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.