Pensions - trustees and employees
Constant legislative changes relating to UK pension schemes create a real need for pension scheme trustees and employer to obtain legal advice in relation to all aspects of operation of their pension scheme.
We advise pension scheme trustees on their legal obligations under pension scheme documents and their legal relationship with the pension scheme employer. Further we advise trustees on their fiduciary obligations in relation to the pension scheme members and on the role of pension trustees generally under both pensions legislation and regulatory codes of practice and formal guidance. Examples of the need for trustees to take legal advise include (i) scheme specific funding obligations (ii) benefit interpretation, (iii) making scheme amendments (iv) changing scheme benefits (v) making decisions in relation to the pension scheme and its beneficiaries and (vi) member disputes.
We advise employers in relation to their legal obligations to employees and to pension trustees, potential exposures under pension scheme documentation, risks associated with transfers of employees, pension scheme deficits, and changes to pension scheme benefits. Employers' interests are often by nature different to pension trustees and our employer clients often require advice as to their pension scheme obligations.
Key contact: Diane Preston