Legal Guidance and Research / Experts / Alexandra Ventham
Alexandra Ventham#4677
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Alexandra Ventham

Shoosmiths

Alexandra is a solicitor in the pensions team at Shoosmiths LLP. Alexandra has experience of advising employers and trustees of occupational pension and life assurance schemes on all aspects of pensions law, and providing advice in relation to personal pension arrangements, pensions issues on corporate transactions and pensions litigation. Alexandra also has experience of acting as an independent trustee of pension schemes.

Alexandra's experience includes advising on:

  • Employer automatic enrolment obligations.
  • The establishment, administration, alteration, and winding up of pension schemes.
  • The de-risking of occupational pension schemes, including scheme closures, buy-ins and buy-outs.
  • The pensions aspects of TUPE transfers and share sales, including advising on the implications of corporate transactions on occupational pension schemes and personal pension arrangements.
  • The process of transferring schemes to the Financial Assistance Scheme and the Pension Protection Fund.
  • High court pensions litigation and pensions disputes considered by the Pensions Advisory Service and the Pensions Ombudsman.

    • Alexandra is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers.

    Practice Area

    Panel

    • Contributing Author

    1 Contributions by Alexandra Ventham

    Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS): UK legal framework, governance, employer participation, eligibility, benefits (final salary and CARE), 2022–2024 reforms, contributions, retirement options, section 75 employer debt and cessation, outsourcing.
    PRACTICE NOTES
    Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS): UK legal framework, governance, employer participation, eligibility, benefits (final salary and CARE), 2022–2024 reforms, contributions, retirement options, section 75 employer debt and cessation, outsourcing.
    The USS is a private sector occupational pension arrangement for higher education institutions. It offers benefits on a salary‑linked, defined benefit basis. Set up collectively by universities in the 1970s, it ranks among the largest private sector pension schemes in the UK. Legal framework The USS was first constituted by a declaration of trust dated 2 December 1974, and is now governed by a trust deed and rules dated 19 November 2015, effective from 1 April 2016. It is subject to pensions legislation in the same way as any other UK private sector occupational pension scheme. Administration and governance Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (the USS Trustee) acts as the sole trustee and is accountable for running and administering the USS. The Trustee Board passes day‑to‑day scheme oversight to the Group Executive Committee, comprising nine individuals. The Trustee’s board of directors is required to consist of ten to twelve members, including the following: four directors appointed by Universities UK, a representative organisation for UK universities three directors appointed by the University and College Union, a professional association and trade union for...
    Pensions
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