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.

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).

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

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.

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

When Sue tried to find out why the trustees of her scheme had refused her early retirement she ran into legal roadblocks which prevented her from finding out the information about herself, says Jeremy Goodwin

The European Pensions Directive includes a funding requirement – as yet unclear – that may have a significant impact on cross-border pension schemes. Matthew de Ferrars assesses its likely impact

Recent months have witnessed the introduction of new regulations governing the wind-up of pension schemes and the launch of the government’s pension bill, announced in the Queen’s speech.

My New Year’s wish would be to lose large chunks of the Pensions Act 1995, without having them replaced. The prospect of a new Pensions Act therefore fills me with trepidation.

Europe, foundation hospitals and university fees permitting, 2004 will bring us yet another Pensions Act to address the perceived ills in the pension industry.

Simplification will have a major impact, leading to a large amount of time and money being devoted in 2004 to coping with these changes in a relatively short period of time.

When times are hard for pension funds, it is a good bet that pensions lawyers will have plenty of work.

Slow progress to greater harmonisation over pensions in the European Union (EU) should continue in 2003.