Contact details

Stephen Richards

T: +44 20 7809 2350 M: +44 7739 384 686 Email Stephen | vCard Office: London

Awards

Pensions

Pensions

Pensions (non-contentious)

Pensions (non-contentious)

Stephen Richards Partner

Contact details

Stephen Richards

T: +44 20 7809 2350 M: +44 7739 384 686 Email Stephen | vCard Office: London

A big scheme specialist, Stephen advises employers, trustees, and master trusts on all types of pensions issues. He has a commercial style on strategic issues and brings a responsive approach on day to day matters. With the ability to present complex ideas in a simple way, Stephen has helped a variety of clients with tricky pensions issues, from the trustees of global banks to UK manufacturers.
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Stephen joined Stephenson Harwood from Allen and Overy to complement our strong and growing pensions team. As a rising star in pensions law, Stephen further enhances the reputation of the firm's pension practice.

He is an expert on pensions in the banking sector, large pension schemes, Pensions Regulator issues and master trusts. Stephen has experience on major strategic projects including advising on the acquisition of a major master trust provider and the largest company contribution made to a pension scheme to date. Stephen is also a trustee so he understands what trustees need from their advisers. Stephen established the Pensions Innovation Café, and likes to present advice in a modern, user friendly way.

Stephen‘s recent experience includes advising on multiple transfers to DC master trusts and the trustees of several of the UK's major pension schemes on all day to day legal issues. He also gave strategic advice on major Pensions Regulatory issues for a FTSE 100 company as well as to a global telecoms company on world-wide pensions issues.

"His strengths are clarity of advice and a clear focus on the client's needs and position. He is always thinking ahead and proactive in his advice. He is available at any time of day and very personable."

Chambers UK 2021

  • Pensions advisory

Major financial institution

Commercial advice to a major financial institution on the restructuring of its pension schemes.

Master trust provider

Advising a master trust provider on the acquisition of a major industry master trust.

Trustees of a pension scheme

Strategic advice to the trustees of a pension scheme on the refinancing of its high profile sponsoring employer.

More: Pensions advisory

  • Food and drink
  • Pensions
  • Banks and banking

Major soft drinks manufacturer and distributor

Long-term adviser to a major soft drinks manufacturer and distributor.

Well-known brewery

Undertaking strategic pensions projects for a well-known brewery.

Major food provider to the restaurant industry

M&A work on multiple acquisitions for major food provider to the restaurant industry.

More: Food and drink

Major financial institution

Commercial advice to a major financial institution on the restructuring of its pension schemes.

Master trust provider

Advising a master trust provider on the acquisition of a major industry master trust.

Trustees of a pensions scheme

Strategic advice to the trustees of a pension scheme on the refinancing of its high profile sponsoring employer

More: Pensions

Major UK bank

Advice to a major UK bank on implementing innovative structures to mitigate the impact of pension liabilities on capital requirements.

A variety of UK and European financial institutions

Advice to a variety of UK and European financial institutions on the impact of pensions on accounting under IAS 19 and IFRIC 14.

Major global banks

Strategic advice to several major global banks on changing pensions arrangements and pensions liability management.

More: Banks and banking

Awards

Pensions

Pensions

Pensions (non-contentious)

Pensions (non-contentious)

Latest news & insights

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26 May 2023

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23 Mar 2023

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27 Feb 2023

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13 Feb 2023

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Transfers out – are trustees at a greater risk than they realise?

In an article published by Professional Pensions, partner Stephen Richards and senior knowledge development lawyer Julia Ward, discuss transfers out, and whether trust..

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19 Jan 2023

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Pensions snapshot - January 2023

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10 Jan 2023

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20 Dec 2022

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26 Sep 2022

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25 Apr 2022

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24 Feb 2022

From Insights

Pensions snapshot - February 2022

This edition of snapshot looks at the latest legal developments in pensions.

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25 Jan 2022

From Insights

Pensions snapshot - January 2022

This edition of snapshot looks at the latest legal developments in pensions.

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