News

We are a leading firm of specialist pensions lawyers. Find out more about our latest legal news, press and engagements here.

The pension legislation changes for which grocery businesses need to prepare

Boris Johnson’s indication that his government will deliver its first Queen’s Speech on 14 October has ramped up speculation that we could see a w...

Anna Copestake comments in Professional Pensions on CMA tender rules

The requirement for schemes to conduct a competitive tender process only extends to schemes that have delegated the investment decision-making to fidu...

Anna Rogers comments in FTAdviser on the Pensions Regulator warning of widespread pension calculation errors

TPR has written to trustees of about 120 schemes administered by Prudential to inform them that their members could be receiving wrong pension payment...

Jane Kola comments in Pensions Expert on the Pensions Regulator writing to 120 schemes about incorrect equalisation calculations

The Pensions Regulator has written to the trustees of 120 pension schemes administered by Prudential making them aware of potential pension payment er...

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Expert on the Pensions Regulator turning up the heat on 99% failing small schemes

The Pensions Regulator continued to press for consolidation after its annual survey found 99 per cent of small schemes are missing statutory governanc...

Jane Kola comments in Pensions Expert on Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme surplus share uplift not transformational for the scheme

Former miners campaigning for the government's fifty-fifty split of their pension fund’s surplus to be renegotiated have been told by their own trus...

How will the judges’ and firefighters’ case impact pensions?

Sometimes, legal changes creep up on us when we are looking the other way. When, in December 2018, the Court of Appeal decided in favour of the judges...

Anna Copestake wins Lawyer of the Year at Women in Pensions Awards 2019

We are delighted to announce that Partner Anna Copestake has won Lawyer of the Year at Professional Pensions' Women in Pensions Awards 2019....

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on Honeywell completing its sectionalised merger of UK pension schemes

US conglomerate Honeywell has gone ahead with proposals to merge three of its UK defined benefit schemes on a sectionalised basis, in a bid to lower c...

Rosalind Connor comments in FTAdviser on The Court of Appeal’s ruling against the government’s leave to appeal in judges’ and firefighters’ pension cases

In December, The Court of Appeal ruled that changes to the pension schemes introduced in 2015 were unlawful on age, sex and race discrimination ground...

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Expert on the Pensions Regulator’s plans to extend its reach

The Pensions Regulator’s head of regulatory policy, David Fairs, announced plans to “ramp up” its reach on Friday. The plans clearly state that ...

Anne-Marie Winton to speak at Institue and Faculty of Actuaries’ Pensions Conference 2019

Partner Anne-Marie Winton will be speaking at the Institue and Faculty of Actuaries' Pensions Conference 2019. ...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Expert on Advocate General Hogan advising that full DB benefits must be paid in insolvency

The European Court is set to rule on whether insolvency compensation has to cover full defined benefit scheme benefits, and it could be swayed by Asso...

Stuck in the middle with my pension liability

In these straitened times there are a lot of companies battling with their customers and their creditors. Those with defined benefit pension schemes...

ESG: Are you asking the right questions?

With only two trustee meetings for many schemes before 1 October, the deadline for updated SIPs is fast approaching. Trustees’ ESG and stewar...

Extension of the Pension Regulator’s powers

In July 2018 the Department of Work and Pensions was tasked with carrying out a “light touch” review of the Pensions Regulator (TPR) as a public b...

Vikki Massarano comments in Pensions Age on the future of Member-Nominated Trustees

The Pensions Act of 1995 introduced the requirement for one-third of company pension scheme boards to be made up of member-nominated trustees or, in t...

Anna Copestake shortlisted for Lawyer of the Year at Women in Pensions Awards 2019

We are delighted to announce that Partner Anna Copestake has been shortlisted for Lawyer of the Year at this year's Women in Pensions Awards. ...

Jane Kola to speak at PMI’s data and de-risking roundtable

Partner Jane Kola will be speaking at PMI's data and de-risking roundtable, where she will join a panel of distinguished guests....

New law set to get tough on firms that put pensions at risk

The news that Brexit could be delayed until Halloween has alleviated one headache for those sitting in construction boardrooms across the country. But...

All you need to know: executive pensions and regulation

Anyone looking at British statute books might think that pensions are the most important thing in British politics. With a dozen Acts of Parliament st...

ARC shortlisted for Boutique Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2019

We are delighted to announce that ARC has been shortlisted in The Lawyer Awards for the Boutique Firm of the Year award. ...

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Age on the implication of data for the pensions industry

The pensions industry is changing; regulation, technology and disruptors are all influencing the challenging yet opportunistic environment the industr...

Anna Rogers and Jane Kola on how to maximise success in navigating the bulk annuities journey

Trustees need to plan and work ahead if they are to succeed in benefiting from the booming bulk annuities trading environment...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Law360 on key UK pension reforms delayed by Brexit distracted government

Key UK pensions reforms risk long delays as the government is consumed by the protracted Brexit process, with new powers for The Pensions Regulator an...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Expert on the Government’s guidance on GMP conversion

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has set out a ten-stage process for UK pension schemes to convert guaranteed minimum pensions (GMPs). The g...

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Age, welcoming greater consistency in the Pensions Ombudsman’s recent decisions, particularly those on pensions transfers

The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) deals with complaints and disputes that concern the administration and/or management of both occupational and personal pe...

Kate Payne comments in Pensions Expert on the Railways Pension Scheme Deficit

The Work and Pensions Committee has written to the Pensions Regulator over what it called the “staggering, parlous state” of the £25.5bn Railwa...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Actuarial Post on the pension implications for Debenhams’ defined benefit plan as the company goes into administration

Debenhams has become the latest high street retailer to go into administration after its lenders took control of the business. Anne-Marie Winton said,...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on John Laing Pensions Fund divesting asset-backed funding from former sponsor

The John Laing Pension Fund has sold its remaining stake in infrastructure company John Laing Environmental Assets Group, a holding initially contribu...

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on DWP delay leaving schemes vulnerable to breaching the Equality Act 2010

A government failure to update equality legislation means schemes offering bridging pensions might not comply with regulations under the Equality Act ...

ARC shortlisted for Pension Lawyers of the Year in UK Pensions Awards 2019

We are delighted to announce that ARC has been shortlisted in the Professional Pensions' UK Pensions Awards 2019 for Pension Lawyers of the Year....

ARC highly commended at MPF Awards for Best Strategy Implementation

We are delighted to announce that we have been highly commended at the Managing Partner Forum Awards for Best Strategy Implementation 2019. ...

Anna Copestake nominated in Professional Pensions’ Women in Pensions Awards 2019

We are delighted to announce that Partner Anna Copestake has been shortlisted in Professional Pensions' Women in Pensions Awards 2019....

Consolidation and how actuaries are pivotal

DWP closed their Consultation on Consolidation of Defined Benefit Pension Schemes on 1 February 2019 and the general thrust of responses to the consul...

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Expert on Caffyns Pension Scheme appointing a fiduciary manager to help restructure its investment portfolio

Trustees of the £86m Caffyns Pension Scheme have appointed a fiduciary manager to improve the performance of the fund’s assets, leading to a restru...

ARC hires new Senior Associate

Specialist pensions law boutique ARC Pensions Law is delighted to announce today the continuation of its rapid expansion with another key hire. Helen ...

Anna Copestake shortlisted in Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards for Adviser of the Year

We are delighted that Partner Anna Copestake has been shortlisted in the Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards for Adviser of the Year. ...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on the new criminal offences proposed to prevent pension mismanagement

The government has said that it plans to go ahead with proposals for new criminal offences to prevent and penalise mismanagement of pension schemes, b...

Jane Kola comments in The Actuary on Superfunds becoming the common solution for DB schemes

Research from Lincoln Pensions shows that 52% of the respondents expect consolidation to become more frequent, although just 11% are willing to be ear...

