“Sackers is at the forefront of developments in the pensions industry, and is increasingly active in advising on ESG and climate risk issues that affect pensions.”
Legal 500
Increased life expectancy, volatile markets and unpredictable deficits are pushing employers and trustees of DB pension arrangements towards increasingly sophisticated investment solutions. Meanwhile, the investment challenges facing trustees and managers of DC arrangements have never been greater. As risk moves from the employer to the individual, clear advice on the legal and regulatory obligations is more important than ever.
Our investment team brings together capital market and financial services regulatory expertise with unrivalled pension industry know-how to advise trustees, employers and providers on the full spectrum of pensions investment issues.
Our experience ranges from plain vanilla investments to complex, bespoke investment structures. We advise on all the latest developments on our clients’ agendas, including ESG and climate change. Combined with our long-standing engagement with industry bodies, the result is commercial, legally robust and, above all, actionable advice.
ESG and climate change (including net zero) continue to be an area of increasing focus for trustees who face ever growing regulatory requirements, including having to consider the potential impact of the climate crisis on their investments.
We have considerable knowledge and experience in this area, advising trustees on their legal duties with regard to financial and non-financial factors, including ESG, ‘socially responsible investing’ and ‘ethical’, ‘impact’ or ‘green’ investing. Our investment team is proud to have played a key part in devising new guidance for pension trustees on managing and reporting climate risks.
The Pensions Climate Risk Industry Group (PCRIG), which is chaired by partner Stuart O’Brien, published the guidance “Aligning your pension scheme with the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures recommendations” on 27 January 2021. Click here to download the guidance.
To view all our ESG guides, click here.
Our extensive knowledge of products and providers enables us to complete efficient and pragmatic due diligence on any transaction or structure. We advise on all types of pooled investment vehicles, including open-ended investment companies, limited partnerships, unit trusts and unit-linked insurance funds.
We are industry experts in investment fund reviews, and support clients with default investment strategy, negotiating platform agreements, asset security and decumulation tools. We also draft and negotiate investment management agreements and fiduciary management appointments (including delegated and implemented consultancy).
In addition, we have significant experience advising on derivatives, repos and securities lending contracts, clearing and exchange contracts, and custody agreements.
We have significant buy-side experience in alternative asset classes including private equity, hedge funds, infrastructure and property. We also have expertise in legal asset security issues and frequently work with all the major insurance providers. We add value on major projects such as substantial restructurings and transitions, and assist in negotiating documentation and side letter provisions for larger investments.
Our significant understanding of all LDI structures enables us to assist on all aspects of liability driven investments, including pooled or segregated mandates. We have advised on appointments with all the major providers.
Our in-depth knowledge of the review and use of agency and umbrella counterparty agreements, and the negotiation of bespoke counterparty agreements, means we quickly understand our clients’ objectives and focus on helping them advance towards their goals.
To find out more about our investment expertise and how we can help you, please contact Paul Phillips.
