Amanda Small

Leading a cross-practice team advising the trustees of a £40 billion-plus DC master trust on (i) the implementation of, and transition from, pooled to segregated mandates and (ii) the appointment of a new in-house subsidiary to provide investment advice.

Advising a large financial institution on the transfer of its own trust-based DC scheme, with assets in excess of £6 billion, to a master trust – one of the largest DC transfers to a commercial master trust to date.

Advising a large commercial DC master trust on a DB surplus solution for current and prospective employers, as well as trustees and sponsors on the use of DB surplus.

Advising a trustee client on a potential transfer to a DB superfund, including the related “gateway” test.

Advising Wirral Borough Council, as administering authority of the Merseyside Pension Fund, on securing around £200 million of liabilities with Aviva in a complex and innovative transaction, one of the first occasions on which a Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS) pension fund had used a buy-in policy in this way.

Advising on several large and complex buy-in transactions, including (i) negotiating and agreeing loan agreements with sponsors; (ii) advising on deferred premium agreements; and (iii) advising on, and agreeing the terms of, the sale of private equity assets.

Advising the corporate sponsor of a multimillion-pound pension scheme on all aspects of its triennial valuation, including (i) reviewing and modifying existing security arrangements; (ii) advising on a new funding agreement setting long-term funding targets and future de-risking arrangements; and (iii) engaging with The Pensions Regulator on its behalf.

Advising trustees on the implications of the sale of a sponsor, including negotiating the replacement of the sponsor and appropriate mitigation arrangements, with security provided by an overseas parent company.