News
Jane is a specialist in advising pension schemes on the legal aspects of their investments. For defined benefit schemes, she advises on the terms of investment management agreements, fiduciary management and investment funds of all kinds, as well as hedging strategies (working in conjunction with banking lawyers) and custody arrangements.
For defined contribution schemes, Jane advises on the investment platform documentation, investment funds, insurance funds and the security of assets. She is a former member of the DC Asset Security Working party, whose guide on asset security is recommended by the Pensions Regulator.
In the last few years, Jane has helped clients on the journey to buy-out. She has undertaken benefit audits to ensure schemes are paying the correct legal entitlements. She advises on benefit re-shaping, liability management and incentive exercises which enhance the insurability of schemes and their benefits in a cost efficient way. In 2015, Jane lead the team which concluded one of the largest pension scheme buy-outs in UK history. This was the culmination of more than 5 years work and involved multiple buy-in policies with more than one bulk annuity insurer.
As the chair of trustees of 3 small defined benefit pension schemes, Jane’s advice to trustee clients comes from first-hand experience. She understands the challenges that lie in protecting the interests of members whilst balancing the needs of the employer, especially at a time when funding levels are low and investment returns hard to find.
After starting her career at Nicholson Graham & Jones, Jane has been a pensions partner at Sackers LLP and then Gowling WLG (UK) LLP (formerly Wragge & Co LLP). She speaks regularly at events on a wide range of pensions issues and is a full member of the Association of Pension Lawyers
