Samantha Howell Senior Associate

Samantha qualified into the pensions team in 2016, having trained with the firm. She graduated with a degree in Law and French Law from the University of Exeter before undertaking a master's degree in European and International Law in France.

Samantha advises pension scheme trustees and companies on a broad range of pensions legal issues. Her experience includes:

• all aspects of the day to day running of pension schemes, including advising in relation scheme documentation, member queries and scheme governance
• projects such as closures, bulk transfers, liability management and buy-ins/outs, and
• advising public sector organisations and companies on public sector pension schemes and outsourcing arrangements.

Samantha enjoys delivering training sessions and has experience speaking at trustee training days and seminars. She is an associate member of the Association of Pension Lawyers.

• Advising the trustees of the AT&T ISTEL Pension Plan and the Wessex Water Pension Scheme, amongst other trustee clients, on a broad range of pensions issues. 
• Advising trustees and employers in relation to scheme liability management, including specific projects, such as closures to accrual and member consent exercises, as well as ongoing scheme funding negotiations.
• Preparing benefit specifications and advising trustees in relation to scheme flight paths to buy-in/buy-out and winding up.
• Working with trustees and employers in relation to member communications, including reviewing and drafting communications in connection with closures, transfers-out and retirement options and advising in relation to legal requirements and best practice. 
• Advising trustees, employers and pension managers on a range of pension matters relating to outsourcings from the public sector, member benefit queries, member complaints and transfers from schemes. 
• Advising a number of local authorities on the pensions aspects of delegating statutory functions relating to children's social care, including advising Birmingham Children's Trust. 
• Drafting admission agreements and related agreements, which has involved working collaboratively with various pension funds and third parties to reach an agreed position.