements for UK insurers.

Meet the team
Michael Hayles

Michael Hayles Partner

  • Pensions
  • Public Sector Pension Schemes
  • Financial Services
Richard Knight

Richard Knight Partner

  • Head of Pensions Practice
  • Pensions Services
  • Pensions Legal Advice
Clive Pugh

Clive Pugh Partner

  • Pensions Regulatory
  • Pensions Services
  • Pensions Legal Advice 
Richard Pettit

Richard Pettit Partner

  • Pensions Regulatory
  • Pensions Services
  • Pensions in Northern Ireland
Alice Honeywill

Alice Honeywill Partner

  • Pensions Services
  • Public Sector Pension Schemes
  • Life and Pensions
Susannah Young

Susannah Young Partner

  • Pensions Services
  • Trustee Advice and Training
  • DC Expertise
Tom Dunn

Tom Dunn Partner

  • Head of Regulated Funds and Financial Services
  • Regulated Funds
  • Financial Services
Suzanne-Padmore---132A6872

Suzanne Padmore Partner

  • Pensions Disputes
  • Professional Negligence
  • Financial services Disputes and Enforcement 

What others say...

Expert knowledge, friendly, and very responsive and collaborative.

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