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Insights Financial Services

Disability Inclusion and Pensions

Part of DEI and ESG

The Pensions Regulator in the UK previously issued guidance on diversity equity and inclusion within pensions. Peggy Hughes and Stephen Gillick,…

29/04/24

About Peggy

Peggy is Partner in our Pensions team. Known for her pragmatic and solution-orientated advice, she has established herself as a leading Pensions expert. Peggy has advised on a wide range of pension matters and holds a professional Pension Trustee qualification.

More recently Peggy has been appointed by various trustees to act as an independent expert under the terms of internal dispute resolution procedures. In these roles, Peggy has reviewed specific disputes and provided reports and commentary to facilitate the resolution of the disputes. She has also provided guidance on the future handling of disputes and engagements with pensions regulatory bodies.

Peggy has also written, spoken and lectured on pensions matters.

Pensions and related law

Peggy’s most recent work has included work with:

One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Ireland on a risk reduction exercise in relation to its defined benefit pension scheme
The managing committee of a unique pension scheme within Ireland on a project relating to body of extensive queries and issues arising around the administration and need for amendment of said scheme – work involved advice, drafting and co-ordinating input from overseas legal experts and
Pension scheme trustees on projects to facilitate IORP II compliance.

Peggy has advised:

Sponsoring employers both Irish and multinational
Professional pension service providers
Trustees of pension schemes (both lay and professional)
Individuals
Insurance companies

Engagements

Peggy has spoken at events on various aspects of pension practice, and has conducted tutorials at the Law Society of Ireland on the pensions issues within Family Law. She has also lectured on the Law Society Certificate in Pensions Law course.

Education

University of Westminster London, LLB (Hons) (1995)
Law Society of Ireland, Diploma in Applied Finance Law (2004)
Professional pension trustee qualification 2019

Professional Memberships

Member, Law Society of Ireland

Member and Former Council Member, Association of Pensions Lawyers in Ireland (APLI)
Former DC Committee Member, Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF)
Member, International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA)
Former Committee Member, Connect Women in Pensions
Member of the Institute of Directors
Member of the founding steering Committee of the disAbility Legal Network

Provided bespoke trustee advice in preparation for Pensions Authority audit meetings
Acted as an independent expert to review the operation of pensions IDR process and to report back to the scheme trustees with suggestions for resolution and future dispute handling
Advised employer on the incorporation of different benefit structures for different categories of member of a defined benefit scheme and documented same along with other amendments
Advised numerous clients on the merger/amalgamation of pension schemes
Advised on the establishment of cross border pension schemes and related issues
Advised numerous clients, both trustee and employer, in relation to the winding up of defined benefit pension schemes and related issues of contribution demands, employer contractual matters and winding up priority issues as they arose. Drafting of related bespoke winding up funding agreements as necessary
Advised on liability management exercises within defined benefit schemes including pensions increase exchanges and enhanced transfer value projects
Advised on the pensions aspects of corporate transactions
Provided bespoke pension trustee training

Contact Peggy

Discuss your related questions with Peggy Hughes now

Peggy Hughes

Partner