Category: pensions
Financial Remedy Update, February 2022 – Family Law Week
‘Sue Brookes, Principle Associate and Nicola Rowlings, Professional Support Lawyer, at Mills & Reeve LLP consider the most important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during January 2022.’
Family Law Week, 3rd March 2022
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Punter Southall Governance Services Ltd v Benge [2022] EWHC 193 (Ch) – Wilberforce Chamber
‘This decision of Chief Master Shuman concerns the circumstances in which the Court might refuse to bless a decision of pension scheme trustees, with particular reference to the meaning of “necessaries of life”, the conflicted position of member-trustees, and the relevance of disputed matters of fact. It will be important both for those considering the payment of discretionary benefits from pension schemes, including the interrelationship of scheme rules and the authorised payments regime under the Finance Act 2004, as well as more generally in relation to the robust approach the Court should take to beneficiaries seeking to oppose the blessing of trustee decisions.’
Wilberforce Chambers, 7th February 2022
Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk
Police launch legal action against government amid row over pensions and pay freeze – The Independent
‘Police officers have launched legal action against the government over pensions as relations sour with ministers.’
The Independent, 14th September 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
No more reward without risk – Local Government Lawyer
‘Nigel Bolton and Philip Woolham look at the lessons to be learned from an important High Court judgment for local authorities and contractors on pension exit credits.’
Local Government Lawyer, 2nd July 2021
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Axminster: Limitation and forfeiture revisited after Lloyds – Wilberforce Chambers
‘The High Court (Morgan J.) has delivered judgment in Punter Southall Governance Services Ltd v Hazlett [2021] EWHC 1652 (Ch), concerning the Axminster Carpets Group pension plan. It is now the leading judgment on limitation in claims by pension scheme beneficiaries for arrears. It also gives key guidance on the court’s power to award interest on such claims and on the interpretation and exercise of forfeiture clauses, and makes certain findings on the scope of s.37 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993. This summary only scratches the surface of a detailed 347-paragraph judgment covering several different areas of pensions and trusts law. A more flippant title might have been: “The Axminster Carpets case: a pile of issues…”’
Wilberforce Chambers, 24th June 2021
Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk
Pension sharing orders: Finch v Baker – Family Law
‘The Court of Appeal judgment in Finch v Baker [2021] EWCA Civ 72 was released on 28 January 2021. The judgment provides some useful guidance on not being able to get what are essentially conduct arguments contrary to s25(g) through the back door by making “negative contribution” arguments, and it also highlights the importance of ensuring that you adduce and apply for the most appropriate and necessary evidence in advance of a hearing. Simply arguing that an updated pension report is needed, following an appeal hearing, on the basis that the pension sharing order made would not reflect the judge’s intentions as the CE figures would be significantly out of date, is insufficient and misconceived.’
Family Law, 17th June 2021
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Britvic PLC v Britvic Pensions: Court of Appeal Decision Overturns High Court on Interpretation and “Corrective Construction” – Wilberforce Chambers
‘The Court of Appeal has just handed down its decision in Britvic PLC v Britvic Pensions [2021] EWCA CIV 867, overturning the first instance High Court decision. It is a major decision on interpretation (applying principles applicable to contracts and other documents, and not just pension schemes). This note focuses on the interpretation issue of general application; a second note will touch on the pensions-specific aspects.’
Wilberforce Chambers, 11th June 2021
Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk
Uber recognises union for first time in landmark deal – BBC News
‘Ride-hailing giant Uber has agreed to recognise a trade union for the first time, in a landmark deal that should benefit gig economy workers.’
BBC News, 26th May 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Pension sharing orders: Finch v Baker – Family Law
‘The Court of Appeal judgment in Finch v Baker [2021] EWCA Civ 72 was released on 28 January 2021. The judgment provides some useful guidance on not being able to get what are essentially conduct arguments contrary to s25(g) through the back door by making “negative contribution” arguments, and it also highlights the importance of ensuring that you adduce and apply for the most appropriate and necessary evidence in advance of a hearing. Simply arguing that an updated pension report is needed, following an appeal hearing, on the basis that the pension sharing order made would not reflect the judge’s intentions as the CE figures would be significantly out of date, is insufficient and misconceived.’
Family Law. 14th May 2021
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘A lot are sceptical’: Uber drivers’ cautious welcome over worker status – The Guardian
‘On Wednesday Uber, the taxi hailing app, began offering 70,000 UK drivers a minimum hourly wage, holiday pay and pensions after years of legal battles.’
The Guardian, 18th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Former BHS owner found guilty of tax evasion as he ‘funded yacht, Bentley and luxury holiday’ – The Independent
‘The former owner of BHS has been convicted of evading tax on £2.2m of income he received from buying the failed high-street chain. Instead of paying the tax he knew he owed, Dominic Chappell, 53, spent a fortune on a luxury lifestyle that included a £90,000 yacht, a Bentley Continental car, a Bahamas holiday and some expensive Beretta guns, Southwark Crown Court heard.’
The Independent, 5th November 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Court of Appeal dismisses challenge to increase in state pension age – UK Human Rights Blog
‘In Delve and Anor v SSfWP [2020] EWCA Civ 1199, the Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge brought against the series of Pensions Acts between 1995 and 2014 which equalised the state pension age for women with that of men by raising the state pension age for women from 60 to 65 and then raising the age at which both men and women can claim their state pension.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 9th October 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
How cohabiting couples should protect their finances – Family Law
‘Historically, cohabitation agreements, sometimes known as “no-Nups”, were frowned upon as they were seen to encourage sexual relations outside of marriage. Thankfully, times have moved on and that’s no longer the case. The general view is that such agreements are enforceable if they deal with cohabitees’ property and affairs, and provided they are entered into freely with full information. Often, disputes between cohabitees following separation relate to what was or wasn’t intended, for example, in relation to the property in which they live. Having a clear record of the cohabitees’ intentions in a cohabitation agreement can avoid expensive disputes about those issues.’
Family Law, 30th September 2020
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Women lose court of appeal challenge against UK pension change – The Guardian
‘Increasing the age at which women born in the UK in the 1950s are entitled to receive their state pension to 66 is lawful, the court of appeal has ruled. The unanimous judgment is a major setback for campaigners who have argued that the government’s changes will be a “disaster” for those on lower incomes.’
The Guardian, 15th September 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Women hit by state pension age rise are ‘sick with anxiety’ ahead of Court of Appeal judgment – The Independent
‘Women hit by the state pension age rise are “sick with anxiety” as they wait for their Court of Appeal judgment to be handed down on Tuesday.’
The Independent, 14th September 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
New Judgment: Commissioners for HMRC v Parry & Ors [2020] UKSC 35 – UKSC Blog
‘This appeal was about whether the pension scheme transfer by the late Mrs Staveley, and her omission to take income benefits which were then payable, constituted, or are to be treated as constituting, for the purposes of the Inheritance Tax 1984 a “disposition” which is a “transfer of value” in favour of her sons, who were to be the beneficiaries of the death benefit.’
UKSC Blog, 19th August 2020
Source: ukscblog.com
Frozen pensions: injustices faced by Windrush generation in spotlight – The Guardian
‘Campaigners urge new working group to look into why some retirees living abroad are penalised.’
The Guardian, 25th July 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Treatment of pensions on divorce – Law Society’s Gazette
‘In July 2019, the Pensions Advisory Group (PAG) published its essential guide to the treatment of pensions on divorce. The report is available on the Nuffield Foundation website. The impact of the report can be seen in the weight attached to it in three recent decisions concerning the treatment of pensions on divorce.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th July 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
