Future of Pensions Law Hub - Eversheds Sutherland

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Insights Pensions investment materials Our collection of newsletters, podcasts and briefings support trustees with their ever-evolving investment obligations and requirements.	Guide International ESG and pensions This guide summarises approaches to ESG and pensions across the UK, US, Ireland, Netherlands, Canada and Australia.	Briefing Global pay and employee benefits traps This briefing highlights a number of international pay and employee benefits legal issues that carry potentially severe penalties. Each of these issues is well worth a review now to avoid future consequences.
Guide DC Agenda Our latest quarterly DC Agenda sets out a summary of the key legal developments in relation to DC schemes.	Guide Pension Schemes Act 2021 This guide looks at the key changes introduced by the Act and the new obligations on trustees and sponsors, noting practical steps that they should consider.	Guide DC Practical Notes Our quarterly DC bulletin provides insights into what we are encountering in practice and further detail on the key legal issues.
Podcast Pensions unscripted: Barker's Dozen Find our whole Barker's Dozen box set, featuring 13-minute discussions on the future of pensions, DB funding, and more.	Guide Transferring to a DC master trust This guide for employers and trustees to moving from an employer’s own pension scheme to a DC master trust explores history and regulation, benefits of moving to a DC master trust, how to choose a master trust and more.	Blog The Pension Schemes Act 2021 This blog for mallowstreet explores some practical points to consider as the new criminal offences introduced in the Pension Schemes Act 2021 loom.
Webinar recordings COVID-19 webinar box set In our series of pensions webinars, our team help you navigate the constantly evolving environment so you can better understand what pension plan trustees and employers/sponsors should be doing to manage their risks.	Guide Guide to the Pension Schemes Act 2021 Our Guide to the Pension Schemes Act takes you through the new requirements and what you can be doing now.	Blog Green Gilts - what the government can do for investors When it comes to managing the risks and opportunities associated with climate change, the government is expecting a lot from pension scheme trustees. But there is something the government can do to help.
Blog Pensions and intergenerational fairness This mallowstreet blog takes a whistle-stop tour of intergenerational fairness after the coronavirus pandemic, and what it might mean for pensions policy.	Blog What's next for governance? This mallowstreet blog considers some of the key themes and developments in governance requirements for pension plans.	Guide Managing relations with your scheme administrator This paper, written in partnership with Cosan Consulting, explores some key operational and contractual issues relating to third party administration contracts.
Blog Increasing the minimum pension age The government has recently confirmed that minimum pension age (MPA) will increase from 55 to 57 in 2028. This blog considers what this might mean for pension savers, employers and pension plan trustees.	Briefing Pensions investment newsletter The Autumn 2020 edition of our pensions investment newsletter looks at SIP and ESG disclosure requirements, whether fund suspensions in the current environment could result in compliance headaches for trustees, what SFTR reporting obligations means for pension schemes and more.	Blog Looking beyond furlough - pensions considerations on redundancy This mallowstreet blog explores the pension costs and issues which should be factored into any redundancy programmes considered in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
Blog Good governance guide Good governance is central to a well-run pension scheme. In this mallowstreet blog, we give our top tips for trustees looking to evaluate and improve the core governance of their scheme.	Blog Further updates to SIPs and implementation statements This mallowstreet blog provides practical tips for trustees, as they turn their minds to meeting further rules for statement of investment principles.	Report The Future of Pensions Our rearch report, produced with Winmark, explores the future of DB, DC, long term planning and engagement/communication.
Blog Is winding up a DC pension scheme in members’ best interests? When considering a small DC scheme with perhaps a handful of active members, it can seem self-evident that to secure members’ benefits and wind the scheme up will be the best outcome for all concerned. However, the decision may not be as straightforward as it appears at first sight.	Blog Distressed sponsors and CIGA This mallowstreet blog blog delves into pensions considerations on the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, examining what trustees need to bear in mind when navigating this new landscape.	Discussion paper Facilitating financial advice for members seeking to transfer out Our new policy paper, produced in partnership with Royal London, seeks to provide guidance to trustees and employers when wrestling with the question of how engaged they should be in ensuring that members get the right advice on whether or not to transfer.
