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Simon Daniel

Partner

Simon Daniel helps pension scheme trustees, sponsors and providers achieve successful outcomes in asset investment and insurance risk settlement.

Simon focuses on supporting pension scheme trustees, LGPS funds and other institutional investors with the investment of their assets and helping trustees, sponsors and insurers successfully execute insurance risk settlement transactions.

In the risk settlement area, Simon has advised on longevity-hedging structures and bulk annuity transactions of all sizes and types.  This includes a £3bn residual risk transaction, a collateralised pensioner buy-in for £1.8bn, a non-collateralised pensioner buy-in for £900m, and an £800m longevity pass-through arrangement.  It also includes numerous full buy-outs for sub-£100m schemes (including a PPF+ buy-out for just £2.5m).  Simon is a lead Partner for Pathway, our joint proposition for streamlined bulk annuity transactions with Aon which has been used in transactions for aggregate premiums exceeding £1bn.

Simon's focus on asset investment includes supporting trustees and LGPS funds with investment reviews of all types (from advice on investment-linked life policies and authorised pooled funds to legal and tax due diligence reports on unauthorised alternative investment funds structured as non-UK limited partnerships) and involves reviewing discretionary investment management and fiduciary management agreements.  A key feature of Simon's investment work is supporting schemes with their increasing investment governance obligations, including their policies, practices and disclosures in relation to ESG factors and stewardship.

Simon's recent experience includes:

  • advising the trustees of a £3.6bn scheme on a £900m pensioner buy-in covering the benefits of 8,000 members;
  • advising an insurance company on a £1.8bn collateralised pensioner buy-in with a £4.5bn scheme covering the benefits of 6,600 members (the largest UK buy-in of 2021);
  • advising an institutional investor with a £3bn portfolio on a £500m allocation to a unit trust and a £100m allocation to a Luxembourg limited partnership; and
  • advising on an $11bn global transaction involving pension plans in 29 different jurisdictions. 

Up and Coming in Chambers & Partners: “Simon Daniel is recognised for his expert advice to providers and trustees on asset investment and insurance de-risking.  He has advised employers, insurers and trustees on multibillion-pound bulk annuity transactions”.  Clients say, “He is excellent to work with – pragmatic, flexible in approach and able to propose creative solutions”.

Next Generation Partner in Legal 500 and recognised for handling “high-value buy-outs and investments”.

Member of the Society of Pension Professionals' Investment Committee.

MA (Oxon) Jurisprudence (2000-2003)

Simon Daniel

Partner

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