Pensions is a hot topic and affects, or will affect, most of us in one way or another. It is an increasingly complex area. There are great risks for employers, scheme trustees and for members if a scheme is not administered correctly and especially if there is a shortfall in the fund or the employer becomes insolvent.

Pensions issues regularly arise in the following circumstances:-

• On the transfer/sale of a business or company which has a pension scheme. To see the key pension issues on a sale of a business click here and on a purchase click here.
  • sale and purchase of a business
  • sale and purchase of a company
• In connection with the duties, obligations, decisions and decision making of scheme trustees. Please click on the following links for further information:
  • key pension trustee duties
  • how to manage trustee conflicts of interests
• Where there is deficiency in a scheme fund, the employer is insolvent or there is some other dispute in relation to a scheme.

Common types of pension dispute:-

• Group actions by scheme members
• Breach of trust claims against trustees and risks for trustees and how to reduce exposure.
• Complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman
• Notifications to and investigations by the Pensions Regulator, for example if a fund has fallen foul of the moral hazard provisions in the 2004 Pensions Act
• Professional negligence claims against advisers to the scheme trustees
• Claims on the Pension Protection Fund

Where we come in

We assist with:-

• Pension issues on the transfer of a company, either sale or purchase
• Advice to trustees/scheme administrators, particularly on special areas such as investments with an international element and their duties and minimising risk
• Pensions claims, litigation and dispute resolution.

We also offer specialist advice on the acquisition of property using a SIPP.

We work together with our consultants, John Quarrell and Sue Beaumont who are two of the country's leading and most respected pension lawyers.

For further information on pensions claims please contact Ben Hopps or John Quarrell.

For further information on pensions and company/business disposals and acquisitions please contact Christopher Sykes.

Please note that we are not regulated by the FSA and do not offer investment advice.

Copyright © 2008 Sykes Anderson LLP and SAFS Ltd