Philip Woolham

I have over 15 years' experience as a pensions specialist acting for a range of clients including local authorities, NHS employers, housing associations, the police, charities, fire authorities and education bodies. My experience includes advising on the Local Government Pension Scheme, the National Health Service Pension Scheme and the Teachers' Pension Scheme, as well as national industry-wide arrangements such as the Social Housing Pension Scheme and the Independent Schools Pension Scheme.

I have experience of a wide range of private sector pension arrangements, including advising in relation to defined-benefit (final salary type) pension schemes on an ongoing basis, and also in relation to their closure and winding up. I have extensively advised foreign owners of UK organisation which sponsor pension arrangements on their duties and obligations.

I advise employers, trustee bodies and individuals, including parties to transactions with a pension element.  I have experience in outsourcing from the public to the private sector, advising public bodies, private and third-sector employers, including in respect of secondary transactions and insourcing.  I advise in relation to trust-based, unfunded and contractually-based pension arrangements.

I have extensive experience of advising in relation to automatic enrolment pension obligations, both in relation to existing schemes and when appropriate arrangements must be set up.

I advise on all aspects of their legal obligations, in relation to disputes between members and trustees and employers, from informal discussions to the level of complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman.

Publications

I have written several articles including:
Climate Emergency: Have you thought about - Pensions and Investments?
Service models: the hazards of TUPE law for public sector employers