Blog Responding to COVID-19 The impact of COVID-19 on the UK is unprecedented. Clearly it will also impact upon occupational pension plans and their sponsors. Our mallowstreet blog explores what trustees can do to help their plans continue to operate as normally as possible.	Blog Spruce up your scheme This briefing highlights some issues that may have cropped up on your pension scheme agenda in the past. Don’t assume the boxes have already been ticked, however...	Tool A-Z pensions law handbook Our 2019/20 A-Z pensions law handbook is a plain English guide to the many terms used in the pensions industry, both in the UK and internationally.
Blog Securing your transaction 2019 was a record year for the bulk annuity market, but whilst the volume of pension liabilities being insured increased, the number of transactions was half the previous annual average. We give our top tips for helping smaller schemes secure a deal in this mallowstreet blog.	Blog DC master trusts: helping you weigh the options This quick reference blog, aimed at employers running their own DC pension trust and considering transferring to a master trust provided by a third party, suggests criteria against which employers should measure DC master trusts.	Tool UK liability options menu The funding of defined benefit schemes can have a significant impact upon the resources of a sponsoring employer. We have created a useful guide to help you evaluate your options when trying to de-risk your defined benefit pension plan.
App Global employment and pensions app Our app is an easy access reference source for employment and pensions law across the globe, which allows you to compare legislation in different jurisdictions in a single view.	Report UK Pensions Agenda Our UK Pensions Agenda summarises key issues affecting UK pension schemes and their sponsors.	Blog Lessons learned from the Chair's statement The DC Chair’s Statement has rapidly evolved since its original conception as a source of key information for members about the way their pension scheme is run. Our blog in mallowstreet discusses how to keep schemes compliant.
Report Flagging the issues: How Brexit will impact the future of pensions This guide explores the impact of Brexit on pensions and sets out practical matters for employers and trustees to consider now.	Report Lessons from across the pond: DC plans in the US/UK Drawing on our knowledge and experience from both sides of the Atlantic, we have outlined some useful lessons on DC saving for the benefit of companies and plans as they look to the future.	Events Our range of pensions courses Our national pensions team runs a range of events, from our annual conference to free regional breakfast briefings and courses with a focus on the practical implications of pensions legislation.
Briefing Global Pensions Agenda The latest edition of our Global Pensions Agenda summarises some key issues affecting pension plans and their sponsors around the world.	Tool 10 practical steps for GMP equalisation Occupational pension schemes must ensure that overall benefits are equalised to deal with the discriminatory effect of post-17 May 1990 GMPs. This guide sets out some practical issues to help trustees move forward on their road to equalisation.	Social Our LinkedIn page Follow us on LinkedIn and keep up to date with news, comment and more from our global team.
Video IORP II and the future of pensions International pensions partner Eric Bergamin discusses IORP II, what it is, why it is important and what it means for the Future of Pensions.	Guest spot Tips for talking about GMP equalisation Following a High Court judgment, hundreds of DB schemes face a long process of equalising Guaranteed Minimum Pensions. Communication experts Quietroom look at what schemes should be saying to their members in the meantime.	Blog What's on the horizon for DC? As we plan ahead for 2019, it’s very clear that those involved in DC pensions have plenty on the horizon to keep them busy and interested. We summarise five key points.
Guest spot Meet the Standard Annual Statement In October 2018, the pensions minister, Guy Opperman, launched the Standard Annual Statement at the PLSA conference. This document from communication expert Quietroom explains what it is and how it will help.	Report Discussion paper for DB plan trustees A discussion paper for defined benefit plan trustees on whether to include information on transfer options in pre-retirement member communications, and what support to give to members who request a transfer value. By Eversheds Sutherland and Royal London.	Blog Is the way now clear on GMPs? Now that schemes have had almost six months since the judgment is everyone clear on the way forward? Sadly, it’s not that simple. Read our blog in mallowstreet.
Blog A stronger Pensions Regulator for the future? The Government’s response to last year’s consultation on further protections for DB schemes and a stronger Pensions Regulator prompted plenty of press coverage on the jail terms proposed for “reckless bosses” who mismanage pension funds. Read our blog in mallowstreet.	Blog The future of pensions The UK pensions industry stands at a real crossroads, and 2019 is likely to be a year of change in the way retirement benefits are structured, provided and developed. Read our blog in mallowstreet.	Video GDPR and pensions: one year on Jon Walters and Alison White from our Manchester team wish GDPR a happy first birthday, with a look at the impact of GDPR and the minimum steps which trustees should take.
