Michael Collins

Partner

Birmingham

contact details

• e: Michael Collins
• dt: +44 (0) 121 234 0236
• df: +44 (0) 121 234 0003
• m: +44 (0) 7976 739 448

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expertise

Michael advises employers and trustees of occupational pension schemes on all aspects of pensions law as well as dealing with pensions issues on corporate transactions. Michael also provides legal advice to executive pension providers and other pension professionals.

Michael is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers and serves on the committees of the National Association of Pension Funds West Midlands and East Midlands Groups.

experience

Michael is well placed to advise on all pensions related issues, having advised clients ranging from owner managed businesses in relation to their executive pensions to the multi-billion pound pension funds of major international companies. These include:

• Day to day advice to pension scheme trustees on their powers, duties and obligations.
  
• Advised employers and trustees of a number of schemes in relation to proposals to terminate or reduce future pension benefits.
  
• Advised an employer on a proposal to offer former employees an incentive to transfer their entitlement out of the group's pension scheme.
  
• Advised trustees of a pension scheme on the implications of a takeover of the sponsoring employer which resulted in all employees (and the pension scheme) being placed in a service company with no assets.
  
• Drafted a new definitive trust deeds and rules for pension schemes with several different benefit structures, including defined benefit and defined contribution.
  
• Advised employers on their obligations to provide employees with access to a pension scheme including the introduction of automatic enrolment and compulsory employer contributions from 2012.

interests

Michael supports Sunderland AFC. He also enjoys mountain biking, skiing and travel. Michael likes cooking (and eating) as well as music and films.