Talking Pensions
Talking Pensions is a podcast from pensionsbarrister.com hosted by Paul Newman KC. It features interviews with pensions lawyers and other pensions professionals. Guests discuss their careers and issues of topical interest in the pensions world. The show offers insight into the legal and professional aspects of pensions work.
Episodes
Ep27 - Mark Kowalik
In this edition of Talking Pensions (recorded in August 2026), Paul talks to Mark Kowalik about his long career as a pensions lawyer at CMS. They discuss the evolution of pensions law and regulation since the 1980s and look forward to future developments in the field. A transcript of this podcast can be found here.
Ep26 - Bob Scott
In this edition of Talking Pensions (recorded in December 2025), Paul talks to Bob Scott, senior partner at Lane Clark & Peacock. They discuss Bob's long career as a consulting actuary and expert witness. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep25 - Talking Pension and Investment Fraud
In a special edition of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2025), Paul talks to Carly Barnes-Short and Sue Flood, members of the Advisory Panel to the Parliamentary Investment Fraud Committee. They discuss the impact of pension and investment fraud on victims and on the changes to law and regulation that are needed to make the system work better. A transcript of this podcast can be found her
Ep24 - Robin Ellison
In this episode (recorded in June 2025), Paul talks to pensions law legend Robin Ellison about his legal career, his role in establishing Perspective and in the College of Lawmakers, and his views on the Pension Schemes Bill. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep23 - Margaret Snowdon OBE
In this episode (recorded in June 2025), Paul talks to Margaret Snowdon OBE, Chair of the Pension Scams Industry Group and former President of the Pensions Administration Standards Association. They discuss scams, dashboards and a range of other topical pensions issues. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep22 - Dan Schaffer
In this episode (recorded in May 2025), Paul talks to Dan Schaffer, pensions partner at Slaughter and May, about his professional and academic career. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep21 - Mark Grant
In this episode (recorded in September 2024), Paul talks to Mark Grant, former head of Pensions at CMS and now Professor in Practice and Honorary Fellow at Durham University. They discuss Mark's career, including his involvement in the Barber litigation, Virgin Media, Mark's interest in executive coaching and his role at Durham University. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep20 - Dame Jane Newell
In the latest episode (recorded in June 2024), Paul talks to Dame Jane Newell, former Chair of the Maxwell Pensioners Trust and former Chair of the Royal Mail, John Lewis and United Utilities pension schemes. They discuss the work involved in recovering funds for Maxwell pensioners, Jane's long experience of independent pension trusteeship, and her involvement in the Pensions Archive Trust. A tran
Ep19 - James Darbyshire
In the latest episode, recorded in May 2024, Paul talks to James Darbyshire, Chief Counsel at the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. They discuss the work of the Scheme, its relationship with other pensions and financial services bodies, and the technological challenges of the Scheme's recent large scale reviews. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep18 - Martin Freeman (Part 2)
This is the second part of an interview with pentech guru Martin Freeman, recorded in June 2024. In this part, Martin talks about technology and AI, the latest proposals on small pots, and whether there is a future for CDC schemes. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep17 - Martin Freeman (Part 1)
Recorded in June 2024, this is the first of a two-part interview with Martin Freeman. Martin has had a long and distinguished career in pensions administration and technology, and has recently set up Pensio, which aims to help schemes and software providers in the field of pensions technology systems. In this part, Martin talks about his career, his views on pensions administration and where we ar
Ep16 - Steve Delo
In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in March 2024), Paul talks to Steve Delo, Chairman of PAN Trustees. They discuss the role of independent pension trustees, the move to the corporate sole trustee model, buy-outs, consolidation and master trusts, and fiduciary duties. A transcript of this podcast is available here.
Ep15 - Anna Rogers
In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in October 2023), Paul talks to Anna Rogers, Senior Partner of Arc Pensions Law. They discuss Anna's career, the establishment of Arc, how to deal with mistakes in documentation arising during benefit specification exercises, the Pensions Dashboard, and past and present issues relating to surplus. A transcript of this podcast is available here.