Rosalind Connor comments in Utility Week on pensions de-risking

The prospect of a new Pensions Bill and tighter regulation ahead means managing pensions risk needs to be a priority for utilities....

ARC Pensions Law responds to the DWP consultation on pension scheme consolidation and commercial consolidators

ARC generally supports the idea of commercial consolidators but considers the proposals in the DWP consultation have significant gaps in member protec...

Winton: use and abuse of pre-packs to drop pension liabilities

Anne-Marie Winton, London Pensions Lawyer, Partner at ARC Pensions Law LLP, examines the pre-pack administration of published Johnston Press, which in...

TPR to sharpen decision making scrutiny after Kodak decision

The Pensions Regulator is introducing greater levels of scrutiny after its decision to allow Kodak to jettison it pension liabilities faced criticism....

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on High Court ruling reverting Ombudsman decision over Coats’ pension scheme

The High Court has ruled in a rare instance of a court overturning a decision of The Pensions Ombudsman, whereby Coats' pension scheme members are not...

Difficult Decisions

A case that I am familiar with involved a man in his mid-thirties passing away after having filled his EoW, nominating the two children as potential b...

ARC shortlisted in the MPF Awards for Best Strategy Implementation 2019

ARC are delighted to have been shortlisted in the MPF Awards for Best Strategy Implementation 2019. ...

ARC Pensions Law shortlisted for Pensions Age Awards 2019

ARC Pensions Law is pleased to announce its shortlisting for Pension Law Firm of the Year in the 2019 Pensions Age Awards. ARC has been recognised for...

Top tips for a successful approach to the bulk annuity market

From the blog: 2018 is set to be a record breaking year in the bulk annuity risk transfer market....

ARC shortlisted in The Legal 500 UK Awards 2019

ARC is delighted to have been shortlisted in this year's The Legal 500 UK Awards for the category of specialism of the year....

Rosalind Connor comments in Law360 on the Pensions Regulator’s public criticism of Southern Water

Utility company Southern Water has agreed to pay significantly higher deficit repair contributions under a shorter recovery period, following an inves...

Anna Rogers comments in the Financial Times on High Court GMP Equalisation ruling affecting millions in defined benefit schemes

Jo Cumbo writes in the Financial Times that good news is on the way for millions of members of company retirement schemes who are set to share in an e...

GMP equalisation is needed, but it will not be straightforward

The mist has begun to clear from the recent October 2018 High Court judgment in the Lloyds Bank case, relating to equalisation of guaranteed minimum p...

Trustee briefing – what trustees can learn from the Barnardo’s ruling

The Government’s switch in the statutory indices for the revaluation and indexation of occupational pension schemes in 2010 has been the source of m...

Lloyds pensions ruling: much needed clarity provided on guaranteed minimum pensions

Following last month’s landmark High Court ruling on Guaranteed Minimum Pensions (GMPs), namely that Lloyds Banking Group must equalise some legacy ...

Anna Copestake nominated in Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards 2019

We are pleased to announce that Anna Copestake has been nominated in Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards 2019....

Jane Kola comments in City A.M. on Barnardo’s losing its legal battle to shift its pension indexation

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that children’s charity Barnardo’s can not change the index it uses to protect pensions from inflation. ...

A case for greater disclosure

UK company accounts do not adequately explain defined benefit pension risks to investors, says Anne-Marie Winton. As part of its 2017/18 audit quality...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on Imperial Brands looking to discontinue a consultative committee at its Imperial Tobacco Pension Fund

Imperial Brands is looking to discontinue a consultative committee at its Imperial Tobacco Pension Fund. ...

Kate Payne comments in FTAdviser on whether public schemes are safe from the GMP Equalisation ruling

Public sector pensions schemes won't have to change the way they equalise guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) benefits, despite a new court ruling on thi...

What greater regulatory scrutiny means for small schemes

In addition to announcing its new “tougher” stance, the Pensions Regulator has said it will take a more proactive approach to smaller schemes’ c...

ARC ranked in Chambers & Partners 2019

ARC is pleased to have been ranked once again for pensions in Chambers & Partners....

Anna Rogers comments in Professional Pensions Lloyds GMP ruling giving a clear way forward

The High Court ruling on guaranteed minimum pension (GMP) equalisation may have said various methods were possible but, in practice, the method that m...

ARC Pensions Law ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2018 for Pensions

We are pleased to announce that ARC Pensions Law's two offices in London and Leeds have been ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2018 for Pensions (non-content...

What the Budget means for pensions

Pensions was the unspoken issue in this year’s Budget, despite recent rampant rumours of a big pensions issue being featured....

Robert Walker to talk at Introduction to UK Pensions 2018

Robert Walker is to speak at Introduction to UK Pensions about Pensions Law, taking place on 31 October. ...

Anna Rogers comments in The Times on Lloyds’ bill of up to £150mn after landmark pensions ruling

Lloyds Banking Group must amend its pension schemes in order to equalise benefits for men and women, the High Court has ruled in a landmark case set t...

ARC Pensions Law shortlisted for British Legal Awards 2018 Boutique Law Firm of the Year

ARC Pensions Law are pleased to announce that the firm has been shortlisted for Boutique Law Firm of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2018. ...

Jane Kola comments in Pensions Age on the future of the pensions sector in terms of settlement and consolidation

The pensions industry has recently undergone drastic change. Investment consultancy and management, as well as professional trusteeship, are areas in ...

Uncertainty over PPF Compensation

On 6 September 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) provided its ruling in Hampshire v The Board of the Pension Protection Fund (PP...

ARC Pensions Law is recruiting lawyers for their London and Leeds offices

ARC is looking to expand their practice. The firm are actively looking for a Senior Associate for their London office and an NQ / Junior Associate for...

ARC wins Niche Law Firm at Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018

ARC is delighted to report that the firm has won Niche Law Firm at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018. ...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on Nortel’s £2.4bn buyout

British insurer Legal & General has taken on £2.4bn in pension liabilities from Nortel Networks....

Tough new approach from pensions regulator, increased scrutiny for schemes

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has unveiled a new logo and a new approach, in a paper entitled "Making Workplace Pensions Work"....

Pension Scams

For individuals who get taken in by pensions fraudsters the consequences can be devastating. 253 victims reported to Action Fraud in 2017 that they ha...

Anna Rogers selected to join the PLSA’s new Policy Board

Senior Partner Anna Rogers is pleased to have been selected to join The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association’s new Policy Board, which will hav...

Rosalind Connor comments in Money Marketing on providing savers with information on transfers

A new paper calling for employees to be given information on how to access transfer values, even if they have not asked for it, has reignited the deba...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in RBS ContentLive on SME’s workplace pensions requirements

Workplace pension requirements are a source of confusion for many SMEs. Under the Pensions Act 2008, every employer in the UK must put certain staff i...

Anna Rogers comments in IPE on the need for the pensions dashboard

A petition urging the UK government not to scrap plans for a pension dashboard may not be considered for debate in parliament despite gaining more tha...

ARC shortlisted for Niche Law Firm at Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018

ARC is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted in the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018 for the Niche Law Firm award. The Yorkshire Legal Awards...

Vikki Massarano comments in Accountancy Daily on BT’s reported £500mn pension deficit error

BT has reported that an accounting error by actuary Willis Towers Watson led to a £500mn underestimation of its pension deficit to the end of March. ...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in IPE on FRC’s criticism of DB accounting standards

The UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has concluded that there is “some scope for improvement in a number of aspects” of the work carried out b...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in The Actuary on the FRC’s investigation into pension scheme audit failures

Nearly half of audit inspections carried out by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in 2017/18 found problems in the way pension schemes’ valuatio...

