Do you dare to administer?

The role of scheme administrator carries with it many possible legal implications concerning unauthorised payments, as Phil Clarke sets out to explain

A tale of discrimination...

The age discrimination laws have now come into effect, and it’s time to see whether or not their predicted effects will be as problematic and widespread as is believed

Life will never be the same again

It’s been a long time coming. Marian Hatfield takes a careful look at the impact of A-day among the providers in the life and pensions industry and sees the market contracting

Lawyers hit by regs overload

It is not very often that anyone feels sorry for lawyers, but looking at the avalanche of regulations they are having to deal with, both now and those due over the next 12 months, it is possible in an unguarded moment to feel a touch of

DB liabilities hurting restructuring

— Ellison: sees DB schemes as slightly poisoned chalice

The Pensions Act 2004 continues to have an effect on corporate restructuring as it is making corporations do things differently to what they would normally do.

Schemes will need new rules for senior executives

Senior executives will be particularly affected by the changes brought in from April, as they are most likely to be hit by the upper limit of the lifetime allowance (LTA).

Test the regulator

It will be interesting to see the further development of the operation of the powers of the Pensions Regulator.

Amendments get more complicated

Amendments to pension schemes have never been straightforward, requiring either an actuarial certificate or member consent for any changes that may affect accrued rights, but the process is about to get much more complicated.

Take advice now on scheme-specific funding

Scheme-specific funding requirements will take priority for many trustees this year.

Sun, sea and statute requirements

A day on the water finds Oscar Patterson with more than just lobster on his plate, when he has to advise his host, Brutus Grubbs QC, that a trustee’s obligation to inform scheme members isn’t all plain sailing, writes Neil Smith

Roar of the professional trustee

While on safari, Oscar Patterson gets his ear chewed off over mandatory member-nominated trustees by Fletcher Blink, self-appointed king of the professional trustees, who fears for his continued existence, Neil Smith writes

Gaining the trustee’s trust

Being a whinger, Titus Bower complained bitterly to Oscar Patterson about the cold in the ice hotel in Lapland and the additional obligations on trustees contained in the Pensions Act 2004, reports Neil Smith

Les affaires du TUPE

The source of Bueller’s ire, while in France with Patterson of MegaLaw, was the changes to TUPE, which the government intended to introduce as part of the new pensions act in April 2005, reports Neil Smith

Getting a hole in one for trustees

As Patterson and his MegaLaw collegue Bisslay met for a friendly game of golf with Mona Consulting’s Knups and McRooney, things heat up as the debate on member-nominated trustees gets in full swing, Neil Smith reports

TUPE takes another new turn

The recent ruling by the European Court of Justice in Martin v South Bank University will affect past and future transfers for both employers and scheme members, says Alastair Meeks

Patterson 1 Warne 0 at Euro 2004

Oscar Patterson thought that the idea of being in Portugal on holiday with his fellow lawyers would be just the ticket but things get heated when Oscar and colleague Hugh Warne go head to head on pension issues at the European championships

Getting ahead of the game

In a recent ruling the pensions ombudsman awarded an unusually high amount of compensation to a widow who brought numerous complaints against the trustees of her husband’s pension scheme, says Jason Shaw

A false sense of security

Oscar Patterson shatters Fletcher Binks’ argument in favour of the PPF and concludes that the government’s view on the insurance fund is misleading. Neil Smith eavesdrops on their conversation