Partner

Keith Webster

Languages

English

Social media

Keith is a partner in the Pensions team. He advises trustees and employers running large occupational pension schemes on all areas of pensions related law, including litigation. He has particular expertise in investment and de-risking, including insurance buy-ins, consolidation and surplus solutions. Keith also regularly advises pension providers on their pension products, particularly master trusts and group personal pensions arrangements.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

Quote

"Keith Webster of CMS has a reputation for his excellent technical abilities, with one commentator describing him as an ‘extremely talented and clever individual’."

Chambers & Partners
Quote

Leading Individual – Pensions

Legal 500, 2015

Relevant experience

Trustee clients range from a GBP 40m scheme to a number of the largest private sector schemes in the UK. Trustee advice includes:
- Advising on a large tranched buy-in for a multi-billion pound scheme.
- Setting up a reservoir trust to hold company contributions to help manage the risk of trapped surplus.
- Carrying out residual risk due diligence for a scheme targeting buy-out to help assess what risks remain.
- Advice on options for managing defined contribution benefits which have a defined benefit underpin.
Advice for employers includes:
- Setting up a co-investment vehicle between trustees and the employer to help manage the risk of trapped surplus.
- Acting in Court proceedings relating to the potentially invalid execution of scheme documentation.
- Advising on use of a surety bond to support scheme funding.
Advice for pension providers includes:
- Supporting a leading DC Master Trust on day to day matters, including negotiating terms for bulk transfers into the Master Trust.
- Acting for insurers on buy-in transactions, including residual risk cover.
- Advising a provider on the structure of a potential collective defined contribution scheme.

Publications

Contributor to the Pensions Law Handbook (16th Edition), Bloomsbury Professional.
‘RPI reform is not just and equitable’, Professional Pensions.
NAPF Guide to Investment Management Agreements ABI/NAPF Good Practice Guide to Bulk Insured Annuities.
Contributor to the Pensions Law Handbook (15th Edition), Bloomsbury Professional.

Memberships & Roles

Keith is a fellow of the Pensions Management Institute and sits on its Lifelong Learning and Regulation Committees. He is also a founding member of the RSA CDC Forum and a member of the British Venture Capital Association Technical Expert Group on pension scheme investment.

Lectures list

2016 - PMI Annual Conference: Responsibilities of Parties
2016 - TISA Seminar: Legal pitfalls of the new retirement income space
2016 - Association of Consulting Actuaries Annual Pensions Conference: Legal Update
2015 - NAPF: Pensions and VAT
2014 - Institute and Faculty of Actuaries annual conference: The Scheme Actuary as data controller
2013 - LexisNexis: GMP Equalisation
2012 - APL Annual Conference: Asset backed funding structures

Education

1995 - LPC, College of Law
1994 - MA, St Johns College, Cambridge University

Practice Areas

Pensions Employment, Labour & Pensions Dispute Resolution

Insights

Global Reach

UK Pay Gap Report 2024