I advise trustees and employers on a range of pensions issues in respect of both DB and DC arrangements. I act on a wide spectrum of schemes, ranging from tens of millions to multi-billions in assets, and across a range of maturities from those still open to new members to schemes that closed their doors decades ago.

My experience includes advising on interpretation of legislation and governing documentation, providing advice on day-to-day queries, member issues and corporate transactions. I am often involved in buy-in transactions and have helped a number of schemes through their endgame planning to eventual wind-up, leading to a particular interest in issues which arise at the end of a scheme’s life, including surplus, residual risks and trustee protection packages.

In addition to trustee work, I advise a number of employers from the UK and further afield on their UK pension arrangements. This part of my practice includes automatic enrolment obligations, closure / benefit change projects, special arrangements to address pensions tax issues for high earners and executives, as well as dealing with legacy issues or historic pension arrangements acquired through corporate activity. I also have experience advising on pensions aspects of quasi-employment relationships and the changing regulatory landscape in respect of gig economy workers.

Recent experience

• advising an airline on the closure of its DB scheme, including consultation with affected employees and unions, as well as technical implementation strategies
• advising trustees on issues arising from defective historic amendments and errors in drafting of historic documentation
• analysing automatic enrolment breaches and working with employers to design and implement remedial strategies, as well as on appropriate interaction with TPR
• establishing excepted group life schemes and advising on their day-to-day operation, including tax principles
• working on whole scheme risk transfer transactions, settling benefits in full and in many cases returning surplus to sponsoring employers.

Qualified: 2018, Scotland

2022, England and Wales

Joined Sackers: 2018