Inadequate measures place pressure on pensions’ schemes

After several vigorous, public criticism of its failure to exercise its powers in high profile cases, the Pensions’ Regulator has its spotlight firm...

Anna Copestake comments in Corporate Adviser on passive funds winning in the battle of price over value

According to corporate advisers, employers signing off fund choices for their defined contribution schemes have been so focussed on price that they ar...

Rosalind Connor comments in The Financial Times on British Airways’ landmark win over pension trustee powers

British Airways (BA) today won its case in the Court of Appeals against its pension scheme trustees, and will not have to pay out £12m in discretiona...

Rosalind Connor comments in the FT on pension schemes’ handling of overpayments

Across the UK, tens of thousands of people could be in for similar shocks as pension schemes across the land complete a massive record-checking exerci...

Vikki Massarano comments in Accountancy Daily on the Government’s consultation on protecting DB schemes

The government has launched a consultation into how defined benefit pension schemes can be better protected....

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on DWP’s proposal to grant TPR power to impose civil fines

The Department for Work and Pensions has proposed granting The Pensions Regulator the ability to fine employers and associated parties up to £1m wher...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Age on master trusts and the relationship between employers and scheme members

Some commentators have expressed concern over the increased uptake in master trust membership, asserting that adding an additional party to workplace ...

Anna Rogers speaks with Professional Pensions on key issues for risk reduction

What are the key legal issues facing schemes conducting and considering buy-ins or buyouts at the current time? Anna Rogers: To my mind the main risk ...

New draft pension scheme investment regulations – power to the people?

Have you seen the news? Members are getting powers to hold trustees to account over their consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG...

Jane Kola comments in Pensions Expert on SNP Bill seeking PPF support for orphan liabilities

A private members’ Bill submitted by Scottish National Party MP Alan Brown last week could see the Pension Protection Fund taking on so-called orpha...

Rosalind Connor comments in IPE on DWP’s consultation on trustees’ pension scheme investment duties

A proposed requirement has been revealed as part of the launch of a consultation from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on trustees’ duties...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on DWP’s defined benefit white paper

The Pensions Regulator is prepared to deploy tough new powers promised by the Department for Work and Pensions’ defined benefit white paper, althoug...

More scrutiny into pensions schemes needed

The Pensions Regulator's exercise of its powers has been in the spotlight recently. The Work and Pensions Select Committee has been vocal on the way i...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in FT Adviser on the Lords Economic Affairs Committee inquiry into DB pension boosting measure

The Lords Economic Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into whether the retail price index (RPI) should remain to measure inflation or whether i...

Anna Rogers comments in IPE on the House of Lords’ inquiry into scrapping the RPI as a measure of consumer inflation

The UK Parliament has begun an inquiry into whether the retail prices index (RPI) should be scrapped as a measure of consumer inflation, a move that t...

Picking up the pensions pieces after Carillion

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has done too little, too late to reduce the risks to Carillion’s pension schemes. Anne-Marie Winton, partner at ARC Pen...

Calling all pension liabilities

It is a welcome change that defined benefit pension liabilities of employers are now high profile when there are challenges to businesses – for too ...

Financial support directions and extent of TPR’s powers—‘Box Clever’

The Granada case, popularly known as ‘Box Clever’ after the name of the employer of the pension scheme, related to whether TPR had the power to is...

ARC advises on £880m pensions buy-in for client Littlewoods Pensions Scheme

ARC has acted for the Trustee of the Littlewoods Pensions Scheme in purchasing an £880m pensioner buy-in policy from Scottish Widows. This is Scottis...

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions as court rules in favour of TPR in dispute with ITV

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has secured a major win in the Upper Tribunal after the court ruled it was fair for the watchdog to seek financial suppor...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on GDPR and how it will affect the pensions industry

On 25th of May, GDPR will come into effect. Trustees and schemes alike have to make sure that they are watertight when it comes to complying with intr...

Vikki Massarano comments in Pensions Age on the availability of independent financial advice for different pension schemes

The recent changes in the pensions world has meant that pension schemes are no longer straightforward retirement income products. This is due to rapid...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Age on diversity in the pension sector

Diversity is high on the agenda in the pensions world, not least because of The Pensions Regulator’s focus on it in relation to trustee boards. Spe...

Pensions Regulator to toughen up following Carillion failure

The publication yesterday of the joint Business and Energy & Industrial Strategy and Work & Pensions Committees’ report on the demise of Carillion i...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in The Times Law Brief on the Commons Carillion report

A 101-page report into the collapse of Carillion, undertaken by two Commons select committees, has identified failings by the company’s directors, r...

Out in the wash

In the fight against organised crime and terrorist financing, money laundering has changed significantly since the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 came int...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Accountancy Daily on criticism levelled at The Pensions Regulator in the Carillion report

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has come in for heavy criticism in the select committees’ report on Carillion, with MPs describing its response to the ...

Rosalind Connor comments in FT Adviser on Gov’s defined benefit white paper risks sending schemes into PPF

New legislation expected to come into force from the government's defined benefit (DB) white paper has the potential to increase company insolvencies ...

The real risk of ignoring letters from the Regulator

It’s Monday morning, and you get a letter postmarked “Brighton”, sent by Special Delivery. It’s not your birthday, so you are not sure what to...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Age on the challenges pension schemes face from GDPR and old data

The EU’s GDPR comes into effect on the 25th of May 2018 and will involve specific rules around the subject of personal information. This includes ho...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in NatWest Content Live on pensions reform in the charity sector

Poor fund returns and the closure of defined benefit schemes are driving reform of pensions in the charity sector....

ARC wins Pensions Law Firm of the Year at the FT PIPA Awards

ARC is delighted to have been awarded Pensions Law Firm of the Year at the 2018 Financial Times PIPA Awards....

Melrose V GKN: Fighting it out over pensions

On 27th April 2018, Melrose announced that its offer to acquire GKN had been accepted by shareholders representing more than 90% of the value and voti...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on CMA ruling that fiduciary management not overly concentrated

The competition watchdog has found that there are no barriers to entry or expansion that might limit competition within the consultancy or fiduciary m...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Age on potential unlawfulness of UK pension compensation limit

The UK’s Pension Protection Fund (PPF) might have to rethink its compensation limit if the European Court of Justice (ECJ) decides that it is illega...

Max Ballad comments in Pensions Age on DC Bulk Transfers

Following a consultation that was published in Autumn 2017, the government published a response on simplifying the defined contribution (DC) scheme co...

ARC is highly commended at the Legal Business Awards

ARC is pleased to have been highly commended in this year’s Legal Business Awards for the category of Boutique Law Firm of the Year. ...

Rosalind Connor comments in The Times Law Brief on ministers’ attempts to protect pension pots

Pensions have been at the top of the news and government agenda after a series of businesses went bust and left eye-watering deficits....

The implications of pensions white paper

Businesses that have defined benefit pension schemes are long used to regulation. Ever since the Maxwell scandal, nearly 30 years ago, successive gove...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in The Mail on Sunday on De La Rue’s pension deficit

The British firm that lost out on a lucrative contract to print the UK's first post-Brexit passports is facing accusations that its bid was inflated i...

ARC shortlisted for Pensions Law Firm of the Year in the FT PIPA Awards

ARC is delighted to have been shortlisted for Pensions Law Firm of the Year in the 2018 FT PIPA Awards. The firm has been acknowledged for its extensi...

What the EU’s money laundering directive means for schemes

From the blog: New money laundering regulations came into force in June 2017, implementing the EU’s Fourth Money Laundering Directive and replacing ...

Piercing the Corporate Veil

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has attempted to flex its muscles by raising public concerns about the hostile bid for British engineering firm GKN by US...

Anne-Marie comments in Pensions Expert on trustees updating Reuters members about agreed sale of part of the business

The insolvency of prominent businesses such as Toys R Us making headlines recently has led to an increased awareness of the impact that corporate acti...

