Richard Evans

Scheme funding and contingent assets
Richard advises trustees and sponsors on funding negotiations and associated dealings with the Pensions Regulator. He acted for the trustees of a FTSE100 scheme in putting in place one of the UK's first asset-backed contribution arrangements with a value of £200m. He has advised on the full range of contingent assets, from parent company guarantees to a £500m escrow arrangement.

Buy-ins, buy-outs and liability management
Richard has extensive experience of de-risking projects. He has advised trustees on more than 20 buy-ins and buy-outs – for example a series of deals enabling a major scheme to secure liabilities for its entire pensioner population (total value £800m). He has acted on the winding-up of many DB schemes including the UK arrangement of a major international bank, advising on buy-out terms, trustee protection and refunds of surplus. Richard is a key member of the Firm's Pensions Risk Transfer Group, a cross-practice team which provides a joined-up service for trustees who wish to de-risk.

DC schemes and master trusts
Richard acts for several DC arrangements, among them a major manufacturer's scheme with 10,000 members and assets of £300m. He has substantial experience of DC governance issues, automatic enrolment and the authorisation regime for master trusts.

Scheme changes
Richard has advised on numerous projects to change benefits or merge pension schemes. He acted for the trustees of a £2bn scheme on the hard-closure of its DB section coupled with the move of active members to an improved DC section. He acted for the trustees of a £700m scheme on an eight-way merger and on associated commitments from the sponsor to protect the interests of affected members.

Corporate transactions
Richard advises both trustees and sponsors on the pensions aspects of corporate transactions. He has acted for FTSE100 companies on global outsourcings and M&A deals with values of up to £2bn. He has advised trustees on matters such as the demutualisation of an insurer sponsor, and the £385m asset-backed refinancing of a retail sponsor coupled with the grant of security to the pension scheme.

Restructuring and insolvency
Richard regularly advises alongside insolvency colleagues on pensions issues in relation to distressed employers. He was a key member of the Firm's team which advised the Pension Protection Fund on the restructuring of Hoover Limited and the settlement of its pension liabilities. Richard also acted for the trustee of the Woolworths Group Pension Scheme in relation to the insolvency of Woolworths and the scheme's successful entry to the PPF.

The College of Law, Chester

University of Oxford, Brasenose College

• England and Wales

• Association of Pension Lawyers
• Fellow, Pensions Management Institute