Current practice

Industry experience

Before joining Freehills in 1991, Peggy worked in the USA specialising in employee benefit arrangements and their compliance with relevant government requirements. This involved developing and designing pension plans, welfare benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements.

While at Freehills, Peggy has practised exclusively in superannuation and financial services. Her main focuses are with respect to corporate superannuation funds, public offer superannuation funds and public sector superannuation funds. Her experience includes:

• advising trustees regarding fiduciary issues, requirements of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act and fund administration
• evaluating indemnity insurance policies for board  
• litigation concerning superannuation issues, particularly judicial review of ASIC, APRA and SCT decisions
• advising employers about their Superannuation Guarantee and choice of fund responsibilities
• advising trustees on successor fund transfer obligations
• attending to superannuation issues in commercial mergers and acquisitions
• helping financial services entities comply with Corporations Act requirements, including licensing and disclosure
• advising boards on governance matters
• assisting trustees of superannuation funds in complying with Registrable Superannuation Entity licence conditions
• applications to APRA and ASIC for relief from regulatory requirements, and
• handling commercial transactions for trustees including the acquisition of other trustee companies and regulatory issues.

Professional background

Having been admitted to practice in Victoria in 1991, Peggy became a partner at Freehills in 1995. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia. In 1994, Peggy also completed the ASFA Diploma in Superannuation Management.

Peggy served as chair of the Law Council of Australia—Superannuation Committee from 2002 to 2006 and remains a member of that committee. She is also a member of the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (having served on the Steering Committee of that association for six years), Women in Superannuation and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Peggy is on the editorial board of the Australian Superannuation Law Bulletin and is the immediate past Australian editor of the International Pension Lawyer. She is a regular contributor to superannuation industry journals, a frequent lecturer at industry seminars, and a commentator on industry issues.