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Ben Hughes

Consultant Solicitor

Isle of Man

0333 939 8000

ben.hughes@keystonelaw.co.im

Ben has advised on pension and employee benefits since 2000 (and in the Isle of Man since 2003). He has extensive experience in occupational and personal pension schemes, both domestic and international. Ben advises upon the establishment, maintenance, restructuring, insolvency and winding-up of pension schemes (domestic and international) as well as providing pensions support for corporate transactions. He advises the Island’s larger defined benefit occupational schemes and acts for major multinationals, publicly listed corporations, banks, insurers, pension providers, and the Isle of Man Government.

Ben works closely with leading UK and American law firms and has assisted the Isle of Man in the drafting of pension and tax legislation. In addition to pension law, Ben advises upon employee share and performance plans, as well as wider trust matters.

Ben is a member of the Association of Pensions Lawyers and an associate member of the Association of Pension Scheme Providers.

Expertise

Ben is a pensions specialist advising trustees and employers on the establishment, maintenance, restructuring, insolvency and winding-up of pension schemes (domestic and international) as well as providing pensions support for corporate transactions. His clients include major multinationals, publicly listed corporations, banks, insurers, pension providers, and the Isle of Man Government.

Experience

  • Principal adviser in the re-domiciling of a US$6 billion pension scheme fund from Bermuda into the Isle of Man.
  • Principal adviser in respect of the winding-up of an insolvent bank’s defined benefit pension scheme (effecting the Isle of Man’s first insured buy-out for 20 years).
  • Principal Isle of Man adviser on the solvent winding-up and buy-out of a number of banks and building societies.
  • Principal Isle of Man adviser in a multiple scheme and multi-jurisdictional merger that resulted in a £1 billion fund.
  • Advised upon multiple rewrites of governing scheme documentation and booklets.
  • Advised on various technical regulatory matters including employer debt, sectionalisation, ring-fencing, and priority order issues.
  • Drafted and established multiple international retirement benefit schemes.
  • Currently appointed as Isle of Man counsel for the trustee boards of the largest non-public-sector defined benefit schemes in the Isle of Man.
  • Principal Isle of Man adviser on an application to the Isle of Man High Court under section 61 of the Trustee Act 1961 to obtain directions regarding the distribution of assets of an insolvent scheme subject to the statutory priority order.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Offshore: Employment 2026

Recognised by Chambers UK for Offshore: Employment 2019–2020, 2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Isle of Man: Insurance and Pensions 2021–2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 as a Leading Partner for Isle of Man: Insurance and Pensions 2016–2018, 2020

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Employment 2018

Corporate International’s Magazine’s Global Award: Pensions Law Firm of the Year (Isle of Man) 2014–2016

Recognised by Global Law Experts: Pensions Law Firm of the Year (Isle of Man) 2014–2015

Recognised in Best Lawyers (UK) for Employee Share Schemes and Offshore 2014–2025

ACQ Global Awards: Pensions Law Firm of the Year (Isle of Man) 2014

Publications 

Money Media, ‘Employee Benefits and the John Lewis Economy’

Isle of Man Portfolio, ‘”Robespierre” Osborne and the Pensions Revolution: its implications for Isle of Man pensions’

Professional associations/memberships

Member of the UK’s Association of Pension Lawyers

Associate Member and Adviser to the Isle of Man’s Association of

Pension Scheme Administrators

“Ben is the go-to lawyer for Isle of Man pension advice.”

Chambers UK 2026

Ben qualified as a solicitor in 2000. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2016, he worked at the following firms:

  • Cains
  • Denton Wilde Sapte

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