Managing Associate in the Leeds pensions team with a diverse range of trustee and company advisory experience, as well as significant experience of advising on the pension aspects of corporate and insurance transactions and tax issues.

Expertise

Project Solar

Acted for the trustees on a c.£4 billion buy-out of the Asda Group Pension Scheme. Became heavily involved in advising on complex and cutting edge aspects of the transaction, including a plethora of tax issues. Lead on the legal analysis of these issues and played a key role in helping develop innovative solutions for the client to mitigate significant tax and litigation risk. Managed the Project Solar buy in and buy out completion process which required the execution of a multitude of documents across two separate completion windows. Planned and implemented all aspects of the process to ensure a smooth and timely completion. 

Project Eclipse

Acted for Willkie Farr LLP on a public M&A deal and subsequent refinancing. Advised a US buyer on the pension issues and trustee negotiations connected with its acquisition and take private of a UK plc and then a global refinancing of the group. Provided complex yet commercial pensions advice in relation to a target who was the principal employer of a DB scheme. 

Project Cornwall 

Advised on a sophisticated multi-million £ pension liberation fraud, as part of the now infamous "Paradise Papers" scandal. Played a key role in a small partner led team by providing highly specialist pensions advice. Helped the team get to grips with previously unfamiliar areas of trusts, equity and pensions litigation. Distilled complex legal hypotheses into concise arguments in order to substantiate our client's case in the Mauritian courts.  Secured a world-wide freezing injunction to repatriate our client's assets.

Project Thicket / Project Lemon / Project Innovate 

Advised Bridges Private Capital on three successful corporate acquisitions involving Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) issues. Successfully negotiated a variety of technical issues relating to exit debts, Beckmann rights and discretionary benefits.  Carried out thorough due diligence and armed our client with the facts necessary to negotiate a substantial price chip, and very favourable indemnity protection.

Trustee day to day advisory 

Advising the trustees of two billion £+ DB schemes on complex member queries (including member complaints, death benefit distributions, tax issues, GDPR and data breaches, overpayment and AA/LTA queries)

Other advisory

Advising trustees and sponsors on key legislative and regulatory issues, including GMP equalisation, EU - US data transfers following Schrems II, and the impact of FCA's recent consultation guidance on the information trustees can provide on CETV quotations.

SIPP / SSAS

Since qualification, Andrew has gained a diverse experience of both SIPP and SSAS work. Andrew has assisted a number of leading SIPP and SSAS providers on issues ranging from the consolidation of their pension businesses to banking, investment and litigation matters.