ARC’s response to The Department for Work and Pensions’ white paper, ‘Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes’

The DWP seems to have drawn a line under the CPI/RPI issue in its White Paper published today “Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes”. ...

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Age on integrating ESG risks within pension scheme portfolios

Recently there has been a fundamental shift in the way stakeholders – such as businesses, investors and government – view environmental, social an...

UK Pension Funds Grilled over Financial Risks of Climate Change

The widespread misunderstanding of trustees’ duties may extend to others involved in this debate. Pension schemes are enormous investors and therefo...

Rosalind Connor comments in Money Marketing on scheme rules holding back pension transfer advice

Pension trustees are voicing increased concerns that scheme rules are stopping them signposting financial advice to members....

ARC Pensions Law wins Best Strategic Leadership at the MPF Awards

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to have won Best Strategic Leadership at this year’s MPF Awards....

Balancing the needs of defined benefit pension stakeholders

Defined benefit pension schemes are at risk as funds are ransacked by companies, covenants are breached and trustees appear to have few powers. Anne-M...

What’s next for Toys R Us

Rosalind Connor, Partner at ARC Pensions Law, looks at the issues here from a pensions perspective and what’s next for Toys R Us and similar chains....

ARC advises trustees of Royal Mail Pension Plan on £450m bulk annuity transaction with Rothesay Life

The Post Office has agreed a bulk annuity buy-in for its section of the Royal Mail Pension Plan, which insures all of its members with Rothesay Life. ...

Rosalind Connor comments in FTAdviser on Government action expected on pensions inflation

The government is expected to address the relationship between inflation and defined benefit (DB) pension schemes in its forthcoming white paper. Howe...

Spectre of Closure: BA’s decision to close the New Airways Pension Scheme highlights risks of defined benefit liabilities

With some rather unseasonal timing, in mid December 2017, British Airways announced the bad news to staff of the planned closure of its defined benefi...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Law360 on Barclays’ plan to re-house its pension scheme in a new investment banking arm

When Barclays becomes the first British bank to reveal in court how it will comply with new ring-fencing regulations, pension lawyers will look to how...

ARC Pensions Law has been highly commended at the Pensions Age Awards

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to have been highly commended in the Pensions Law Firm of the Year category in the Pensions Age Awards 2018....

ARC Pensions Law is shortlisted for Boutique Law Firm of the Year in The Legal Business Awards 2018

ARC is delighted to have been shortlisted for Boutique Law Firm of the Year at this year’s Legal Business Awards....

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on Nissan’s proposed switch to Care arrangement scheme

Car manufacturer, Nissan, is consulting on a proposed switch to a career average scheme to reduce the volatility of its pensions liabilities....

Executive Pensions – at arm’s length?

Potential business acquisitions are subject to intense due diligence by private equity firms, but a crucial element they sometimes miss- executive pen...

Vikki Massarano comments in Pensions Expert as Government defeated on discriminatory changes for firefighters and judges

The Employment Appeal Tribunal is returning the firefighters’ discrimination case to the Employment Tribunal....

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Actuarial Post on the joint inquiry into Carillion’s collapse

On 30th January, the joint Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and Work and Pensions Committee heard evidence from two of the Carillion...

Kate Payne comments in Moneywise on High Court rejecting BT’s plan to reduce pensions benefits

The High Court’s decision to reject BT’s plan to reduce pensions benefits comes as good news for 84,000 former and existing BT employees that join...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in The Times on the handling of Carillion’s collapse

The collapse of the construction group Carillion is a tragedy — but it is also emblematic of the state of the nation’s public and private sectors ...

Do the GKN trustees really matter to Melrose?

Pension scheme trustees tend to keep quietly in the corner, talking about breach of trust and mortality assumptions, but every now and then they find ...

Rosalind Connor comments in The Times Law Brief on the High Court’s rejection of BT’s pension deficit proposal

BT's plans to deal with its pension deficit have been dealt a significant blow after the High Court rejected its proposal to switch the way in which i...

How to avoid pitfalls in DC bulk transfers

Pension freedoms, increasing governance demands and higher charges have led to considerable appetite among employers to transfer defined contribution ...

ARC wins Corporate / Commercial Team of the Year at the Modern Law Awards 2018

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to have won the award for Corporate/Commercial Team of the Year at the Modern Law Awards 2018....

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Age on drawdown demand outstripping annuities

When it comes to retirement products, drawdown is currently king. Figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show that drawdown sales cons...

Closing Defined Benefit Pension Scheme at BA highlights liabilities

With some rather unseasonal timing, in mid December 2017, British Airways announced the bad news to staff of the planned closure of its defined benefi...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in The Times Law Brief on the transfer of Carillion’s DB members to the PPF

The collapse of Carillion and its impending transfer of some of its defined benefit members (DB) into the Pensions Protection Fund (PPF) has raised qu...

VAT and Pension Scheme Expenses for Defined Benefit Schemes

It is three and a half years since HM Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) announced a change in their practice in relation to recoverability of VAT on pe...

Auto enrolment 5 years on

Automatic enrolment as set out in the Pensions Act 2008 (PA 2008) is now largely complete – although it has been a long time coming. Starting in 20...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on PPF taking a tough stance against Toys R Us insolvency

PPF has continued to block the terms of a Company Voluntary Arrangement proposed by Toys R Us and demanded £9m to be injected into their pension sche...

ARC shortlisted in the MPF Awards for Management Excellence 2018

ARC is delighted to have been shortlisted in the MPF Awards for Management Excellence 2018 for Best Strategic Leadership, Best Strategy Implementation...

Can trustees derail an M&A deal?

New statistics from the Office for National Statistics pointing to a ‘sizeable’ increase in the value of successful M&A deals, both domestic and c...

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on the possibility of advisers facing legal action over Climate Change Risks

Defined benefit investment (DB) consultants and actuaries could face legal action over failing to address climate change risks in advice. ...

Collective Defined Contribution – another pensions headache?

In 2010, completely out of the blue, the pensions industry got a minister who was actually interested in pensions. Steve Webb (now Sir Steve Webb) wa...

ARC PENSIONS LAW SHORTLISTED FOR PENSIONS AGE AWARDS 2018

ARC Pensions Law is pleased to announce its shortlisting for Pension Law Firm of the Year in the 2018 Pensions Age Awards....

Kate Payne comments in Pensions Expert on FirstGroup merging funds within LGPS

Transport operator FirstGroup has become the first major private sector employer to consolidate its pension funds within the Local Government Pension ...

Avoiding scams on pension transfers

The financial crisis led to the country becoming a low interest rate and low inflation economy. This had an inadvertent effect on most companies with...

ARC Pensions Law wins Specialist Law Firm of the Year at The British Legal Awards

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to have won Specialist Law Firm of the Year at this year’s British Legal Awards....

What the Budget means for pensions

The world of pensions has always been slightly nervous when it comes to the chancellor’s budget....

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on Govt exempting schemes from immovable property tax

The government plans to exempt pension funds from changes announced today that will apply UK tax to gains made by non-residents on immovable property....

Anne-Marie Winton comments in The Times on BT’s £13.9bn pension scheme deficit

BT is facing immense challenges due to the gaping hole in its pension scheme, fuelling fears about its dividend. BT has revealed this month that there...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Age on HMRC dropping their plan to tell millions of members where their GMPs sit

It was reported this week that millions of savers will no longer receive statements helping them to verify that their state pensions are correct, foll...

Anna Copestake to speak at PLSA Hot Topic Seminar 2017: Hunting for Investment Income

Partner Anna Copestake will be speaking at the PLSA Hot Topic Seminar 2017: Hunting For Investment Income, where she will join a panel of distinguishe...

