SIPP SSAS Hub with mobile 2

SIPP & SSAS Hub

Your 'one stop shop' for legal support in relation to SIPP and SSAS schemes.

Advice

We are an active member of the Association of Member-Directed Pension Schemes (AMPS), the industry body for SIPP and SSAS providers, and speak regularly at its conferences.

We are experts in SIPP and SSAS pension schemes. We advise operators, professional trustees, scheme administrators, independent financial advisers and wealth managers on the full range of legal issues relating to SIPPs and SSASs.

Our experienced team comprises SIPP and SSAS experts across a wide range of specialist legal areas, including pensions, trusts, property, employment, tax, data protection, corporate and commercial. We have an excellent understanding of how SIPPs and SSASs are structured and the key issues – this enables us to deliver clear solutions, based on commercial and practical considerations, to help our clients achieve their aims.

Experience

SIPP & SSAS Winter Festival 2023

Our SIPP & SSAS Winter Festival was held in December 2023. If you missed any of the sessions you can catch up now using the links below. Look out for more SIPP & SSAS content to come in 2024.

Watch on demand

Experience

Services

We advise on all legal aspects of SIPPs and SSASs – we are your ‘one stop shop’ for legal support.

SIPP & SSAS documentation

Our recent SIPP & SSAS experience includes:

Advised an investment company on a new SIPP product and assisted with all the legal documentation, including governance and client-facing literature, required to bring it to market.

Advised on the purchase of a book of 5,000 SIPPs and SSASs, including due diligence on the book and advice on structuring the transaction to mitigate key risks for our client, including pensions tax risks, and engagement with the FCA.

Leading discussions on behalf of our client, a Pension Scheme Trustee, with HM Revenue & Customs in connection with a dispute over the tax status of various investment assets. Dealing with protracted negotiations, culminating in an appeal to the First-tier Tax Tribunal. Preparing our case, liaising with Counsel and gathering supporting Pension Scheme member witness evidence and expert evidence. Securing mitigated tax liabilities.

[Include a pensions tax disputes example from Emma Bradley]

SIPP & SSAS documentation

Technical advice

Buying and selling SIPP & SSAS books

Regulatory support

Pensions tax advice and disputes

Commercial property

FURBS and EFRBS

Complaints and disputes

We provide all the documentation required to set up new schemes, from trust deeds and rules to client-facing documentation, including terms and conditions. We carry out legal ‘health checks’ of existing scheme documentation for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and prepare updates to ensure ongoing compliance.

Contacts

Join our mailing list for legal updates and events.

Damien Garrould

Partner, Pensions

Emma Bradley

Partner, Pensions Tax disputes

Partner, head of Pensions team

Sasha Butterworth

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About the author

Restructuring SIPP & SSAS books

Investment challenges and opportunities for SIPPs and SSASs

Commercial property case study and update

About the author

Technical advice

We advise on technical queries that arise in the day-to-day administration of schemes, including trustee duties, pensions law and regulatory matters. We offer a retainer service in which we work alongside a client’s in-house technical team and are on hand to support as required, drawing on our full range of legal expertise.

Regulatory support

We have good knowledge and understanding of all three SIPP and SSAS regulators: HMRC, The Pensions Regulator and the FCA. We support clients with regulatory developments, ongoing compliance and engagement with the regulators.

Pensions tax advice and disputes

We provide a full service in relation to pensions tax matters, from technical advice on risks associated with investments, including taxable property issues and unauthorised payments, to supporting clients with disputes in the tax tribunals. We have expertise in advising SIPP operators on appeals of decisions by HMRC to refuse relief at source.

Buying and selling SIPP & SSAS books

We advise clients on buying and selling SIPP and SSAS books. We work with clients on the key transactional issues to ensure they are properly protected. We have expertise in due diligence reviews of SIPP and SSAS books to identify any liabilities or risks that may lie hidden. Our AI and technology solutions enhance our service delivery and drive efficiencies.

Commercial property

We have a deep understanding of the key commercial property issues for SIPPs and SSASs, including regulatory restrictions on the properties they can invest in, the types of funding available and transactions with connected parties. We lead clients through every step of property transactions, using our knowledge to ensure their objectives are met.

Complaints and disputes

We work with clients to resolve complaints and disputes at an early stage where appropriate, minimising cost and management time. We understand the commercial needs of our clients and the nuances of the SIPP and SSAS market, and adapt our strategic advice on complaints to find the best fit. Our team has market leading experience involving allegations of misselling pensions and investments.

FURBS and EFRBS

We support with legacy FURBS schemes, including updates to scheme documentation, to enable clients to continue to operate these schemes effectively within the current tax regime. We have specialist expertise in the tax treatment of benefits payable from legacy FURBS schemes, including transitional protections, and EFRBS.

Complaints – recent trends and tips to mitigate key risks

Investment opportunities and challenges for SSASs

SIPP & SSAS property case study and update

Webinar recordings will be made available following the festival in December.

Join us to keep up to date with topics including:

4 December | 10.00 -11.00

5 December | 10.00 -11.00

6 December | 10.00 -11.00

7 December | 10.00 -11.00

Complaints: Recent trends and tips to mitigate key risks

A summary of themes and trends in SIPP & SSAS complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service and in the Tax Tribunal and how to protect against key risks.

Investment opportunities and challenges for SSASs

Join the team as they discuss: • Opportunities and the challenges where SSASs invest in ‘green’ and alternative assets • Key considerations including trustee duties, regulatory requirements and SSAS exemptions • Practical tips when considering SSAS investment proposals

SIPP & SSAS property case study and update

Join the team as they discuss: • An update on statutory liability for trustees – including developments on the horizon • Practical points to manage risks when onboarding and holding property in SIPPs and SSASs • How to deal with property where a member trustee loses mental capacity.