Stuart O’Brien and Andy Lewis join DWP technical working group on fiduciary duty

Sackers today announced that partners Stuart O’Brien and Andy Lewis have been appointed to the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) core Technical Working Group (TWG) on fiduciary duty.

The group will support DWP in developing forthcoming statutory guidance, announced by Pensions Minister Torsten Bell, which is aimed at providing clearer and more practical direction for trustees on how fiduciary duty applies to modern investment decision-making, particularly as issues such as systemic risks and opportunities (including climate change), member impacts and member views come increasingly into focus.

Senior partner David Saunders commented: “Stuart and Andy are already bringing a huge amount of expertise and thought leadership to the ongoing discussion around fiduciary duty. This appointment reflects the hard work and insight they have brought to the topic to date. It also highlights the depth of knowledge within the Sackers team and the high regard in which our lawyers are held across the industry. We are delighted that Stuart and Andy will be able to support the DWP’s work in this important area.”

Both Stuart and Andy were members of the Financial Markets Law Committee working group that, in 2024, produced guidance for pension trustees on fiduciary duty and climate change. They were also part of a recent cross-industry initiative which tabled a legislative amendment to clarify investment duties for trustees.  Andy Lewis will be participating in a panel event about fiduciary duty at Pensions UK’s Investment Conference on 11 March.