Overseas transfers

Changes announced by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in March, coupled with the implementation of relevant provisions of the Finance Act 2017, have led to...

Vikki Massarano comments in Pensions Expert on the Fujitsu pensions dispute

Union Unite is preparing to reballot employees at ICT company Fujitsu on strike action, in a long-running dispute that – among other things – invo...

ARC Pensions Law improves ranking in Chambers and Partners 2018

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to have improved its ranking for pensions in this year’s Chambers and Partners Guide....

Anna Rogers comments in Professional Pensions on the potential dangers of biometrics in scheme administration

In October the Pensions Administration Standards Association (PASA) called on trustees to take more interest in the development and use of biometrics....

ARC shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year in Modern Law Awards

ARC is delighted to have been shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year at this year’s Modern Law Awards. ...

ARC adds fourth Partner in one year

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to announce the promotion of Anna Copestake from Senior Associate to Partner. The appointment is the latest stage of ARC...

Pension superfunds are not a silver bullet

The proposal by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association to pool up to £1.5 trillion of assets in existing pension schemes into so-called superf...

Auto-enrolment compliance under the spotlight

The latest workplace pensions scheme figures indicate that, as of July 2017, more than eight million workers are enrolled by approximately 650,000 emp...

ARC Pensions Law ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2017 for Pensions (non-contentious)

We are pleased to announce that ARC Pensions Law has been ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2017 for Pensions (non-contentious). ...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Expert on HPE pensioners’ demand to MPs for new right to increases on pre-97 pensions

Pensioners of Hewlett Packard Enterprises are lobbying the government to force their former employer to provide inflation protection for pension right...

How deferred debt arrangements offer easement for NAME schemes

Nights start to close in in October and we can look forward to evenings at home trying to find old pound coins down the back of the sofa in time to sp...

Exploring the government’s consultation on corporate governance reform

Anne-Marie Winton considers the key proposals affecting pensions outlined in the government’s response and suggests there is some bark, but not nece...

ARC Pensions Law Shortlisted for British Legal Awards 2017
Specialist Law Firm of the Year

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to announce it has been shortlisted for Specialist Law Firm of the Year in the British Legal Awards 2017....

Rosalind Connor comments on the new PQM Good Communications Guide for Professional Pensions

The Pension Quality Mark (PQM) has high hopes for its Good Communications Guide, which it launched on 29 September....

The DWP’s consultation on the PPF reining in bridging pensions

Partner Rosalind Connor considers the background to the consultation on the draft Pension Protection Fund (Compensation) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 ...

ARC Leeds office launch celebration

Last Thursday, the ARC team was delighted to celebrate the successful launch of its new office in Leeds....

Rosalind Connor to discuss new data protection legislation at Punter Southall Annual Pensions Conference 2017

Partner Rosalind Connor will discuss new data protection legislation at Punter Southall Annual Pensions Conference 2017 on Thursday 28 September...

Rosalind Connor discusses DB scheme reformation at the Professional Pensions Trustee Senate

One of the big discussion points in the industry this year has been the security and sustainability of defined benefit (DB) schemes and whether the sy...

Jane Kola comments in Professional Pensions on post-Brexit pension plans

Expat pensioners may not receive their entitlements if no deal is reached in the Brexit negotiations, the Treasury select committee has warned the Cha...

How trustees risk providing implicit advice to DC members

In the 2014 Budget, the Chancellor announced changes, effective from April 2015, to existing tax rules, paving the way for a radical overhaul in how d...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in NatWest ContentLive on SMEs’ legal responsibilities in regards to the Pensions Act

Under the Pensions Act 2008, every employer in the UK must put certain staff into a pension scheme and contribute towards it. This is called automatic...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Investment & Pensions Europe on regulated apportionment arrangements

The regulations and oversight of the UK Pensions Regulator (TPR) can only protect a pension scheme’s members so much. Sometimes there is nothing tha...

Bagging a bargain? Purchasing businesses with DB pension schemes

There are many accepted truths about buying a company, such as the well-worn adage that a deal will always take longer, and be more complex than anyon...

Gender reassignment and the state pension—fair play for all?

The Upper Tribunal allowed the Secretary of State’s appeals against two decisions of the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) concerning the entitlement of the...

ARC shortlisted for Niche Law Firm award at Yorkshire Legal Awards 2017

We are delighted to announce that ARC Pensions Law has been shortlisted in this year’s Yorkshire Legal Awards 2017 for the Niche Law Firm award....

Lloyds Bank test case finally grasps the nettle of GMP equalisation

In 1990, in between the release of Nelson Mandela from captivity and the fall of the Berlin Wall, was a development even more dramatic in the world of...

Is your scheme closed in the way you think?

Significantly fewer than 1m lucky individuals were active members of private sector occupational defined benefit schemes in 2015, compared with almost...

BBC “cap off” a bad month with some good news

The BBC has emerged victorious today (28 July 2017) in a long running saga regarding the validity of its pensionable salary capping arrangement....

How Kodak got out of its pensions trap

In the 1950s, the UK was the second largest car manufacturer in the world. The boom was linked in part to the government’s support of the steel indu...

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on the over-regulation of DB schemes

Rosalind Connor spoke on a panel of industry experts at Pensions and Benefits UK in London on 27th June to discuss the future of DB schemes....

Kate Payne comments in Money Marketing on the future of DB pension transfer advice

Pension freedoms have opened defined benefit members’ eyes to the mouth-watering transfer values currently on offer if they give up their guaranteed...

Why DB pension schemes matter for M&As

Lawyers and other corporate advisers often make the mistake of thinking that M&A activity is all about ‘the deal’. Once the documents are signed, ...

British Airways’ Pensions Saga Is Flying Under The Radar

Pension lawyers are different from normal people. Whilst most of the world is talking about British Airways in terms of an IT problem that grounded ai...

What the British Airways pensions case means for trustees and employers

The decision in the case of British Airways vs Airways Pension Scheme Trustee was handed down on 19 May 2017. The case, as the judge remarked, has bee...

Key considerations for a pensions change project

There are three questions employers should ask before embarking on a pensions change project. First, they should question whether they can make the ch...

Anna Rogers comments in Actuarial Post on Lloyds’ bid to equalise GMPs

Anna Rogers commented on the news that Lloyds has launched a joint bid with pension trustees and unions to equalise GMPs....

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on the implications of the BA judgment on trustee conduct

After three and a half arduous years, British Airways pensioners will be celebrating a landmark High Court judgment allowing trustees to award a 0.2% ...

Rosalind Connor comments in Actuarial Post as BA to appeal High Court ruling on discretionary increases

Partner, Rosalind Connor commented on the news that British Airways intends to appeal a High Court decision...

ARC highly commended at the 2017 Financial Times PIPA Awards

ARC Pensions Law has been highly commended at the Financial Times' 18th annual Pension and Investment Provider Awards for it's innovation and growth. ...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on BA judgement

British Airways has lost a legal battle against the Airways Pension Scheme involving the trustees' decision to introduce a 0.2 per cent discretionary ...

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on BA High Court ruling

British Airways has lost a landmark trial to block its pension trustees' decision to award a discretionary increase in 2013....

Anna Copestake interviewed by Lexis PSL re Pension Schemes Act 2017

As the Pension Schemes Bill becomes the Pension Schemes Act 2017 Anna Copestake discusses the implications with Lexis PSL Pensions...

Anna Rogers comments in the i newspaper on retirees who aren’t receiving a full state pension

The Government has been criticised for leaving pensioners in a state of "total confusion" about why some are not receiving the full state pension....

Focused, faster and more frequent

The Pensions Regulator has published its corporate plan for the next three years, with a list of eight priorities including intervening more often and...

