Talking Pensions

A pensionsbarrister.com podcast featuring interviews with pensions lawyers and other pensions professionals about their careers and issues of topical interest.

Ep22 - Dan Schaffer 05/21/2025

Ep22 - Dan Schaffer In this episode (recorded in May 2025), Paul talks to Dan Schaffer, pensions partner at Slaughter and May, about his professional and academic career. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/36654470

Ep21 - Mark Grant 04/09/2025

Ep21 - Mark Grant In this episode (recorded in September 2024), Paul talks to Mark Grant, former head of Pensions at CMS and now Professor in Practice and Honorary Fellow at Durham University. They discuss Mark's career, including his involvement in the Barber litigation, Virgin Media, Mark's interest in executive coaching and his role at Durham University. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/36064585

Ep20 - Dame Jane Newell 11/12/2024

Ep20 - Dame Jane Newell In the latest episode (recorded in June 2024), Paul talks to Dame Jane Newell, former Chair of the Maxwell Pensioners Trust and former Chair of the Royal Mail, John Lewis and United Utilities pension schemes. They discuss the work involved in recovering funds for Maxwell pensioners, Jane's long experience of independent pension trusteeship, and her involvement in the Pensions Archive Trust. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/33904497

Ep19 - James Darbyshire 09/29/2024

Ep19 - James Darbyshire In the latest episode, recorded in May 2024, Paul talks to James Darbyshire, Chief Counsel at the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. They discuss the work of the Scheme, its relationship with other pensions and financial services bodies, and the technological challenges of the Scheme's recent large scale reviews. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/33250322

Ep18 - Martin Freeman (Part 2) 07/31/2024

Ep18 - Martin Freeman (Part 2) This is the second part of an interview with pentech guru Martin Freeman, recorded in June 2024. In this part, Martin talks about technology and AI, the latest proposals on small pots, and whether there is a future for CDC schemes. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/32362377

Ep17 - Martin Freeman (Part 1) 07/02/2024

Ep17 - Martin Freeman (Part 1) Recorded in June 2024, this is the first of a two-part interview with Martin Freeman. Martin has had a long and distinguished career in pensions administration and technology, and has recently set up Pensio, which aims to help schemes and software providers in the field of pensions technology systems. In this part, Martin talks about his career, his views on pensions administration and where we are on the pensions dashboard. A transcript of this podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/31979732

Ep16 - Steve Delo 05/08/2024

Ep16 - Steve Delo In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in March 2024), Paul talks to Steve Delo, Chairman of PAN Trustees. They discuss the role of independent pension trustees, the move to the corporate sole trustee model, buy-outs, consolidation and master trusts, and fiduciary duties. A transcript of this podcast is available . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/31195047

Ep15 - Anna Rogers 04/01/2024

Ep15 - Anna Rogers In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in October 2023), Paul talks to Anna Rogers, Senior Partner of Arc Pensions Law. They discuss Anna's career, the establishment of Arc, how to deal with mistakes in documentation arising during benefit specification exercises, the Pensions Dashboard, and past and present issues relating to surplus. A transcript of this podcast is available . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/30620693

Ep14 - Dominic Harris 03/05/2024

Ep14 - Dominic Harris In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in January 2024), Paul talks to the Pensions Ombudsman, Dominic Harris. They discuss Dominic's background in pensions, the work of the Ombudsman, the recent cyber-incident and the key issues likely to emerge in the future. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/30235558

Ep13 - Talking Perspective with Raf Shergold 02/05/2024

Ep13 - Talking Perspective with Raf Shergold To celebrate Pensions Barrister's tie-in with Perspective, this month's podcast (recorded in November 2023) features Raf Shergold, the Managing Director of Perspective. Paul talks to Raf about the history, development and future of the premier online pensions law resource. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/29807553

Take Two - Ep1 with Nick Hurley 12/13/2023

Take Two - Ep1 with Nick Hurley Welcome to Take Two, a new podcast series from pensionsbarrister.com in which our consulting editor, Emily Campbell, interviews legal professionals on technical topics of interest to pension lawyers. Emily's guest for this episode is Nick Hurley, head of employment and immigration at Charles Russell Speechlys. Emily and Nick talk about employment law issues that affect pension schemes, including contractual changes to pension benefits and TUPE transfers of Beckmann rights. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/29054443

Ep12 - Luke Hartley 11/29/2023

Ep12 - Luke Hartley In the twelfth episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in October 2023), Paul talks to Luke Hartley, Head of Pensions Advisory Services at Grant Thornton, about his career in the covenant advisory industry, the changes he has seen since the introduction of scheme specific funding, the challenges facing employers and trustees, and the outlook for the future. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/28840408

