Katie Whelan

I have experience advising on the administration of defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes, including preparing documentation and advising on the interpretation of scheme rules and pensions legislation.  I also advise on trust law duties, the proper exercise of trustee discretions and on the pension aspects of corporate transactions.

I have been recognised as a 'Rising Star' in the Legal500 and was shortlisted for Young Lawyer of the Year at the 2023 North West Young Professionals Awards.

Recent experience includes:

• Advising on the closure of defined benefit pension schemes, including advising on consultation with members and drafting deeds of amendment to close the schemes to future accrual.
• Advising on the scheme merger of 3 defined benefit schemes, including drafting a consolidated trust deed and rules which involved reviewing and consolidating over 80 deeds of amendment.
• Advising trustees on the exercise of trustee discretion in relation to matters such as early retirement, lump sum death benefits and spouse's/children's benefits. This work has included preparing and providing training to trustees on the exercise of trustee discretion.
• Advising on automatic enrolment compliance and the rectification of breaches of an employer's automatic enrolment obligations.