Sarah Miller comments in Pensions Expert on scope of DWP’s regulations for struggling contracted-out schemes

The Department for Work and Pensions has published regulations allowing struggling contracted-out schemes in a Pension Protection Fund assessment peri...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Insight on TPR’s first criminal convictions

Total fines of £23,000 from two court cases may not be the most substantial penalties ever imposed by the UK justice system. But as the outcome from ...

Jane Kola comments in Pensions Expert on the government’s Section 75 debt proposal

Experts have welcomed the government’s recent consultation proposing a new deferred debt arrangement for employers in multi-employer pension schemes...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on FKI scheme wind up

Trustees of the defined contribution FKI Group Pension Plan have agreed to wind up the scheme, transferring active members to a mastertrust, as expert...

ARC Pensions Law hires new partner from international law firm Gowling WLG to fuel expansion

Specialist pensions law boutique ARC Pensions Law continues its rapid expansion with another key partner hire, this time from the established pensions...

Who’s afraid of the pensions regulator?

In certain circumstances involving schemes in significant deficit, the pensions regulator has powers to pierce the ‘corporate veil’ and can force ...

Rosalind Connor comments on the upcoming BA judgement

Towards the end of 2016, a three-year argument between British Airways and the trustees of one of its pension schemes erupted into a mammoth seven-wee...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on the John Menzies MoU

A memorandum of understanding has been signed by John Menzies and trustees of its pension scheme as it has closed the scheme and plans to begin a sect...

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on TPO ruling against Enfield Council

The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) has ruled Enfield Council cannot withhold pension benefits for a man who embezzled nearly £500,000, due to the Local Gov...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on the lack of clearance sought from the Pensions Regulator

Just 21% of pensions and restructuring lawyers normally suggest that clients go through the Pensions Regulator’s clearing process, reflecting a simi...

The mystery of personal trusteeship

Anna Copestake says trustees must think carefully about acting as trustees in their own name....

ARC Pensions Law shortlisted for Financial Times PIPA Award

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to announce its shortlisting at the 2017 FT PIPA Awards for Pensions Law Firm...

Could The Great Repeal Bill Take Away Your Pensions & Human Rights?

The British constitution is on the verge of a transformation of historic and unprecedented proportions, but if we focus on the world of pension scheme...

Rosalind Connor to speak at Workplace Pensions Live 2017

Rosalind Connor will be speaking at this year’s Workplace Pensions Live, where she will be joined by a panel of distinguished guests. The conference...

Anna Copestake comments in Actuarial Post on the value placed on asset security by members

According to to recent consumer research of contract based schemes conducted on behalf of the Independent Governance Committees (IGCs), pension scheme...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Expert on the impact of Scottish independence on pension schemes

Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon will seek a second referendum on Scottish independence, to be held by spring of 2019, triggering concerns ab...

Anna Rogers comments in Engaged Investor on PLSA’s DB taskforce report

The Department for Work and Pensions’ recent green paper concluded there was no crisis in DB funding....

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Age on trustee advice

While it may initially appear that having too many advisers could cause a bit of a tangled web, it can also be advantageous. Anna Rogers argues tha...

ARC Pensions Law wins MPF award for Best Collaboration with External Specialists

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to have won the award for 'Best Collaboration with External Specialists' in this year's Managing Partners' Forum Awards ...

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Expert as government to appeal discrimination ruling

The government is set to appeal the employment tribunal’s recent verdict that more than 200 judges suffered discrimination as a result of pension ch...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Expert on age discrimination in pension scheme transition arrangements

Several Employment Tribunal judgments in recent months have tackled questions of alleged age discrimination, most notably finding that transition arra...

ARC Becomes First National Pensions Law Boutique

ARC Pensions Law today announces that it will become the first major national pensions boutique....

ARC response to DWP call for evidence on bulk transfers of defined contribution pensions without member consent

We are pleased to have this opportunity to comment on these proposals. ARC Pensions Law is a leading firm of specialist pension lawyers specialising i...

Anna Rogers comments in Professional Pensions as employment tribunal rejects age discrimination claims

An employment tribunal ruled that the government did not discriminate against younger workers when it introduced transitional arrangements to the Fire...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on Diageo deal with DB pension scheme members

Drinks company Diageo has avoided a strike by members of its defined benefit pension schemes after union members accepted a deal....

ARC’s response to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy green paper on corporate governance reform

We are pleased to have this opportunity to comment on these proposals. ARC Pensions Law is a leading firm of specialist pension lawyers specialising i...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Professional Pensions on British Airways lawsuit against pension scheme trustees

The trustees of the Airways Pension Scheme will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of a four-year saga that saw their sponsoring employer British Airways...

Anna Rogers comments in the Financial Times on landmark legal ruling on survivors’ pensions

Unmarried people who were denied survivors’ pensions after the death of a partner may want to appeal against the decision, following a landmark lega...

ARC Pensions Law responds to Law Commission’s consultation on social investment

Social investment is an investment which combines financial and social objectives. This idea is that it is possible “to do well and to do good at th...

ARC’s response to joint DWP/Treasury consultation on pensions scams

We are pleased to have the opportunity to comment on these proposals. ARC Pensions Law is a leading firm of specialist pension lawyers specialising in...

Rosalind Connor on the Powers of Trustee Boards in Opposing Suspicious Transfer Requests

The Government and regulators have been urged to strengthen the powers of trustee boards in opposing suspicious transfer requests, as an alert from th...

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on Fire Brigades Union’s pension reform dispute

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has launched a challenge to the Home Office's reform of firefighters' pensions on the grounds that it is discriminatory....

Anne-Marie Winton Comments in Pensions Expert as TPR Fines Mastertrusts

The Pensions Regulator has issued its first fines against mastertrusts for failing to complete a chair’s statement....

ARC Pensions Law shortlisted for Management Excellence award

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to have been shortlisted for "Best Collaboration with External Specialists" in this year's MPF Awards for Management Exc...

ARC Pensions Law has moved offices

We are delighted to announce that, after a very successful first year, we have now outgrown our offices in Devonshire Square and have therefore recent...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on the British Steel Pension Scheme

The £15bn British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) has been at the centre of an intense debate over the past year around giving struggling sponsors the ab...

Do past pension schemes haunt the pharmaceutical industry?

Rosalind Connor writes in European Pharmaceutical Review on how the pension schemes in the older businesses can create a significant competitive disad...

ARC Pensions Law shortlisted for Pensions Law Firm of the Year

ARC Pensions Law is pleased to announce its shortlisting for Pensions Law Firm of the Year....

Freedom from early exit charges in occupational pension schemes—clearer road ahead?

Kevin LeGrand, consultant at ARC Pensions Law, considers the outcomes of the Government's consultation on capping early exit charges for members of oc...

ARC Pensions Law response to DWP GMP equalisation consultation

On 28th November 2016 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issued a consultation on indexation and equalisation of GMP in public service pension...

Rosalind comments on defined contribution (DC) scheme compliance

An FOI request has revealed that there are at least 3,703 private sector DC schemes which are classed as never having completed a scheme return....

What the Autumn Statement means for pensions

Following recent years, the pensions world looks towards the Budget and the soon-to-be-discontinued Autumn Statement with a great deal of trepidation....

Lessons learned when trying to transfer a pension

Anne-Marie Winton relates her experience of trying to transfer a pension pot....

ARC Pensions Law wins Modern Law Award for Business Growth

ARC Pensions Law is delighted to announce its win of the Business Growth Award at this year's Modern Law Awards....

Anna Copestake in Lexis PSL Pensions on Pension protection levy – all change?

The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has published a consultation document on the pension protection levy for 2017/18. One key area of change is around t...

ARC Pensions Law ranked in Chambers and Partners for Pensions

ARC is delighted to have been ranked for Pensions in this year's Chambers and Partners Guide....

