Sackers

Here they are - the winners of the UK Pensions Awards 2011

Sebastian Cheek examines the fallout from the High Court ruling to uphold the Prudential Assurance Company's decision to cap discretionary increases for its scheme members.

Prudential has won its High Court dispute with members of its pension scheme over changing the basis on which it granted discretionary increases to pensions in payment.

Sacker & Partners has re-elected Ian Pittaway as the law firm's senior partner for the third time.

The Finance Bill has aligned default pension input periods with the tax year so that it ends on 5 April looking ahead, Sackers says.

The Hutton Report has been welcomed by the industry, which claims it could increase pensions for the low paid, but left unions warning of industrial action.

The European Court of Justice ruling on sex discrimination is set to have a major impact on occupational schemes and could increase deficits, the industry warns.

Proposals to allow early access to pensions will create a "bureaucratic nightmare" and should be shelved, industry groups say.

A policeman was awarded a massive £5,000 compensation by the pensions ombudsman after his planned retirement in New Zealand was nearly shattered by an administrative error.

The negative tone of HM Treasury's early access consultation is an indication the concept as a whole could be "quietly shelved", a lawyer says.