<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Pensions Barrister]]></title><description><![CDATA[An up-to-date pensions legal resource for use by PSLs, solicitors and knowledge management professionals in the pensions industry.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:35:11 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Retrospective amendments and rewriting history]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Newman KC explains the limits on the validity of retrospective amendments to pension scheme documents, and the extent to which those limits may be overcome by careful drafting. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/retrospective-amendments-and-rewriting-history</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69de2cea1847596b2f5012dc</guid><category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:45:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_32b6f60807564a63ace6aa6af11d8648~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Happy Easter from Pensions Barrister!]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are now off to eat chocolate and re-watch some old Bond films. Thanks for your support - we will be back soon with more content!]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/happy-easter-from-pensions-barrister</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69cce77f06abe9c6d05718fd</guid><category><![CDATA[Chat]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:38:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_f423260a32bb4f4baae4f29dfbd8df81~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[tPR publishes Virgin Media remediation guidance]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Regulator has today published guidance for trustees and managers on the proposed remediation of historic section 37 problems exposed by the Virgin Media decision . The guidance proceeds on the basis that, if the Pension Schemes Bill 2025 is enacted in its current form, many historic alterations to salary-related contracted-out schemes made between 6 April 1997 and 5 April 2016 may yet be validated, even where no written actuarial confirmation can now be found, provided the alteration is...]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/tpr-publishes-virgin-media-remediation-guidance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c55672653657f03d5fef66</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:54:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_84a2af5fb8db4f629ef4d56340550059~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Service, evidence and tPR's role in fixed penalty appeals]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Newman KC considers a recent Upper Tribunal decision raising interesting points on service, what is being decided on an appeal, and the quality of material which the Regulator is expected to place before the First-Tier Tribunal. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/service-evidence-and-tpr-s-role-in-fixed-penalty-appeals</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c3a398653657f03d5c429e</guid><category><![CDATA[On The Case]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:45:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_da1461a6c9de4ad28118fddf69b1e630~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[An interesting (but not important) trust case]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Privy Council has today given judgment in A and 6 others v C and 13 others  [2026] UKPC 11 on the role of trust protectors. The reassuring news for pensions lawyers is that this is not a case that needs to go straight to the top of the reading pile. The Board was dealing with a specialised offshore trust structure, and considering whether fiduciary protectors asked to consent to trustee decisions are confined to a narrow supervisory role or may exercise their own independent judgment on...]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/an-interesting-but-not-important-trust-case</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc1ba57b6e8ecd667c9c07</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:57:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_84a2af5fb8db4f629ef4d56340550059~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Pensions Ombudsman and the common law]]></title><description><![CDATA[Allison Wu of Wilberforce Chambers considers two recent determinations of the Deputy Pensions Ombudsman which apply common law principles in pensions contexts. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/the-pensions-ombudsman-and-the-common-law</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69affddba547e1dd3d7c8a10</guid><category><![CDATA[On The Case]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:45:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_da1461a6c9de4ad28118fddf69b1e630~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protected Persons, TUPE and the limits of ‘reorganisation’]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Newman KC looks at a very recent High Court decision on how ‘protected persons’ pension provisions should be construed against the background of TUPE continuity and the Protected Persons Regulations. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/protected-persons-tupe-and-the-limits-of-reorganisation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b14e460a4be4ba0d858270</guid><category><![CDATA[On The Case]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:45:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_da1461a6c9de4ad28118fddf69b1e630~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The secret life of pension documents]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Newman KC looks at how pension documents written for one purpose often end up being used for another, and what that means for those drafting them.   To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/the-secret-life-of-pension-documents</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a6b4807db715abddf90eb4</guid><category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:45:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_32b6f60807564a63ace6aa6af11d8648~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[FOS reforms: the clock is still ticking]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) decides disputes by reference to what is ‘fair and reasonable’ in all the circumstances. HMT, the FCA and FOS have been working on reforms designed to make outcomes more predictable, particularly by reference to what the FCA’s rules required at the time, and by improving how ‘big issue’ complaints are handled. The FCA/FOS consultation paper on this issue, which was published in July 2025, can be found here .   An update and further consultation were...]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/fos-reforms-the-clock-is-still-ticking</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a70c91686f0e042b4f1965</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:31:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_84a2af5fb8db4f629ef4d56340550059~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Limitation and the wrong defendant]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Newman KC looks at a recent Court of Appeal decision which has potentially significant consequences for pensions negligence claims brought against the wrong defendant because liability had transferred to a successor entity. