association of pension lawyers about us

The APL is an association of more than 900 lawyers who practise pension law in the UK. Our members include most, if not all, of the leading practitioners in the field. Among our honorary members are High Court Judges and the Pensions Ombudsman.

The APL began life in 1984, principally as a forum for exchanging ideas amongst lawyers advising in a relatively new legal specialism. As we have grown as a professional body, we have extended our range of activities.

Conferences: Our two-day annual conference is regularly attended by more than 200 lawyers. We promote regular conferences on current topics throughout the year, including a one-day spring (or summer) conference, introductory courses (for newly-qualified lawyers and also for trainees), and courses on specialist subjects such as scheme wind-ups, investment, pensions litigation, and the pensions aspects of company sales and purchases.

Education: Our educational programme extends to publication of Pension Lawyer, our regular magazine, and our Information to Members service, which provides members with details of important legal developments. We also hold regular case law seminars, workshops on various topics, and an annual lecture from one of the leading exponents in the industry.

Organisation: The APL has no paid officers and no paid secretariat. It is a non-profit making organisation, governed by a Constitution, and consisting principally of a Main Committee and five Sub-Committees:

• the Legislative and Parliamentary Committee;
• the Education and Seminars Committee;
• the International Committee;
• the Pensions Litigation Committee; and
• the Investment Committee.

The APL does outsource some of its administrative work on a fee-paying basis, primarily relating to membership, to the Pensions Management Institute (PMI). The PMI maintain the APL’s membership database on our behalf and organise our regular mailings to members.

We have also established an operating company, Pension Lawyers Services Ltd (PLSL), through which the vast majority of our events are now run. The financial and company secretarial aspects of PLSL’s work are also outsourced, to a private consultancy firm who are paid for the services that they provide.

Commercially, however, the APL continues to be run by its Main Committee and the various Sub-Committees. Further details on how they operate can be found on the Committees page of this site.

Regional groups: The APL also has a number of regional groups, which seek to further the APL’s objectives in the various provincial regions and commercial centres of the UK. The various groups are:

• the Midlands Region;
• the North East Region;
• the North West Region;
• the South Western Region; and
• the Scottish Group.

Government liaison: The APL is not a political organisation, but it supports (at a technical level) various government initiatives – for example the DWP simplification project and the discussion group on member-nominated trustees. The APL also liaises with government through our membership of the Pensions Joint Working Group (JWG).

Website: Details of the APL’s activities, including how to join, how to attend our various events, and even how to become more involved with the APL itself, are to be found on this website. The site is updated regularly and has since its establishment provided, and will I hope continue to provide, a valuable additional service to all pension lawyers.

Derek Sloan
Chairman

Past APL Chairmen	Period of office
Tim Cox	2003-2005
David Pollard	2001-2003
Robert West	1999-2001
Mark Greenlees	1997-1999
Ken Dierden	1995-1997
Stuart James	1993-1995
Ian Pittaway	1991-1993
John Quarrell	1990-1991
Tony Thurnham	1988-1990
Jonathan Seres	1985-1988
Harriet Dawes	1984-1985

APL Life President: Barney Wilson

Wallace Medal

The Wallace Medal was inaugurated in 1992. It is named after Keith Wallace and honours his contribution to the development of pensions literature, not least his editorship for many years of our Pension Lawyer magazine.

The medal is awarded for meritorious work in communicating and explaining legal issues affecting pensions, employee benefits and employment. The Main Committee of the APL decides on the award each year, and the winner is presented with a silver medal.

Wallace Medal recipient	Year
Chris Mullen	2003
Alastair Meeks	2002
Mark Grant	2001
Hugh Arthur	2000
Keith Wallace	1999
David Pollard	1998
Philip Bennett	1996
Robin Ellison	1994
Jonathan Seres	1993
APL Barber Committee (Harriet Dawes and Belinda Benney)	1992