Richard joined Burges Salmon in 2004 as a trainee having graduated with a degree in law from Oxford University. Richard specialises in pensions law and is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers.
He advises both trustees and employers on a wide range of issues relating to occupational pension schemes including clearance and scheme funding, drafting and amending scheme documents, scheme closures, scheme mergers and the exercise of trustee powers.
Richard's recent work includes:
- advising trustees in relation to innovative proposals by the struggling employer in order to avoid insolvency and protect members' jobs. This work was in a highly contentious area and involved detailed negotiations with the Regulator, the Pension Protection Fund and taking advice from a leading QC
- advising a manufacturing company with a pension scheme with a £60 million deficit on the entry of the scheme into the Pension Protection Fund, involving applying to the Regulator for clearance and an approval notice for a regulated apportionment arrangement and negotiations with the Pension Protection Fund
- advising trustees on the proposed merger of their scheme into the scheme of a major plc including considering the support of the foreign parent company
- advising trustees in relation to the restructuring of the employer group and accepting contingent assets.
Richard regularly presents to trustees on legal issues along with facilitating at workshops and speaking at the annual "Hot Topics" client seminar.