Phil Jelley

Expertise

Phil has over 20 years specialist pensions experience advising on the full spectrum of issues affecting trustees, employers, insurers, investment managers, scheme providers and administrators, the Pension Protection Fund and both local and central government.

Phil has been involved in numerous high-profile and ground-breaking transactions and litigation matters, including the Uniq debt for equity swap, the Toray Textiles equalisation case, and the IAC rectification case.

Phil recently spent nine months on part-time secondment at HSBC Retirement Services Ltd as head of legal, to assist in establishing the HSBC Master Trust.

Phil is a full member of the Association of Pensions Lawyers and previously served on the Education and Seminars sub-committee, where he chaired the bi-annual APL Beginners Course. He is also a regular contributor to pension publications, has presented numerous pension webinars and seminars, and has been interviewed live on BBC News 24 on pension-related matters.

How do you help clients?

I work seamlessly with my clients and their other professional advisers to identify and implement manageable practical solutions to technical and complex legal challenges.

Experience

1. Advising the trustees of a defined benefit scheme regarding the implications of the sponsoring employer’s insolvency and steps to be taken in connection with the Pension Protection Fund in ‘PPF Plus’ circumstances.
2. Advising the trustees of a defined benefit pension scheme in connection with the documentation, process and contractual negotiations surrounding the securing of member benefits with an insurance company.
3. Successfully advising a SIPP administrator on a claim of almost £1m from HMRC regarding an unauthorised payment and scheme sanction charge relating to SIPP investments, including representation at an HMRC mediation.
4. Advising on the implications and technical aspects of an admission agreement and bond in respect of participation in the Local Government Pension Scheme, including negotiation of the terms.
5. Advising a lender on the implications of a refinancing in the context of the UK Pensions Regulator’s powers under the Pensions Act 2004 and Pension Schemes Act 2021.