UK pension law is detailed, rooted in complexity and widely regarded as a complete minefield. Employers and trustees of pension schemes face difficult challenges to understand and adapt to the ever-changing legislative and regulatory landscape. We work to unravel the difficulties and guide clients through the minefield providing support; commercial advice and solutions in respect of all types of UK pension arrangements.
Our lawyers have many years of experience in advising employers, trustees, intermediaries, and other law firms without pension law expertise.
Our services
Auto-enrolment
Advice on the requirements and ongoing requirements to meet to the statutory obligations to provide a workplace pension scheme
Advisory
Scheme specific advice on an array of pensions related issues including legislative compliance
Disputes
Support with Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure; Pensions Ombudsman complaints and Part 8 High Court claims
Documentation
Full range of documentation for trust based pension schemes, including consolidation exercises
Employer Debt
Use of apportionment and deferred debt arrangements for defined benefits schemes
Funding and Covenant
Contingent assets and guarantees for defined benefits schemes
Non associated multi employer schemes
Employer funding obligations and scheme exit
Public Services Schemes
Private sector participation in public services schemes and Independent school participation in and exit from the Teachers Pension Scheme
Regulatory
The Pension Regulator’s requirements and investigations and the Pension Protection Fund’s requirements and support upon scheme failure
Scheme changes, closures and wind up
Amendments to pension schemes; closure projects to include assessment of implementation; consultation and communications
Support to other law Firms
Working with other firms to support them with corporate transactions; group re-organisation and pension related employment issues
Example Experience:
Advisory
Acting for several sets of trustees regarding defective sex equalisation of benefits exercises
Corporate transactions support
Advising on the sale of a large corporate group with significant unknown pensions liabilities
Advising a global company on its purchase of a company participating in a multi employer UK defined benefits scheme and negotiation of a flexible apportionment arrangement
Disputes
Acting for the representative beneficiary in three High Court Part 8 cases which included rectification of benefit errors and the retention of final salary linkage
Regulatory
Advising trustees of a defined benefits scheme in respect of a funding investigation raised by the Pensions Regulator
Scheme closure
Advising trustees of a defined benefits scheme to respond and negotiate in respect of the employer’s proposal to stop pension accrual
Advising an employer on its proposal to stop accrual under its defined benefits scheme, including the operation of a consultation exercise and member communications
Maria C. Riccio
Senior Consultant Solicitor – Pensions Law
Maria Riccio is a pensions lawyer with over 30 years experience and is a full member of the Association of Pension Lawyers . She is ranked Band 1 in Chambers Directory and as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500.