Ep11 - Talking PPF with Miriam Kimber 11/01/2023

Ep11 - Talking PPF with Miriam Kimber In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in October 2023), Paul talks to Miriam Kimber, Director of Legal at the PPF, about her role in the organisation and about issues currently being dealt with at the PPF, including pension increase and compensation caps, contingent assets, LDIs and the future of the PPF. Click for a transcript of the podcast /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/28483508

Ep10 - The Pensions Archive Trust 10/04/2023

Ep10 - The Pensions Archive Trust In this episode, Paul talks to Jeff Highfield, former Head of Finance at the PPF and now chair of the Pensions Archive Trust, about the work of the trust in archiving material from private pension schemes. A transcript of the podcast is available . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/28224791

Ep9 - Talking tPR with Anthony Raymond 08/30/2023

Ep9 - Talking tPR with Anthony Raymond In the ninth episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in January 2023), Paul talks to Anthony Raymond, General Counsel and Director of Legal Services at the Pensions Regulator, about the structure and priorities of the Regulator and the challenges it faces in the future. Click for a transcript of the podcast. /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/27892083

Ep8 - Sir Christopher Nugee 06/28/2023

Ep8 - Sir Christopher Nugee In the eighth episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022), Paul talks Sir Christopher Nugee about his career from Bar to Bench. Click for a a transcript of the podcast. /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/27270066

EP7 - Heather Allingham 05/31/2023

EP7 - Heather Allingham In the seventh episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in February 2023), Paul talks to Heather Allingham of Hymans Robertson about her role as head of pensions consulting for charities. A transcript of the podcast can be found . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/27001536

Ep6 - Sir Steve Webb 05/10/2023

Ep6 - Sir Steve Webb In the sixth epidosde of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022), Paul talks to Sir Steve Webb about his former role in government, his position at LCP and his views on pensions policy. A transcript of the podcast can be downloaded . /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/26800038

Ep5 - Remembering Ted Nugee: an interview with Sir Christopher Nugee 04/06/2023

Ep5 - Remembering Ted Nugee: an interview with Sir Christopher Nugee Ted's son, Court of Appeal Judge Sir Christopher Nugee, recalls his father's practice and contribution to pensions law, and reflects on the values that drove him. Click for a transcript of the podcast. /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/26416155

Ep4 - Ronnie Bowie 02/26/2023

Ep4 - Ronnie Bowie In the fourth episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022) Ronnie Bowie talks about his long career as a consulting actuary. Ronnie was Senior Partner at Hymans Robertson for 15 years and was the first President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. He is currently chair of the Prudential Assurance Company. Amongst a number of topics discussed, Ronnie looks back at his time as an expert witnesses and offers some "dos and dont's" for aspiring experts. Click for a transcript of the podcast. /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/26048466

Ep3 - Philip Bennett 02/02/2023

Ep3 - Philip Bennett The third episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022) features Philip Bennett. After retiring as a pensions partner at Slaughter and May, Philip was appointed a Visiting Professor at Durham Law School and now teaches the only undergraduate course in pensions law at a UK university. In a wide-ranging interview, Philip looks back at the changes in pensions law over his long career, explains the course he teaches and shares his views on the legal implications of the LDI crisis. Click for a transcript of the podcast. /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/25795590

Ep2 - Talking Tax 12/31/2022

Ep2 - Talking Tax In the second episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022), Paul talks tax with fellow barrister, Emily Campbell. Emily talks about the change in the pensions landscape following A-Day and how the influence of the old rules is felt today. She discusses her experience of acting for taxpayers in pensions tax disputes with HMRC and highlights some of the things she considers HMRC gets right and where there might still be room for improvement. Click for a transcript of the podcast. /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/25469610

Ep1 - Anthony Arter 12/29/2022

Ep1 - Anthony Arter In the first episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022), Anthony Arter looks back on his time as the Pensions Ombudsman. He reflects on the ways in which the office of the Pensions Ombudsman has adapted to deal with new issues such as the increase in pensions scames and discusses the new Pensions Dishonesty Unit. He also explains the relationship between the Ombudsman, the Pensions Regulator and FOS, and shares his advice for the new Ombudsman. Click for a transcript of the podcast. /episode/index/show/a7b27414-a991-4f63-806b-2d2f5fa627ad/id/25454955

Talking Pensions

TOPICS