Video International retirement ages: Spotlight on Ireland Partners Charmian Johnson and Peter Fahy compare retirement ages in the UK and Ireland and discuss lessons to be learned from the UK's experience.	Guest spot IORP II Q&A with Amundi We spoke to our international pensions team alongside Christian Lemaire and Florent Gauthier of Amundi Asset management on the topic of IORP II. We discussed the directive’s requirements, its processes, international factors and future implications.	Blog PEPP: a new personal pan-European pensions product The PEPP is a new personal cross-border retirement vehicle to be proposed to all European citizens – employees, self-employees, and unemployed people – and third-country nationals having their residence in the EU. Read our blog in mallowstreet.
Report IORP II implementation across Europe We look at approaches to the implementation of IORP II across a number of EU member states, focusing in particular on communication and key functions.	Blog ESG - a risky but necessary journey? Pension trustees’ approach to environmental, social and governance factors is on a journey. Jeremy Goodwin explores that journey and looks at some of the pitfalls ahead in our mallowstreet blog.	Blog Re-shaping DB benefits Preliminary valuation results are being scrutinised, prompting sponsors to explore ways of managing their DB pensions liabilities. For sponsors of open plans, one option is to re-design the future benefit structure. Our latest mallowstreet blog gives five top tips for planning a benefit re-design.
Blog Tips for SIPPs With the market still awaiting with interest the outcome of Adams v Carey Pensions, it is an important time for SIPP operators to take stock on their legal and regulatory obligations. Our mallowstreet blog explores top tips to help SIPP providers navigate the ever-changing legal and regulatory regime.	Report Vendor due diligence in de-risking transactions Trustees and sponsors of schemes looking to secure liabilities with an insurance company on an all-risks buy-out will need to consider whether it is worth undertaking a vendor due diligence exercise in relation to your scheme and the risks that come with it.	Blog Time waits for no scheme If a week is a long time in politics, six months is a lifetime in pensions. At least, that must be how it feels for every UK pension plan trustee thinking about changes to the law and regulations governing their plan’s investments. Our mallowstreet blog explores these changes.
Blog The Pension Schemes Bill More than eighteen months following the Government’s DB white paper, the much anticipated Pension Schemes Bill 2019 has finally arrived. Our mallowstreet blog explores what the Bill covers, what happens next, and whether in the end it was worth the wait.	Blog Should your scheme appoint an IFA? Should trustees appoint vetted financial advisers for their scheme members? This mallowstreet blog explores legal risks of acting versus doing nothing.	Blog Preparing your pension scheme for Opposite-Sex Civil Partnerships From 2 December 2019, legislation will be implemented which will enable opposite-sex couples to apply for civil partnerships in England and Wales. Similar legislation is expected in Scotland and Northern Ireland in the near future. Our mallowstreet blog explores how schemes should prepare.
Blog Contingency planning for trustees Companies which fail are failing more quickly. Against this backdrop, the PPF has issued press releases explaining its role during a restructuring or insolvency. Our mallowstreet blog looks at practical steps for trustees.	Report The Pensions Ombudsman In the face of ever-increasing demands for its services, TPO has made a significant number of changes to its working practices and processes. We highlight key new trends and features of the Pensions Ombudsman service, made to improve performance and future-proof the organisation.	Blog How the Pensions Ombudsman deals with transfer complaints The most recent Annual Report of the Pensions Ombudsman reveals that a fifth of all complaints relate to pension transfers. Here we consider three examples of TPO rulings which exemplify the issues that are typically raised regarding transfers and crucially, how TPO is likely to respond.
Blog The Future of Pensions is here Following the launch of our Future of Pensions report, this mallowstreet blog looks at the four key themes: the future of DB, DC, long-term planning and collaboration, and pensions engagement and communication.	Video Anthea Whitton and Dianne Day discuss DC master trusts - part 1 Anthea Whitton, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland, and Dianne Day, Client Director with Independent Trustee Services, discuss first-hand experiences of transferring to a master trust.	Video Anthea Whitton and Dianne Day discuss DC master trusts - part 2 Anthea Whitton, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland, and Dianne Day, Client Director with Independent Trustee Services, discuss first-hand experiences of transferring to a master trust.

