Reflecting on President Trump’s first 100 days in office
Amol Chalisgaonkar
Senior Associate Corporate & Finance
Languages
English, Hindi
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Amol advises trustees and employers of occupational pension schemes, insurance companies, and a range of other pension providers on all aspects of pensions law. Increasingly, he specialises in risk transfer transactions, complex projects (in particular GMP equalisation and corporate reorganisations), and tricky pensions taxation advice.
On transactions and projects, his clients say he “managed to keep all the different moving pieces together, and just did not let any of the balls drop” and commented on “not only his pensions expertise and knowledge, but also his impressive negotiation skills when dealing with the other side’s lawyers”. His other, long-standing clients also say that he is "stellar for his level", "really knowledgeable and quick in picking things up", "articulate and clear", and "a rising star". Amol was a finalist for the Lawyer of the Year award at the Professional Pensions Rising Star Awards 2023. At just 3.5PQ, he was the junior-most finalist by some margin.
Amol is a Member of the Association of Pensions Lawyer’s Future Leaders in Pensions Committee (having been its first Chair in 2023) and also sits on the committee of O:pen (a pensions industry network for LGBTQ+ professionals). He is committed to inclusion, having helped establish REAHL (the firm’s employee network for race and ethnicity matters) and served on its committee for five years. He also volunteered for and served as a Trustee of a social mobility charity, Insight Outreach.
Representative experience
Advising employers and trustees on the buy-out and wind-up of several medium and large pension schemes, including the Old British Steel Pension Scheme on a PPF+ basis with PIC (£2bn), the Gallaher Defined Benefit Pension Scheme with Standard Life (£1.7bn), a scheme sponsored by a global energy company with L&G (£1.2bn), the Credit Suisse Group (UK) Pension Fund with L&G (£900m), and Section C of the ITV Pension Scheme with PIC (£600m).
Assisting Royal London with aspects of its entry into the bulk annuity market.
Acting for trustees of several small schemes (ranging from £4m to £80m) on buy-outs with a range of insurers including Aviva, Just, and Standard Life / Phoenix. Representing the Trustees of the MGM Assurance Staff Pension Scheme on its buy-in with Standard Life.
Advising one of the country's largest pension providers on tax issues arising out of a major benefit correction exercise, including engaging with HMRC and individual members.
Acting for the trustee of the Gates UK Pension Scheme on the s.67 "actuarial equivalence" conversion exercise of DC benefits with a GMP underpin, into a pure GMP with additional, separate DC benefits.
Advising a major global professional services firm on projects including the rationalisation of complex underpin benefits using the s.67 “actuarial equivalence” conversion route, the streamlining of provision of DC benefits with a transfer of accrued benefits to a mastertrust, and all aspects of a complex corporate reorganisation.
Representing multiple trustees and employers on bulk transfers of DC benefits to a wide range of mastertrusts including the L&G WorkSave Mastertrust, the Aviva Master Trust, the Mercer Master Trust, the Fidelity Master Trust, the Smart Pension Master Trust, and the Aon Mastertrust.
Acting for the trustees of the Industry-Wide Coal schemes on protected persons issues, employers in restructuring situations, buy-outs of several sections of the schemes, and GMP equalisation.
Advising the trustee of a mastertrust on various regulatory matters, such as significant events, a key regulatory requirements framework, their chair’s statement and implementation statement, and their template deed of participation.
Acting for a Fortune 500 company on the pensions aspects of its proposed entry into a joint venture, involving a sale of shares in its subsidiary.
Advising TotalEnergies on ceasing future accrual in the defined benefits sections of its pension scheme.
Giving pro bono advice to Chayn, a global charity which supports survivors of gender-based violence (on their incorporation, ongoing governance, and partnership with Bumble) and to Not Your Porn, a movement combating revenge porn (on corporate structure and governance).
Credentials
Education
- B.A. in Law (Jurisprudence), Oxford University, 2017
Bar admissions and qualifications
- Solicitor, England and Wales
Memberships
- Association of Pensions Lawyers
Publications
News
Press releases
05 June 2024
Press releases
06 March 2024
Press releases
10 January 2023