Laura Sayer undertakes a broad range of pensions advisory work for both trustee and employer clients. She has in depth knowledge of advising on pension plan restructuring, mergers, corporate transactions as well as the drafting of scheme documentation. Laura has particular expertise in advising trustee boards operating within the regulated utilities sector, including water and electricity.

Laura is active within the pensions industry. Laura serves on the European Sub-Committee of the Society of Pension Consultants and is a regular speaker at industry seminars (including trustee training events). Laura has also been active in supporting our involvement with the Confederation of British Industry and has attended industry meetings with representatives for the Department for Work and Pensions and also, HM Treasury.

Representative Experience

• Advising the trustees of a large water utility company's defined benefit pension plan on proposals to amend the mirror image benefits provided at the time of water privatisation and the significance of certain protections enshrined into the plan at privatisation.
• Advising the trustee of a defined benefit pension plan in the charities sector on a complex contingent assets proposal designed around the charity's property portfolio.
• Acting on behalf of the trustees of a defined benefit pension plan engaged in High Court proceedings to resolve a claim in relation to the plan's failure to equalise benefits correctly in the 1990s.
• Acting on behalf of a large international media company in connection with a proposal to effect a plan apportionment to deal with employer debts arising under Section 75 Pensions Act 1995.
• Acting on behalf of a multinational company in respect of its proposal to streamline its UK operations and project planning the effect of closure of several of its UK operations in order to minimise the impact on the company's defined benefit pension plan.
• Advising a large employer on the setting up of a new section of a defined benefit pension plan to provide broadly comparable benefits to the Local Government Pension Scheme.