Robin Simmons

Partner

About

Primarily Robin's work is with trustees, advising on all regulatory matters with a recent focus on governance issues.  He also advises a number of employers, working on proposals to manage their defined benefit liabilities, whether through scheme closures, cessation of accrual or benefit design changes.

Memberships and Qualifications

Membership of professional bodies Association of Pension Lawyers (Full Member)

Membership of industry working parties
-Association of Pension Lawyers, Education & Seminars Committee (since 2007);
-"Pensions Intelligence" Advisory Panel, in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh (since 2008);
-Advisory panel to the DWP in drafting the Pensions Act 2004 (2003-2004);
-NAPF's Multi-employer Schemes' Working Group (2003-2005);
-Pensions sub-committee to the Family Courts' Ancillary Relief Advisory Group, re-drafting the  Court Service's pension sharing forms (2003-2005)

Career history

Qualified: 1999 (England & Wales)

Pensions experience since: 2000

Joined Sackers: 2005, Associate: 2006

Joined partnership/LLP: 2008

Employers: Baker & McKenzie (1997-2005)

Academic history

University / College

University of Manchester (1992-1996)
Legal Practice Course, College of Law, London (1996-1997)

Degree: BA Accounting and Law (Joint Honours)
Diploma in Legal Practice

Honours & Awards: RG Lawson prize for academic achievement in the law of succession (Manchester University)

Further Information

Testimonials:

"Robin provided the Trustee with excellent advice – we were all treading new ground and Sackers' creative contributions were very valuable."
- John Watson, former chairman of the Boots Pension Scheme following the sale of Alliance Boots to private equity firm KKR

Publications - books written:

• Tottel's "Age Discrimination" book (2007): contributed the pensions chapter
• Tolley's "Pensions Law" (2004): contributed the chapter on establishing an occupational pension scheme

Recent publications - journals and trade press:

• Articles on issues such as age discrimination and pension scheme governance for publications including Engaged Investor, Pensions Age and the Solicitors Journal.
• Quoted on pensions issues in trade journals including Professional Pensions, Pensions Insight, Personnel Today, Employee Benefits and Investment Week.
• PMI TV feature on the employer debt legislation
• Featured in a Legal Network TV training DVD for employment lawyers produced by the College of Law

Recent conferences:

• Professional Pensions Show – on pension scheme governance (2009)
• Professional Pensions Show – on conflicts of interests (2007)
• PMI autumn conference – on assessing an employer's covenant (2007)

Work examples - landmark matters:

Advising the trustee of the Boots Pension Scheme in negotiating a £600m security package on the acquisition of Alliance Boots by KKR.

Work examples - recent examples:

• Advising the trustees of the Lloyds TSB group pension schemes during the acquisition of HBoS and subsequently on a £5bn security arrangement
• Advising the trustee of the Royal Mail Pension Plan on its move from final salary to career average benefit provision
• Advising on the pensions aspects of an amalgamation of 10 unincorporated employers' associations to create EEF Limited, the organisation for manufacturing, engineering and technology-based businesses
• Advising the trustee of the Aon UK Pension Scheme on its closure to future accrual
• Advising the trustees of a water industry scheme on scheme benefit design changes.

Extracurricular interests and activities:

Being Dublin born and bred, I am passionate about everything Irish – adding to some closer-to-home loves of Manchester United, scotch (only single malt please) and above all else, my wife and kids.  Pensions law is my thing as early signs of an ear for music (piano, saxophone) failed to materialise into a talent.

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