With the most significant reforms to UK pensions regulation for nearly two decades due to come into force later this year, we are delighted to launch our new UK pensions regulation hub to help you keep track of our latest thinking on the new regulatory requirements and the emerging risks. On the hub you will … Read more

The Pension Regulator has published for consultation its much anticipated draft guidance on how it intends to police the new pensions criminal offences due to come into force this Autumn. The draft guidance suggests that the Regulator will use these new powers sparingly and that they are not intended to fundamentally change commercial norms or … Read more

The Pension Schemes Act 2021, which will introduce new pension criminal offences, £1m regulatory fines and new requirements relating to funding and climate-related risks, received Royal Assent on 11 February 2021 but most of its provisions do not come into force imediately. Most of these measures are likely to come into force during the next … Read more

The Pensions Minister, Guy Opperman, has confirmed the Government’s timetable for implementing key elements of the Pension Schemes Act 2021. In a written ministerial statement published on 2 March, the Minister has confirmed the Government’s intention to introduce the new criminal offences and regulatory sanctions by the Autumn and to consult on draft regulations to … Read more

The Pension Schemes Act 2021 finally received Royal Assent yesterday, paving the way for the most significant reform of the regulatory regime for defined benefit (DB) pension schemes since its introduction in 2006. The Act introduces new criminal offences and new regulatory powers for the Pensions Regulator that could: significantly impact corporate activity, including M&A … Read more

In November 2020, the government announced an ambitious ten-point plan to boost green jobs and reach net-zero. The plan was a recent recognition at a national-level of the pressing need to combat climate change. It addresses an expansive set of topics: from offshore wind to walking and cycling; from carbon capture to finance. The proposals suggest regulatory … Read more

2020 was undoubtedly an unprecedented year, dominated of course by the impact of Covid-19 and here in the UK, by the preparations for Brexit. The year may (finally) be over, however, these themes are likely to continue to dominate the agenda in 2021. Nevertheless, with vaccines being rolled out and a Brexit deal agreed, there … Read more

The Pension Schemes Bill is due to enter the final “Ping-pong” phase of its passage through Parliament on 19 January 2021. Provided this process is not drawn out, the Bill could receive Royal Assent in a matter of days. In the meantime, the Government has confirmed that the regulatory powers and sanctions contained in the … Read more