Expertise

Pension and benefit programmes are becoming increasingly sophisticated and the regulatory and legal framework in which they exist increasingly complex. Our pension expertise includes the full range of legal matters in this area. We draft pension plan rules, trust agreements, investment management agreements and investment policies; advise on pension plan governance and pension fund investment issues; negotiate pension surplus-sharing agreements; advise on the impact of transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, insolvencies, outsourcings, and privatizations; design and administer employee share ownership plans and phantom stock plans; negotiate and structure executive compensation arrangements and advise on the taxation thereof; help financial institutions develop pension and retirement products; advise on creditor protection of retirement income arrangements; represent plan sponsors before pension regulatory tribunals and the courts and counsel employers on benefits-related issues in unionized environments.

Professional Activities

Members of Stikeman Elliott's National Pension and Benefits Group are involved in many professional development activities, including:

• Constituting the editorial board of Canadian Cases on Pensions and Benefits, a monthly law report published by Thomson Carswell;
• Sitting on the Quebec Pension Board, Financial Services Commission of Ontario and Financial Services Tribunal Legal Advisory Committees, Ontario Bar Association Pension and Benefits Section Executive, Association of Canadian Pension Management and Canadian Pensions and Benefits Institute;
• Publishing articles in various newspapers, law reviews, and pension industry publications;
• Contributing the Canada chapter to Employee Share Plans: International Legal and Tax Issues;
• Speaking at meetings and conferences of numerous organizations both in Canada and abroad; and
• Advising foreign governments on pension reform.

Recent Group Activities

New amendments on workplace violence and harassment - Paper now available
Members of our Toronto Employment, Labour & Pension Group have prepared a paper on Bill 168 recent amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace) which imposes significant and new obligations on Ontario employers effective June 15, 2010.  Click here for a copy of the paper to assist you in ensuring your company is compliant with these amendments.

Pension Seminar in Toronto
Members of our Employment, Labour & Pension Group hosted a seminar "The Pension Puzzle: Putting the Pieces Together" on June 3. Click here for an audio-taping of the seminar.

Pension lawyers author articles in Benefits Canada
Several pension lawyers have authored articles on various pension-related issues on Benefit Canada's website.

Now Available! Canadian Employment, Labour and Pension FAQ
The National Employment, Labour & Pension Group has recently prepared their Canadian Employment, Labour and Pension Law FAQ card.