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Richard Shelton

He/himLegal Director
Leeds
About

Richard has specialised in pensions law for more than 30 years and has advised on all manner of private sector pension schemes, from small insured arrangements to large multi-employer occupational pension schemes.  He advises trustees and employers on a full range of non-contentious pensions matters and projects (including scheme mergers, restructuring and winding-ups). 

Richard has substantial expertise in advising on the pensions aspects of corporate transactions, acting for sellers, buyers and trustees on hundreds of transactions over the years, a number involving active engagement with The Pensions Regulator.  

Richard regularly works with employment law specialists in advising on auto-enrolment, pensions salary sacrifice, TUPE and other issues.

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Richard was for many years a pensions partner at another global law firm.

Areas of FocusCorporateMergers and AcquisitionsEmploymentEnergy and Natural ResourcesIndustrialsFinancial Services
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
Education
  • Law Society Finals, College of Law, Chester
  • University of Nottingham Law LLB (Hons), 1991

EXPERIENCE

  • Lead adviser to the trustee of a GBP1.2bn defined benefit pension scheme in respect of a complex corporate transaction in the aerospace sector, involving the USD4.7bn acquisition of the scheme's sponsoring employer. 
  • Drafting the trust deed and rules (and related legal documentation) to establish the Island of Guernsey’s government-backed auto-enrolment pension scheme, Your Island Pension.
  • Lead pensions adviser in relation to several significant transactions involving the sale of SIPP and SSAS books by well-known providers.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Law Society
  • Association of Pension Lawyers

Connect

Phone

+44 113 369 2143
(Work, Leeds)
+44 744 367 9663
(Mobile, Leeds)
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