ARC Pensions Law shortlisted in The Legal 500 UK 2017 Awards

ARC Pensions Law are delighted to be shortlisted in The Legal 500 UK 2017 Awards as Specialist Firm of the Year for Pensions ...

Implications of Brexit on pensions

Anna Rogers spoke at an Aberdeen Asset Management seminar to discuss the potential implications of Brexit on pensions....

Human rights law may limit Government’s freedom to legislate post-Brexit

Will Brexit mean the UK Government has a free hand to change pensions law?...

DC Asset Security – safe haven or headache?

ARC Senior Associate, Anna Copestake is a member of the Security of Assets Working Party. Here she introduces the Working Party’s updated guide....

Rosalind attends DWP select committee meeting on PPF and TPR

Rosalind Connor attended today's Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee session on the Pension Protection Fund and The Pensions Regulator....

Anna Copestake comments in Engaged Investor after TPR uses powers to declare scheme amendments void

The Pensions Regulator has intervened to help members of a defined benefit (DB) scheme after it was accidentally converted into a defined contribution...

ARC Pensions Law shortlisted for Business Growth Award

ARC is delighted to be shortlisted for the Business Growth Award in the 2016 Modern Law Awards. ...

Should I stay or should I go?

Anna Rogers suggests traffic light labelling to indicate the strength of the employer covenant for members considering a DB to DC transfer...

Are we misselling DB schemes? – Anna Rogers published in Professional Pensions

Senior Partner Anna Rogers examines defined benefit pensions schemes in Professional Pensions....

ARC Pensions Law ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2016 for Pensions (non-contentious)

We are delighted to be ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2016 for Pensions ...

How scheme members can become more involved in investment

Anna Copestake discusses members pension funds in an occupational pension scheme. ...

Rosalind Connor speaks to PMI TV on the value of codes of practice in the legal environment

Rosalind speaks to PMI TV about the how differences between law and guidance are viewed by the court. ...

Defined benefit pension schemes: should they stop you buying a business?

Recent months may have led people to believe that buying a company with a defined pension scheme is about the most dangerous thing you could do....

Anna Copestake comments in Pensions Expert on age discrimination challenge brought by The Fire Brigades Union

Anna Copestake comments on alleged discrimination in FireFighters’ pensions over transitional protection....

Rosalind Connor comments on The Pensions Regulator’s updated DC code of practice

The Pensions Regulator has updated their defined contribution codes of practice...

ESG – on its way up?

Anna Copestake discusses information trustees must know about ESG ...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on the National Milk Record cutting its pension deficit

National Milk Record cuts its deficit by £6.2m by switching to the consumer price index...

Anne-Marie Winton in Pensions Expert on the Plumbing Pensions consultation

The current Plumbing Pensions' consultation show problems with the current section 75 debt legislation....

Rosalind Connor in the Financial Times on the Brexit impacts on pensions

Rosalind Connor discusses EU pension pots post Brexit....

Anne-Marie Winston in Professional Pensions on trustees preparing for the new DC codes

Trustees will soon need to comply with the new DC framework proposed by the regulator. ...

Anna Rogers in Professional Pensions on Brexit implications for GMP equalisation

Anna Rogers on GMP equalisation post Brexit...

Chris Mullen discusses Lady Barbara Judge’s comments on the PPF

Chris Mullen discusses Lady Barbra Judge and the PPF...

Rosalind Connor in Economia on how leaving Europe will impact pensions

Rosalind examines what voting to leave the EU now means. ...

We celebrate our first anniversary

We were delighted to celebrate our first anniversary in style at The Ace Hotel Shoreditch....

Kevin LeGrand comments in The Times on annuity rate cuts following Brexit

Kevin LeGrand comments in The Times on insurers cutting annuity rates....

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert as UK DB deficit up £170bn in weeks

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on the rise of UK defined benefit pension deficits...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert – are trustees listening to the experts?

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on how trustees are beginning to rely on their emotions rather than expert opinions....

ARC Pensions Law announces strong growth and new hires

ARC Pensions Law hires Anna Copestake and Kevin LeGrand....

ARC Pensions Law responds to public consultation on British Steel Pension Scheme

The British Steel Pension Scheme, set out various options for potentially changing the British Steel Pension Scheme...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on the British Steel proposed scheme changes

Rosalind comments in Pensions Expert on British Steel pension scheme proposed changes....

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on changing RPI to CPI

Rosalind comments on how weaker employer sponsors switch to CPI from RPI....

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions on Brexit

Rosalind comments on the Brexit's implications for pensions....

Rosalind Connor comments on Brexit in an interview with Pensions Insight

Rosalind Connor discusses the thorny issue of Brexit and what it means to pensions in an interview with Pensions Insight...

‘How green is your covenant?’

Chris Mullen and Kevin Le Grand explore how more transparency of employer covenant can prolong DB scheme lifetimes, whilst benefiting members....

When is a spade a portable soil transportation device?

Anne-Marie in Professional Pensions on getting rid of pensions jargon...

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on the pensions impact of British Steel

Rosalind comments in Pensions Expert on what the British Steel's rule changes will mean for pensions...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert re £12.8m Hogg Robinson rectification case

Anne-Marie Winton, Arc Pensions Law, comments in Professional Pensions re Hogg Robinson attempting to recover costs from the advisers ...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Professional Pensions re Ombudsman

The ombudsman’s ruling in favour of the trustees and sponsor in the Kingfisher Pension Scheme case could have huge implications for future cases....

Rosalind Connor in Lexis PSL Pensions on Brexit’s impact on pensions

Rosalind Connor is interviewed by Lexis PSL Pensions on what the implications will be on pensions following the Brexit vote ...

Rosalind Connor in Pensions Expert re the glass ceiling being shattered on gender diversity

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on the glass ceiling being shattered on gender diversity with trustee boards...

Rosalind Connor speaks at the Workplace Pensions Live 2016

Rosalind is speaking at the Workplace Pensions Live 2016 conference about Brexit and what this will mean for the pensions industry....

Rosalind Connor in Adiona magazine on the HR challenges of the pension freedoms

A pension strategy for employees is a very simple concept...

Rosalind Connor in Pensions Expert on ITV absorbing the Wireless Group’s DB pension scheme

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert on the implications of Wireless Groups’ defined benefit obligations following ITV’s purchase of it...

Anne-Marie Winton in Pensions Expert on Bombardier continuing fallout

Rosalind Connor comments in Pensions Expert following the announcement that Workers at Bombardier are considering industrial action...

Anne-Marie Winton in Pensions Expert on AG Barr planned scheme closure

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert on AG Barr’s decision to close its DB pension scheme...

Anne-Marie Winton shortlisted for Pensions Personality of the year 2016

Anne-Marie winton has been shortlisted for Personality of the Year award at the 2016 UK Pensions Awards...

Anne-Marie Winton in Pensions Expert re RBS passing £18m NI costs to members

Anne-Marie Winton discusses the Royal Bank of Scotland’s decision to make its members pay for the £18m rise in its national insurance contributions...

Rosalind Connor in Economia on what the Budget means for pensions

Rosalind Connor of ARC Pension Law examines what this year's Budget means for pensions...

Rosalind Connor in Pensions Expert re Barclays scheme probes impact of ringfencing

Rosalind Connor discusses Barclays assessment of which of its entities will participate in the bank’s UK Retirement Fund from 2026 ...

Anne-Marie Winton in Pensions Expert on death tax problems for dependents

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert around trouble for dependents receiving pension pots from partners who died before reaching 75...

ARC Pensions Law appointed by Royal College of Music – covered in Pensions World

ARC Pensions Law has been appointed by the Trustee of the Royal College of Music Pension and Assurance Scheme as its pension lawyer...

