Fraser Sparks > PwC LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

PwC LLP
1 EMBANKMENT PLACE
LONDON
WC2N 6RH
England
Fraser Sparks photo

Work Department

Pensions

Position

Fraser has over 15 years experience of advising corporates and trustees on pensions law. 

Fraser advises clients on all aspects of pensions law and his clients have included sponsoring employers, trustees and scheme members.

Fraser has particular experience of advising on the following issues:

  • establishing, closing and winding up pension schemes
  • liability management exercises such as member option programmes and bulk annuity transactions (including all-risks buy-outs)
  • restructuring group pension arrangements by merging and demerging pension schemes, for example advising one of the world’s leading ferry operators on the merger of its 5 UK pension schemes
  • benefit correction issues involving historical under and overpayment of benefits and liaising with HMRC regarding tax treatment of back payments
  • contingent funding arrangements, including asset-backed funding structures, escrow accounts, reservoir trusts and group company guarantees
  • the pensions aspects of corporate transactions, particularly where the transaction involves the transfer of a group of employees from the seller’s defined benefit pension scheme to the buyer’s pension scheme
  • the pensions aspects of public sector outsourcing and the application of New Fair Deal

Fraser is a regular contributor to the pensions press and is frequently quoted in publications such as Professional Pensions and Pensions Age. He has spoken at various pensions industry events, including conferences organised by the Pensions Management Institute, the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association and the Association of Pension Lawyers. 

Career

Fraser has previously been a partner at Hammonds (now Squire Patton Boggs) and Stephenson Harwood. 

Memberships

Fraser is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers and sits on the Association’s international pensions committee.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)

PwC LLP‘s advisory pensions team is headed by Oliver Reece, who is especially well-known for his experience advising clients on regulatory matters in the pensions sphere. The practice has a particular focus on corporate entities, with clients including the BBC and IMI, but is also experienced in advising both domestic and international trustees, employers, and scheme members. Fraser Sparks brings more than 20 years’ experience to the team and is the key contact for benefit correlation issues, whilst Elizabeth Ramsaran leads the pensions ESG work. David Farmer and Lindsay O’Farrell are also names to note within the practice.