Bulletins | November 8, 2019

Pensions Compass- May 2019

Welcome to our May 2019 edition of Pensions Compass. We are pleased to welcome Anna Giles to the team for a period of 6 months as part of her training contract. Some of you will have the opportunity to meet Anna at meetings and/or forthcoming events! This edition includes:

  • Clive has provided an update to his usual ready-reckoner, a go-to tool for the industry regarding the latest position on case law, legislation and governance; 
  • In recognition of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc.) Act 2019 coming into force this month Alison has recorded a podcast looking at pension benefits provision over the years for civil partners and spouses (whether same-sex or opposite-sex) and provides some action points for trustees and employers to ensure their scheme is keeping up with the times;
  • Justin considers 21st century trusteeship and the new challenges facing trustees and employers in a world where the Pensions Regulator is more keen than ever to evidence it can bite as well as bark!;
  • Anna reviews the latest action taken by the FCA against three financial advice firms and the five individuals who ran those firms for acting without integrity in relation to their provision of pensions advice;
  • Clive reviews the recent interesting Court of Appeal judgment in BIC UK Limited v Burgess. The Court concluded there was no legal magic wand available to rescue pension increases previously minuted and announced; and
  • Katie summarises how pensions are being dealt with by Debenhams in anticipation of a CVA being put in place.

As ever, we love to receive feedback from our Pensions Compass recipients, do you have views about what you would like to see more of? Or less of? Do you like our new podcast series? I will look forward to hearing any comments you may have!

We hope you enjoy this edition of the Pensions Compass.

If you have any questions regarding any of these topics please do get in touch.

Please click here for a PDF version of this month’s update.

For further details on these matters or any other pensions related queries, please contact a member of the Pensions and Employee Benefits team.

Hopefully it is going to be a long hot summer – with plenty of exciting pensions news for us to report on in our next edition!

Alison Hills, Partner and Editor-in-Chief