Michaela Berry

About the Lawyer

Michaela Berry has many years’ experience of a wide range of pensions issues. This has included scheme set-up and wind-up, mergers, and advice to clients on the pension aspects of corporate acquisitions and disposals. She provides guidance to trustees and employers on compliance with legislation. Michaela heads the firm’s Public Sector team, advising both local authorities and private employers in relation to public sector outsourcing, including establishing passport schemes and providing advice on admission to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). She also has experience in advising in relation to the new Fair Deal.

Michaela is a member of the international pensions team and has experience advising a multinational employer considering setting up a new trust-based international pension scheme. She represents the firm at Ius Laboris events and conferences. Her recent work has involved advising clients facing significant change in their pension fund arrangements, including merging schemes, introducing CARE arrangements, raising member contributions, and altering future service accrual and analyzing the employer’s contribution covenant.

Experience

Michaela Berry qualified as a solicitor in 1991, England and Wales. She joined Sackers in 1991 and became an associate in 1996. She was admitted to the partnership in 1998. Prior to joining Sackers, she worked at Rowe & Maw from 1989 to 1991. Her career highlights include advising schemes in relation to Pension Protection Fund (PPF) entry, advising the trustees of the EMI Pension fund in its £1.4 billion buy-out in July 2013, acting for the Trustee of Thorn Pension Fund on its £1.1 billion buy-out in December 2008, and advising L&G, the employer, in connection with a review of its own pension arrangements during 2008, including advising the trustees on a GMP conversion as part of the process.

Specialty

Pensions Law: Scheme set-up and wind-up, mergers, pension aspects of corporate acquisitions and disposals, compliance with legislation.
Public Sector Pensions: Advising local authorities and private employers on public sector outsourcing, establishing passport schemes, admission to the LGPS, and advising on the new Fair Deal.
International Pensions: Advising multinational employers on setting up new trust-based international pension schemes.
Pension Fund Arrangements: Merging schemes, introducing CARE arrangements, raising member contributions, altering future service accrual, and analyzing the employer’s contribution covenant.

Education

University/College: Bristol University
Degree: LLB (Hons.)
Year of Graduation: 1988
Legal Certifications: Qualified as a solicitor in 1991, England and Wales

Memberships

Association of Pension Lawyers (Full Member)
Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (North London Group Committee Member)

Achievements and Recognition

Awards:
- 2019 Public Sector Pensions Lawyer of the Year in England by Corporate Intl Magazine Global Awards
- Certificate of Excellence in Pension Law by the Advisory Excellence directory of professional advisers
Industry Rankings:
- Listed in Who’s Who Legal, Labour Employment & Benefits, and Thought Leaders – Labour & Employment
Leadership Roles:
- Head of the firm’s Public Sector team at Sacker & Partners LLP
Contributions to Award-Winning Projects:
- Nominated for the Professional Pensions' Women in Pensions Awards (along with other Sackers' lawyers)