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Eversheds Sutherland is the name and brand under which the members of Eversheds Sutherland Limited (Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP) and their respective controlled, managed and affiliated firms and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe) Limited (each an "Eversheds Sutherland Entity" and together the "Eversheds Sutherland Entities") provide legal or other services to clients around the world. Eversheds Sutherland Entities are constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local regulatory and legal requirements and operate in accordance with their locally registered names. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland, is for description purposes only and does not imply that the Eversheds Sutherland Entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. The responsibility for the provision of services to the client is defined in the terms of engagement between the instructed firm and the client.

Our global pages

Welcome to the future of pensions hub

Featured content

Content hub

Pensions investment materials

International ESG and pensions

Global pay and employee benefits traps

DC Agenda

Pension Schemes Act 2021

DC Practical Notes

Pensions unscripted: Barker's Dozen

Transferring to a DC master trust

The Pension Schemes Act 2021

COVID-19 webinar box set

Guide to the Pension Schemes Act 2021

Green Gilts - what the government can do for investors

Pensions and intergenerational fairness

What's next for governance?

Managing relations with your scheme administrator

Increasing the minimum pension age

Pensions investment newsletter

Looking beyond furlough - pensions considerations on redundancy

Good governance guide

Further updates to SIPs and implementation statements

The Future of Pensions

Is winding up a DC pension scheme in members’ best interests?

Distressed sponsors and CIGA

Facilitating financial advice for members seeking to transfer out

Responding to COVID-19

Spruce up your scheme

A-Z pensions law handbook

Securing your transaction

DC master trusts: helping you weigh the options

UK liability options menu

Global employment and pensions app

UK Pensions Agenda

Lessons learned from the Chair's statement

Flagging the issues: How Brexit will impact the future of pensions

Lessons from across the pond: DC plans in the US/UK

Our range of pensions courses

Global Pensions Agenda

10 practical steps for GMP equalisation

Our LinkedIn page

IORP II and the future of pensions

Tips for talking about GMP equalisation

What's on the horizon for DC?

Meet the Standard Annual Statement

Discussion paper for DB plan trustees

Is the way now clear on GMPs?

A stronger Pensions Regulator for the future?

The future of pensions

GDPR and pensions: one year on

International retirement ages: Spotlight on Ireland

IORP II Q&A with Amundi

PEPP: a new personal pan-European pensions product

IORP II implementation across Europe

ESG - a risky but necessary journey?

Re-shaping DB benefits

Tips for SIPPs

Vendor due diligence in de-risking transactions

Time waits for no scheme

The Pension Schemes Bill

Should your scheme appoint an IFA?

Preparing your pension scheme for Opposite-Sex Civil Partnerships

Contingency planning for trustees

The Pensions Ombudsman

How the Pensions Ombudsman deals with transfer complaints

The Future of Pensions is here

Anthea Whitton and Dianne Day discuss DC master trusts - part 1

Anthea Whitton and Dianne Day discuss DC master trusts - part 2

Global employment
and pensions app

Flagging the issues:
How Brexit will impact
the future of pensions

Lessons from
across the pond:
DC plans in the US/UK

Our range of
pensions courses

Tips for talking
about GMP equalisation

What's on the horizon
for DC?

Discussion paper
for DB plan trustees

IORP II Q&A
with Amundi

PEPP: a new personal
pan-European pensions product