Rosalind Connor in The Brief re the state pension age review

Headlines around the government’s announcement that John Cridland is to review the state pension age sounded alarms...

Rosalind Connor in Professional Pensions re Does Brexit matter for pensions?

Fundamentally, the regulation of occupational pensions is unlikely to change ...

Anna Rogers interviewed in Law Society Gazette for ‘My Legal Life’

Since childhood everyone agreed that I was an arguer and destined for law...

Anne-Marie Winton in Pensions Expert re Morrisons £100m liability High Court ruling

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert regarding a High Court ruling on the benefits for 15,000 former Safeway workers...

Anne-Marie Winton in Lexis Nexis PSL Legal Insights

Do we have further clarity on when a negligence claim against advisers to a pension scheme is time barred?...

Anna Rogers shortlisted for CEO of the Year Award

Anna Rogers shortlisted for CEO of The Year at the UK Pensions Awards 2016...

Rosalind Connor in HR Grapevine on pension strategy advice for HR

For many years, pension plans have become a headache rather than a choice for the HR team...

Rosalind Connor in Professional Pensions re What TPR’s landmark AE case means for schemes

Rosalind Connor comments in Professional Pensions about the possible implication of TPR’s Auto Enrolment Case...

Anna Rogers in Pensions Expert re NHS cash for pensions offer could open loophole

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Expert on how an NHS trust has come under scrutiny for offering nurses cash to opt out of the pension scheme...

Anne-Marie Winton in Pensions Expert re Member-borne commission ban could move costs elsewhere

Anne-Marie comments in Pensions Expert on the draft regulation consultation, on banning member-borne commission in auto-enrolment schemes...

Anna Rogers in Professional Pensions re Can Section 48 help trustees override drafting mistakes?

Anna comments in Professional Pensions, stating her opinion on the debate over Section 48 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Week re PASA guidance urges schemes to prioritise GMP

Anne-Marie comments on how schemes are handling GMP reconciliation following the guidance provided by Pensions Administration Standards Association...

Anna Rogers comments in Professional Pensions re How trustees can avoid becoming victims of group think

Anna comments in Professional Pensions on how behavioural economics can avoid making risk-inducing mistakes, namely groupthink ...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert re Bank error slows Shell pension payments to members

Anne-Marie comments in Pensions Expert on the Bacs processing error at Royal Bank of Scotland last week ...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert re NI police pension payment glitch puts spotlight on admin

Anne-Marie comments in Pensions Expert after an error at the Police Service of Northern Ireland pension scheme caused a delay in payment of pensions ...

Anne-Marie Winton and Rosalind Connor in Lexis Nexis PSL Pensions re Pensions End of Year Review — A Look Forward To 2016

Pensions analysis: Our panel of experts considers what lies ahead for pensions lawyers in 2016...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert re secondary annuities

Anne-Marie comments in Pensions Expert following the government decision to table an amendment that would require those with ‘higher value annuities...

ARC Pensions Law and Anna Rogers are shortlisted for the 2016 Pension Age Awards

ARC Pensions Law has been shortlisted for 'Pensions Law Firm of the Year', with Anna Rogers also being shortlisted for 'Personality of the Year' for t...

Anne-Marie Winton and Rosalind Connor comment in Lexis Nexis PSL Pensions re Pensions end of year review—life in 2015

Pensions analysis: Our panel of experts looks back at the most important developments and challenges for pensions lawyers in 2015....

Anna Rogers comments in the Financial Times re Spouses in the dark over trustee pension transfer

Anna comments in The Financial Times on spouses being in the dark over pension transfers after the changes which came into force in April and gave ove...

Rosalind Connor joins ARC Pensions Law as fourth partner – covered in Professional Pensions, Legal Business and Pensions Insight

ARC Pensions Law, the boutique specialist pension law firm, today announces the appointment of Rosalind Connor as its fourth partner....

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert re Northumbria Police pays out £250k to compensate pension loss

Lawyers have said that trustees should keep their distance from members' employer disputes ...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Professional Pensions re What pension schemes need to know about the Safe harbour ruling

Edward Snowden’s revelations about the scope of US intelligence snooping in 2013 have already had far reaching consequences. But a ruling from the C...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions World re PENSION LAWYERS A market on the move

Anna comments in Pensions World on how recent developments in pensions are influencing lawyers’ service offerings....

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert re Lothian Pension Fund using SPVs to sharpen in-house focus

Anne-Marie comments in Pensions Expert on Lothian Pension Fund’s two special purpose vehicles, as it looks to improve its in-house investment capabi...

ARC Pensions Law hires PMI President Kevin LeGrand as consultant

Kevin LeGrand, President of the Pensions Management Institute (PMI), joins ARC Pensions Law part-time as a consultant to develop long-term strategies ...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Expert re Court rules same-sex pension benefit ceiling to remain

Anna comments in Pensions Expert after pension schemes dodge a potential £3bn cost hike, as the legal position on the equalisation of pension benefit...

Anna Rogers in Pensions World re Pension Law – A matter of time

Limitation rules in member disputes – a conversation between two pension lawyers, Anna Rogers, ARC Pensions Law, and Helena Berman, Maurice Turnor G...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Professional Pensions re Schemes spared £3bn hit as judges reject survivor benefits equalisation claim

Anne-Marie comments in Professional Pensions Schemes after court ruling sees schemes that had not already equalised survivor benefits for widowers and...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert re Smiths Group claws back deficit after 8-year fight

Smiths Group reporting a significant improvement in the funding position of its defined benefit pension schemes after pursuing a stringent eight-year ...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Pensions Expert re Granada appeal threatens contingent asset arrangements

Anne Marie comments on Granada appealing a High Court ruling in an attempt to recover £40m of gilts from one of its pension schemes. She said: “The...

Anne-Marie Winton comments in Professional Pensions re Does the pensions watchdog need sharper teeth?

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has some heavyweight powers to force sponsors of defined benefit (DB) schemes to cough up more money if it thinks members...

Boutique law firm ARC Pensions wants to be 20 lawyer practice within two years – covered in Professional Pensions

Anna Rogers – the former Mayer Brown partner who co-founded ARC Pensions in June – hopes her new boutique pensions law firm will expand to 20 lawy...

Anne-Marie Winton joins ARC Pensions Law – covered in The Lawyer, Professional Pensions and New Law Journal

ARC Pensions Law, the boutique specialist pension law firm, today announces the appointment of Anne-Marie Winton as a partner in the firm....

Anna Rogers comments in New Model Adviser re DB dangers: how to avoid pension transfer trouble

Anna comments in the New Model Advisor on the dangers of DB schemes saying there is a new mis-selling scandal brewing, mainly driven by scheme members...

Anna Rogers comments in Pensions Expert re same-sex parity on survivor pensions

Anna comments in Pensions Expert on the potential £3bn cost of one in four defined benefit schemes not treating same-sex and opposite-sex couples equ...

Top pension lawyers set up boutique law firm covered in Professional Pensions

Pension lawyers Anna Rogers and Chris Mullen have launched a specialist pensions law firm called ARC Pensions Law....

Anna Rogers and Chris Mullen announce the launch of ARC Pensions Law – covered in Pensions World and Financial Reporter

Leading pensions lawyer Anna Rogers, the current chairman of the Association of Pension Lawyers and a former partner in the pensions practice of Mayer...

Was Private Frazer right all along?

Last week, I attended the excellent Barnett Waddingham LLP “Employer Pensions and Benefits Conference” in London to hear a great range of speakers...

ANNA ROGERS AND CHRIS MULLEN ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF ARC PENSIONS LAW – COVERED IN THE LAWYER

Former Pinsent Masons senior partner Chris Mullen and former Mayer Brown partner Anna Rogers have opened a new pension boutique, trading as ARC Pensio...