Joanna Smith

Joanna is an experienced pensions lawyer, advising employer and trustee clients in a variety of sectors on all aspects of pensions law. She supports a number of Sackers’ trustee clients on the full range of “business as usual” issues, such as complex questions on pensions tax, member benefit questions, compliance with new legislation and drafting scheme documentation. Her recent project work has included advice on managing employer debts, liability management exercises and benefit design changes. She has undertaken a key role on significant projects, such as advising in relation to the restructuring of the Halcrow Pension Scheme and supporting another large pension scheme in its negotiations to resolve a dispute with the scheme’s employer. Joanna has a particular interest in pension scheme governance and sits on the firm’s Governance group. She is also a member of the firm’s GMP equalisation working group. Joanna also sits on the Society of Pension Professionals’ Legislation Committee. · Sacker & Partners LLP

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About

Joanna Smith is an experienced pensions lawyer advising trustee and employer clients across sectors on all aspects of pensions law, including pensions tax, member benefits, compliance and drafting scheme documentation. She qualified in 2006, joined Sackers in 2011 and became a partner in 2019; her experience includes employer debt advice, liability management exercises, benefit design and scheme restructuring, and she sits on the firm's Governance and GMP equalisation working groups and on the Society of Pension Professionals' Legislation Committee.

Practice area

Pensions

Office

England

Sacker & Partners LLP · Joanna is an experienced pensions lawyer, advising employer and trustee clients in a variety of sectors on all aspects of pensions law. She supports a number of Sackers’ trustee clients on the full range of “business as usual” issues, such as complex questions on pensions tax, member benefit questions, compliance with new legislation and drafting scheme documentation. Her recent project work has included advice on managing employer debts, liability management exercises and benefit design changes. She has undertaken a key role on significant projects, such as advising in relation to the restructuring of the Halcrow Pension Scheme and supporting another large pension scheme in its negotiations to resolve a dispute with the scheme’s employer. Joanna has a particular interest in pension scheme governance and sits on the firm’s Governance group. She is also a member of the firm’s GMP equalisation working group. Joanna also sits on the Society of Pension Professionals’ Legislation Committee.

England

Expertise

Trustee and employer pensions advicePensions taxBenefit designLiability management exercisesEmployer debt managementPension scheme governanceGMP equalisationScheme restructuring and pension dispute negotiations

Admissions

England and Wales (qualified 2006)