KIRKPATRICK & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis has hired a three-strong pensions team from rival law firm McDermott Will & Emery.

UK - The Scottish National Party (SNP) has told pensions minister John Hutton to resolve issues in England before criticising Scottish pensions.

THE PENSIONS Regulator's unprecedented ban on a trustee is a wake up call to doubters who questioned its willingness to use its powers, lawyers claim.

ITALY - Over 75% of Italian pension funds have carried out a restructure in order to align with new pensions regulation calling for them to offer different lines of investment.

DALTON Strategic Partnership has launched a new business targeting UK pension funds.

US - The Illinois TRS has dismissed concerns over the viability of hedge fund investments for pension funds after it announced plans to pump nearly US$1bn into the asset class.

Nearly three out of four companies believe occupational health services could cut their costs but less than half offer them, research shows.

INVESTEC Asset Management has launched a hybrid multi-asset fund for defined contribution schemes.

HONG KONG - Fortis Investments has opened an investment and sales office in the Fortis Bank Tower in Hong Kong.

UK - The US$650m NM Rothschild & Sons pension fund has appointed State Street to provide custody, investment accounting and securities lending services.