Ep14 - Dominic Harris
In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in January 2024), Paul talks to the Pensions Ombudsman, Dominic Harris. They discuss Dominic's background in pensions, the work of the Ombudsman, the recent cyber-incident and the key issues likely to emerge in the future. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep13 - Talking Perspective with Raf Shergold
To celebrate Pensions Barrister's tie-in with Perspective, this month's podcast (recorded in November 2023) features Raf Shergold, the Managing Director of Perspective. Paul talks to Raf about the history, development and future of the premier online pensions law resource. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Take Two - Ep1 with Nick Hurley
Welcome to Take Two, a new podcast series from pensionsbarrister.com in which our consulting editor, Emily Campbell, interviews legal professionals on technical topics of interest to pension lawyers. Emily's guest for this episode is Nick Hurley, head of employment and immigration at Charles Russell Speechlys. Emily and Nick talk about employment law issues that affect pension schemes, including c
Ep12 - Luke Hartley
In the twelfth episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in October 2023), Paul talks to Luke Hartley, Head of Pensions Advisory Services at Grant Thornton, about his career in the covenant advisory industry, the changes he has seen since the introduction of scheme specific funding, the challenges facing employers and trustees, and the outlook for the future. A transcript of the podcast can be found
Ep11 - Talking PPF with Miriam Kimber
In the latest episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in October 2023), Paul talks to Miriam Kimber, Director of Legal at the PPF, about her role in the organisation and about issues currently being dealt with at the PPF, including pension increase and compensation caps, contingent assets, LDIs and the future of the PPF. Click here for a transcript of the podcast
Ep10 - The Pensions Archive Trust
In this episode, Paul talks to Jeff Highfield, former Head of Finance at the PPF and now chair of the Pensions Archive Trust, about the work of the trust in archiving material from private pension schemes. A transcript of the podcast is available here.
Ep9 - Talking tPR with Anthony Raymond
In the ninth episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in January 2023), Paul talks to Anthony Raymond, General Counsel and Director of Legal Services at the Pensions Regulator, about the structure and priorities of the Regulator and the challenges it faces in the future. Click here for a transcript of the podcast.
Ep8 - Sir Christopher Nugee
In the eighth episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022), Paul talks Sir Christopher Nugee about his career from Bar to Bench. Click here for a a transcript of the podcast.
EP7 - Heather Allingham
In the seventh episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in February 2023), Paul talks to Heather Allingham of Hymans Robertson about her role as head of pensions consulting for charities. A transcript of the podcast can be found here.
Ep6 - Sir Steve Webb
In the sixth epidosde of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022), Paul talks to Sir Steve Webb about his former role in government, his position at LCP and his views on pensions policy. A transcript of the podcast can be downloaded here.
Ep5 - Remembering Ted Nugee: an interview with Sir Christopher Nugee
Ted's son, Court of Appeal Judge Sir Christopher Nugee, recalls his father's practice and contribution to pensions law, and reflects on the values that drove him. Click here for a transcript of the podcast.
Ep4 - Ronnie Bowie
In the fourth episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022) Ronnie Bowie talks about his long career as a consulting actuary. Ronnie was Senior Partner at Hymans Robertson for 15 years and was the first President of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. He is currently chair of the Prudential Assurance Company. Amongst a number of topics discussed, Ronnie looks back at his time as an e
Ep3 - Philip Bennett
The third episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022) features Philip Bennett. After retiring as a pensions partner at Slaughter and May, Philip was appointed a Visiting Professor at Durham Law School and now teaches the only undergraduate course in pensions law at a UK university. In a wide-ranging interview, Philip looks back at the changes in pensions law over his long career, expla
Ep2 - Talking Tax
In the second episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022), Paul talks tax with fellow barrister, Emily Campbell. Emily talks about the change in the pensions landscape following A-Day and how the influence of the old rules is felt today. She discusses her experience of acting for taxpayers in pensions tax disputes with HMRC and highlights some of the things she considers HMRC gets righ
Ep1 - Anthony Arter
In the first episode of Talking Pensions (recorded in November 2022), Anthony Arter looks back on his time as the Pensions Ombudsman. He reflects on the ways in which the office of the Pensions Ombudsman has adapted to deal with new issues such as the increase in pensions scames and discusses the new Pensions Dishonesty Unit. He also explains the relationship between the Ombudsman, the Pensions Re