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/limitation-and-the-wrong-defendant</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699d6c9e9509a0da66f9573f</guid><category><![CDATA[On The Case]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:06:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_da1461a6c9de4ad28118fddf69b1e630~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Civil Service Pension Scheme administrative problems]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul has written an article for civilserviceworld.com  on dos and don'ts for those affected by the ongoing Civil Service Pension Scheme issues. To read the article, click on this link . To read the Government's recent update on this topic, click on this link .]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/civil-service-pension-scheme-administrative-problems</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699db4dee6cf3604ca3361cb</guid><category><![CDATA[Chat]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:32:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_1c45ea6f66e746599279f2420edfd8d0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The future for lay trustees]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Newman KC considers the government’s proposals for the future of pension trustees set out in a recent DWP consultation paper, and asks whether it spells the end for the traditional lay trustee governance structure. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/the-future-for-lay-trustees</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69942eaba8ff0d3b097ed1cd</guid><category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:45:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_32b6f60807564a63ace6aa6af11d8648~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Talking Pensions Ep26: Bob Scott]]></title><description><![CDATA[In this edition of Talking Pensions (recorded in December 2025), Paul talks to Bob Scott, senior partner at Lane Clark &#38; Peacock. They discuss Bob's long career as a consulting actuary and expert witness. To read a transcript of the podcast, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/talking-pensions-ep26-bob-scott</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698c4b6ba1e18f8539de4677</guid><category><![CDATA[Podcast - Talking Pensions]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:45:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_54d5eab39b574751b08ae31ba72695e6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Recent Virgin Media amendment withdrawn]]></title><description><![CDATA[On 9 January we reported that an amendment had been tabled to the Pension Schemes Bill to exclude from the scope of the Virgin Media remedy those amendments which are the subject of existing legal proceedings. That amendment was withdrawn at yesterday’s House of Lords Committee hearing, and will therefore not be part of the Bill going forward.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/recent-virgin-media-amendment-withdrawn</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69860e11e14322a9a911df07</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:52:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_84a2af5fb8db4f629ef4d56340550059~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Judge criticises tPR approach to auto-enrolment appeal]]></title><description><![CDATA[In 4 Wheeler Ltd v The Pensions Regulator [2026] UKFTT 00153 (GRC), the First Tier Tribunal struck out an employer’s appeal against a Fixed Notice Penalty imposed for failure to comply with auto-enrolment requirements. However, the Judge registered two concerns over tPR’s conduct of the case. First, he criticised tPR’s mis-statement of the applicable law in its written argument and recommended an urgent review of its standard pleadings and submissions to avoid prejudicing the fair and proper...]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/judge-criticises-tpr-approach-to-auto-enrolment-appeal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6985b1722764679ea70ff6a6</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:19:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_84a2af5fb8db4f629ef4d56340550059~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legal issues arising from the Virgin Media fix]]></title><description><![CDATA[Paul Newman KC considers the legal issues faced by trustees and actuaries when making and responding to requests for confirmation under the remedial provisions in the Pension Schemes Bill. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/legal-issues-arising-from-the-virgin-media-fix</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69830faf1e55646770ffbb03</guid><category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:46:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_32b6f60807564a63ace6aa6af11d8648~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Court’s approach to scheme amendment powers]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thomas Seymour concludes his personal reflections on pensions law and practice by considering how the Courts have dealt over time with scheme amendment powers. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/the-court-s-approach-to-scheme-amendment-powers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6978821315c06c04a24e72ac</guid><category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:45:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_32b6f60807564a63ace6aa6af11d8648~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Actuarial guidance for Virgin Media confirmations published]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Financial Reporting Council has issued technical guidance to assist scheme actuaries in considering whether to provide a confirmation under the provisions of the Pension Schemes Bill, providing for a remedy in respect of the Virgin Media  decision. The guidance has been published before the Bill is enacted, to give actuaries sufficient time to prepare for requests for confirmation. The guidance will be updated as necessary to reflect any changes made to the legislation through its...]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/actuarial-guidance-for-virgin-media-confirmations-published</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69736b3e93f6d3facb62cbf7</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:37:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_84a2af5fb8db4f629ef4d56340550059~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Personal Reflections on DB Schemes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Thomas Seymour was called to the Bar in 1975. In this article, he reflects on his long experience as a pensions practitioner and comments on the legislative and judicial approaches to DB schemes during that time. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/personal-reflections-on-db-schemes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6970a4b82e380e430101b0de</guid><category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:56:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_32b6f60807564a63ace6aa6af11d8648~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Ombudsman’s New Orthodoxy: Right or Wrong?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Zara Yusuf, of Three Stone Chambers, considers the recent Ombudsman determinations on the scope of the trustees’ responsibility for statutory transfers of pension benefits, and asks whether the approach adopted is overly restrictive. To read the article, click on the pdf below.]]></description><link>https://www.pensionsbarrister.com/post/the-ombudsman-s-new-orthodoxy-right-or-wrong</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6967fc6a801fea0f8809774f</guid><category><![CDATA[In Focus]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 06:01:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ec8280_32b6f60807564a63ace6aa6af11d8648~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Paul Newman KC</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>