pensions

On 11 July 2023, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Treasury (HMT) jointly issued a call for evidence from trustees, advisers and other stakeholders to assist in formulating policy to improve the skills and capability of pension trustees in relation to their decision—making on investments. Maxwell Ballad, Director at Freeths, comments on […]

The High Court has held that a proviso to the power of amendment in the BBC Pension Scheme applies to benefits for future pensionable service as well as past service rights. The court was not asked to consider any specific proposal to amend the scheme. The court also decided that it would be proper for […]

National law firm Freeths has advised the Trustees of the Shoe Zone Pension Scheme on a £34m buy-in with Rothesay. Sponsored by leading UK footwear retailer Shoe Zone Retail Limited, the deal secures the benefits for all remaining 500 uninsured members of the Scheme. This includes defined benefit liabilities for 367 pensioners and dependants, and […]

National law firm Freeths has appointed pension expert Max Ballad as Director. Max joins from a boutique pensions law firm. Max has over 30 years’ experience in the pensions industry the majority of which was spent at a global law firm. His wide-ranging experience includes scheme mergers, buyouts and wind-ups, work with public sector schemes […]

National leading law firm, Freeths, has expanded its highly successful Employment and Pensions practice with the appointment of four new lawyers. The Employment team has been bolstered by Amy Brokenshire (Director) joining the Birmingham office, Paul Bownes (Managing Associate), qualifying into the Nottingham office, whilst Nigel Jones (Director) joins the firm’s Pensions team in Leeds. […]

National commercial law firm, Freeths LLP, are delighted to announce Rena Magdani has taken over as the National Head of Employment, Pensions and Immigration. This follows the promotion of the previous head, Julian Middleton, to Deputy Chairman of the firm. The national team, with over 40 legal professionals, works from offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, […]

While a recession has been avoided for another quarter, the financial impact of further lockdowns, and Coronavirus restrictions, will continue to make UK employers wary. These impacts are likely to last well into 2021, notwithstanding hopes around potential vaccines. Conserving cash within the business to ride through this period will be of utmost importance. In […]

Salary sacrifice arrangements have long been held as one of the few ways in which employers and employees retain a tax advantage around the provision of certain types of employee benefits. Since its inception, there has been a large body of employers who have been firm advocates of its advantages. When attempts were made to […]

The Freeths Pensions team would like to invite you to the third in our series of live webinars. Date: Thursday 15 October 2020 Time: 10am – 11am Where: Zoom Implementing Salary Sacrifice: with Kim Jones (Freeths) and Caroline Gaines (Punter Southall Aspire). In the current economic climate, many employers are considering implementing salary sacrifice schemes so that the […]

The automatic-enrolment regulations were intended to create a cohesive and easy to implement method for employers to ensure that their employees were saving for their retirement. Whilst in general this has been a success, encouraging an estimated 10 million additional employees to start paying into a pension scheme, the regulations have not been without their […]