APLI Essay Competition Winners 2024

Council is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s essay competition: ‘There are many stakeholders involved in an occupational pension scheme (participating employers, active members, deferred members, pensioner members, spouses and/or children in receipt of benefits). As many defined benefit schemes approach maturity, some are in the fortunate position to have surplus assets. Such schemes may have broad powers on how to use such surplus assets on scheme wind up including augmenting some or all member benefits and/or returning surplus assets to the employers. What is the appropriate balancing act when Trustees are considering the competing interests of the main stakeholders’ respective claims to surplus assets in a pension scheme context? In considering this query, please discuss the purpose of a pension scheme and whether some stakeholders should be preferred over others. (80 MARKS)

Please also briefly discuss the treatment of defined benefit scheme surpluses in the United Kingdom with a particular focus on recent case law. (20 MARKS)”

• First place: Steffi Stafford Johnson, A&L Goodbody LLP
• Second place: Ciara Kelliher, William Fry LLP

Thank you to all who took part.

DISCLAIMER All views or opinions expressed in these essays are the author’s own in respect of the essay topic and do not represent the views or opinions of the APLI. The APLI have made the essays available for informational purposes only and the APLI does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or applicability of the essays.

Attached Files

APLI essay competition 2024

The APLI invites essays on the following topic:

“There are many stakeholders involved in an occupational pension scheme (participating employers, active members, deferred members, pensioner members, spouses and/or children in receipt of benefits).  As many defined benefit schemes approach maturity, some are in the fortunate position to have surplus assets. Such schemes may have broad powers on how to use such surplus assets on scheme wind up including augmenting some or all member benefits and/or returning surplus assets to the employers.  What is the appropriate balancing act when Trustees are considering the competing interests of the main stakeholders’ respective claims to surplus assets in a pension scheme context?  In considering this query, please discuss the purpose of a pension scheme and whether some stakeholders should be preferred over others. [80 MARKS]

Please also briefly discuss the treatment of defined benefit scheme surpluses in the United Kingdom with a particular focus on recent case law. [20 MARKS]”

• 1st Prize: €4,000
• 2nd Prize: €1,000

The competition is open to: (i) all students of law; (ii) all trainee Solicitors and Barristers; and (iii) all Solicitors/Barristers qualified less than 2 years.

Essays should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, 25 June 2024.  Joint submissions are welcome.

Please see the attached poster and competition rules for further details.

Attached Files

Essay competition winners 2023

Council is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s essay competition on the topic ‘IORP II has introduced an entirely new layer of regulation for occupational pension schemes. But does increased regulation always mean better pension schemes for members, or does it simply erode pension savings through the increased cost of compliance?’

• First place: Beth Devlin, McCann FitzGerald LLP
• Second place: Ciara McLoughlin, King’s Inns

Thank you to all who took part.

DISCLAIMER All views or opinions expressed in these essays are the author’s own in respect of the essay topic and do not represent the views or opinions of the APLI. The APLI have made the essays available for informational purposes only and the APLI does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or applicability of the essays.

Attached Files

APLI Essay Competition 2023

The APLI invites essays on the following topic:

“IORP II has introduced an entirely new layer of regulation for occupational pension schemes. But does increased regulation always mean better pension schemes for members or does it simply erode pension savings through the increased cost of compliance?”

• 1st Prize: €4,000
• 2nd Prize: €1,000

The competition is open to: (i) all students of law; (ii) all trainee Solicitors and Barristers; and (iii) all Solicitors/Barristers qualified less than 2 years.

Essays should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words. The deadline for submission is Friday, 9 June 2023.  Joint submissions are welcome.

Please see the attached poster and competition rules for further details.

Attached Files

APLI Essay Competition 2022

The APLI invites essays on the following topic:

“With the introduction of auto-enrolment and the move to master trusts, is the era of the standalone occupational pension scheme in Ireland finally over?”

• 1st Prize: €4,000
• 2nd Prize: €1,000

The competition is open to: (i) all students of law; (ii) all trainee Solicitors and Barristers; and (iii) all Solicitors/Barristers qualified less than 2 years.

Essays should be between 2,000 and 3,000 words. The deadline for submission is 31 May 2022. Joint submissions are welcome.

Please see the attached poster and competition rules for further details.

Attached Files

APLI Essay Competition Winners 2021

Council is delighted to announce the winners of this year’s essay competition on the topic “Pensions regulation is moving under the umbrella of general financial regulation at EU level. What is the impact of this on the Irish pensions industry now and in the future?”

• First place: Duane Browne, Kings Inns
• Second place: Hazel Bergin, Kings Inns

Thank you to all who took part.

DISCLAIMER All views or opinions expressed in these essays are the author’s own in respect of the essay topic and do not represent the views or opinions of the APLI.  The APLI have made the essays available for informational purposes only and the APLI does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or applicability of the essays.

Attached Files

APLI ESSAY COMPETITION WINNERS 2020

Council is delighted to announce the winners of the 2020 essay competition:

• First place: Aisling Ryan – UCC School of Law
• Second place: Conor Daly – McCann FitzGerald
• Honourable mention: Helen Hogan – Kings Inns

The standard this year was exceptionally high, thank you to all who took part.

“DISCLAIMER All views or opinions expressed in these essays are the author’s own in respect of the essay topic and do not represent the views or opinions of the APLI.  The APLI have made the essays available for informational purposes only and the APLI does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or applicability of the essays.”

Attached Files