Susannah Young Partner

Susannah qualified into the firm's pensions team in 2005, becoming a partner in 2016.

Susannah has substantial experience in all areas of pensions law, with a particular focus on advising the trustees of large defined benefit schemes on a wide range of issues, including long-term journey planning and ensuring good scheme governance. She has extensive experience of providing bespoke training to trustees and is a regular speaker at trustee training days, workshops and seminars. Susannah is a full member of the Association of Pension Lawyers.

Susannah advises the trustees of the AT&T ISTEL Pension Plan, the Wessex Water Pension Scheme and the Honda Group UK Pension Scheme, among other clients.

More generally, Susannah supports trustees and pensions managers in connection with various member queries, and provides proactive advice in relation to technical issues that arise, as well as keeping clients up-to-date with legal developments that have an impact on their pension arrangements.

• Advising trustees with DB assets in excess of £1bn in connection with funding negotiations, culminating in the drafting of a parent company guarantee.
• Advising trustees of a hybrid scheme with DC assets in excess of £43m in relation to DC governance requirements, the DC charges cap, the new DC flexibilities and on complex issues arising in connection with the transition of these assets from one administration provider to another, including negotiating the new provider contract.
• Supporting trustees in responding to employer proposals for future benefit changes and liability management exercises, including extensive advice on the trustees' role in such matters as well as undertaking detailed documentation work in connection with such changes.
• Working with trustees to develop member communication strategies, including detailed advice on the legal requirements regarding electronic communications and the information that must be disclosed to members throughout various stages of their membership.
• Undertaking comprehensive reviews of the documentation issued to members in connection with transfers-out and retirement options, providing guidance on changing legislative requirements and also insight into best practice.
• Advising trustees in relation to employer covenant issues, including the impact of the Pensions Regulator's new guidance, analysis of statutory employers and assisting trustees in relation to corporate restructurings and re-financings (including advice on scheme apportionment arrangements.