Public Sector Pensions Quarterly replace – Summer season 2025

Case of the Quarter

Clark v Derbyshire

Dedicated readers of PSPQ could recall that final July we wrote an article in regards to the Court of Appeal ruling in Clark v Derbyshire relating to the authorized standing of the police disablement gratuity scheme, which the courtroom concluded was not an occupational pension scheme inside the that means of the Pension Schemes Act 1993.

In a current and associated growth, Pensions Ombudsman Dominic Harris has written a letter to the Work and Pensions Committee explaining the affect of the choice, which takes the scheme outdoors of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. Mr Harris explains that TPO’s jurisdiction is restricted to “investigating and determining complaints related to occupational pension schemes”. Whilst traditionally TPO has handled complaints regarding various public sector damage preparations, making use of the Court of Appeal’s choice in Clark v Derbyshire is prone to imply that many statutory public sector damage schemes are actually outdoors TPO’s jurisdiction.

Mr Harris notes that, in addition to having to reject some 60 lively circumstances which have already been dropped at TPO, this might probably go away people in such schemes with out entry to an Ombudsman. Given the significance of the problem, Mr Harris says TPO is in search of Leading Counsel’s opinion to make sure that that is certainly the right evaluation as regards the impact of the courtroom’s choice, and can be liaising with the DWP.

Team information

It’s awards season and we’re delighted to be celebrating a bunch of nominations. Firstly, as a workforce we’re thrilled to be named as finalists in 3 classes on the forthcoming PMI Pinnacle Awards – Team of the Year, Impact on Climate and Innovation in New Product or Service.

And we’re very proud that solicitor Callum Duckmanton has been shortlisted for a brace of awards on the Professional Pension Rising Star awards. Callum is shortlisted for each Lawyer of the Year and Trainee of the Year – congratulations Callum!

Last however not least, and scorching off the press, we’re delighted to be one in every of three companies shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year on the LAPF Awards, in addition to being nominated for Lawyer of the Year on the LGC Investment Awards.