Partner

Maria Rodia

Languages

English
German
French

Social media

Maria Rodia is a partner in our market-leading Pensions practice.

She advises trustees of occupational pension schemes of all sizes, as well as employers, providers and investment consultant clients, on all aspects of UK pensions law including pensions investment (including buy-ins, buy-outs and longevity), scheme governance, benefit design, defined contribution arrangements, ombudsman investigations, PPF issues, scheme mergers and bulk transfers, contingent assets and other security, and the pensions aspects of corporate activity.

Maria has particular expertise dealing with large, sectionalised defined benefit pension schemes, complex pensions investment issues and industry-wide schemes such as the ESPS and all the issues they create.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

Quote

"Recommended for giving ‘assured performances’ at trustee meetings and inspiring ‘total confidence’ in her clients."

Legal 500

Relevant experience

The scheme documentation for a 14-section defined benefit scheme with GBP 3bn assets following advice on a number of scheme mergers and advising the trustees in relation to the implementation of a covenant-improving security package, including guarantees and floating charges.
The trustees of the pension scheme of a large pharmaceutical company with GBP 2.5bn assets on a complex sectionalised bulk transfer exercise following the dissolution of a joint venture.
The trustees of a large DB scheme regarding PPF eligibility and entry and a subsequent Pensions Regulator investigation.
The trustees of a large defined benefit pension scheme regarding the cessation of accrual, the establishment of a defined contribution section and various complex employer debt issues.
Clients on sectionalisation and de-sectionalisation, including PPF entry issues, cross-subsidisation, section-specific investment strategies, and triggers for automatic and discretionary merger of assets.
Corporate and trustee clients in relation to the ESPS including advice on protected persons, Ofgem responses, investment and compliance with the scheme-wide investment framework, and the validity of amendments.
Trustee clients on investment matters such as liability driven investment, longevity transactions, buy-ins and buy-outs and DC options.
Investment consultant clients on a range of investment topics and documentation.
The trustees of a large scheme on member communications and proposal to increase member information and engagement where employees are situated across more than 600 sites around the UK, including deferred information exercises, review of the scheme website and filmed podcast announcements from the chairman.

Publications

May 2019 - Ethical dilemmas for pensions, FT Financial Adviser.
Contributor to the Pensions Law Handbook (15th Edition), Bloomsbury Professional.

Memberships & Roles

Member, Association of Pension Lawyers
Member, Legislative & Parliamentary Committee, Association of Pension Lawyers

Lectures list

2015 – Speaker, Association of Pension Lawyers Summer Conference
2015 – Speaker, National Association of Pension Funds Annual Conference

Education

2003 - LPC, College of Law, London
2001 - PgDL, College of Law, London
2000 - BA History, University of York, York

Practice Areas

Pensions Dispute Resolution

sectors

Insurance

Insights

Global Reach

UK Pay Gap Report 2024