Boutique firm Brown Mills Klinck Prezioso LLP‘s pensions and benefits offering encompasses plan restructuring, and advising vendors and purchasers on pension, benefits and executive compensation matters relating to corporate M&A transactions and loan agreements. The group’s partners – Elizabeth Brown, Lisa Mills, Terra Klinck, John Prezioso, and Jennifer Agnew – lead on an equal partnership basis. Lindsay McLeod, who specializes in investment pension matters, arrived in May 2023 from Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, joining the leadership team. Cary Wong brings expertise to pension regulatory compliance work. Pamela Odina is the key name to note at the associate level, while associate Ikho Shin left the firm in March 2023. Sean Maxwell and associate Maggie Carmichael joined from Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in May 2024.
Pensions in Canada
Brown Mills Klinck Prezioso LLP
Practice head(s):
Elizabeth Brown; Lisa Mills; Terra L. Klinck; John Prezioso; Jennifer Agnew; Lindsay McLeod
Other key lawyers:
Sean Maxwell; Cary Wong; Pamela Odina; Maggie Carmichael
Testimonials
‘Elizabeth Brown and her team are phenomenal. They have great experience and approach difficult and complicated files strategically to contribute to success. A great strength is understanding different and complicated personalities and staying focused on the goal.’
‘Elizabeth Brown is extremely smart and talented and I highly recommend her. Her great strengths are distilling complicated concepts to a wide audience and keeping emotions in check and focused on the end goal.’
‘Strong lawyers with good business sense.’
Key clients
Toronto Dominion Bank
Hydro One
The Province of Nova Scotia
The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada
Ontario Medical Association Insurance
The United Church of Canada
Vale Canada
University of Guelph
Queen’s University
University of Toronto
McMaster University
Work highlights
- Represented Crosby Canada in its successful appeal of the Ontario pension regulator’s decision that Crosby was not entitled to pension surplus upon the wind-up of its defined benefit pension plan.
- Acted as counsel to the Employer Sponsor of the University Pension Plan Ontario (University of Toronto, University of Guelph, and Queen’s University) in the management of pension plans.
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
The team at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is well-equipped to handle the gamut of pensions matters, and is routinely instructed by Canadian government bodies, as well as corporations in the oil and gas and manufacturing segments. The group advises on jointly sponsored pension plans, pensions and employee benefit schemes, de-risking and plan consolidation and executive compensation issues. Toronto-based partners Kathryn Bush and Jeffrey Sommers lead the department; Bush focuses on advising on the structuring of pension, benefit and executive compensation arrangements and investments, while Sommers advises clients on the taxation, funding, administration and wind-up of pension and group benefit plans. Additional key partners in Toronto include Jeremy Forgie and Adam Ngan, while Natalie Bussière at the Montreal office is noted for her expertise in both employment and pensions work. Counsel Philipp Knoll joined the team from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in March 2022. Partner Lindsay McLeod left the firm in May 2023. Sean Maxwell departed in May 2024.
Practice head(s):
Kathryn Bush; Jeffrey Sommers
Other key lawyers:
Jeremy Forgie; Adam Ngan; Natalie Bussière
Key clients
LifeWorks
Royal Bank of Canada
Siemens Canada
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
Pembina Pipeline
Suncor Energy
BlackRock
BC Financial Services Authority
Work highlights
- Advised LifeWorks in its capacity as plan administrator of the Sears Canada Pension Plan.
- Advised Siemens Canada on a wide variety of Canadian pension and employee benefit plan matters relating to the worldwide spin-out of Siemens AG’s healthcare business into Siemens Healthineers AG.
- Advised the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board on its acquisition of HomeQ Corporation from Birch Hill Equity Partners Management and the other minority shareholders of HomeQ.
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP houses a strong pensions practice that handles plan design, governance, de-risking, investment structuring, compliance and litigation matters. The group is frequently instructed by public and private pension plan sponsors and administrators located across Canada. Toronto-based practice head Andrea Boctor specializes in pension administration, fiduciary duty and governance, as well as bankruptcy and insolvency matters. Additional key partners at the Toronto office include Paul Litner, who handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, and Jonathan Marin, who takes care of the administration of shared risk plans. In Montreal, Julien Ranger majors on de-risking strategies, plan mergers, the use of surplus assets and retiree benefits. Olivia Suppa and Omar Sunderji are the key names to note at the associate level.
Practice head(s):
Andrea Boctor
Key clients
Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan Board
Rio Tinto Alcan
IBM Canada
Suncor Energy
Goldman Sachs & Co
Canadian National Railways
Board of Trustees for Ontario’s Workplace Safety & Insurance Board Employees’ Pension Plan
Provincial Judges Pension Board
Public sector plans in New Brunswick (Shared Risk Plans)
Imperial Oil
Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Special Forces Pension Plan
The Board of Trustees of the University Pension Plan of Ontario
Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan
Fasken
The group at Fasken supports plan administrators, financial institutions, governments, pension regulators, and benefits consultants with both contentious and non-contentious pensions and benefits matters. Areas of expertise include counsel on pension and benefit plan structuring and investment, governance and funding, in addition to pensions litigation. Toronto-based Ross Gascho steers the practice and advises clients on the wind-up of pension, group benefit and profit-sharing plans. Partner Michael Wolpert assists with the drafting of plan and trust documentation, in addition to representing clients in pension and benefit litigation. Key associate Allyson Marta supports the partners on advisory and regulatory pensions matters.
Practice head(s):
Ross Gascho
Other key lawyers:
Michael Wolpert; Allyson Marta
Testimonials
‘Solid performance, delivering on timelines, with quality work. Strong awareness of different approaches by plan sponsors. Willing to discuss pros and cons of different approaches.’
‘Excellent knowledge of laws. Also very involved in the industry associations and committees, which adds profile and depth of knowledge. Well-aware of industry trends and viewpoints of plan sponsors.’
Key clients
Avon Canada
Sobeys Canada
TC Energy
Leggett & Platt
Work highlights
- Defended Avon in an $85m class action in respect of post-employment benefits.
- Advised TC Energy on its $3bn pension plans.
- Advised Leggett & Platt on pensions and benefits matters relating to its cross-border acquisition of Edmonton-based Nilex and its wholly owned subsidiary Nilex USA.
Lawson Lundell LLP
Lawson Lundell LLP‘s Vancouver-based practice specializes in providing guidance on complex pension and benefit matters to both private and public-sector clients. The group is well-versed in establishing, governing, managing and terminating pension and employee benefits plans, routinely servicing clients located in British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Murray Campbell steers the practice and has focused his practice on the reorganization and modernization of pension and benefit plans, as well as providing strategic direction on pension and benefit litigation matters. Partner Meghan Popp advises on both single employer plans and multi-employer plans across a range of sectors.
Practice head(s):
Murray Campbell
Other key lawyers:
Meghan Popp
McCarthy Tétrault
The pensions group at McCarthy Tétrault is well-versed in the establishment and management of pension, benefit and executive compensation plans, as well as advising on pension plan mergers and spin-offs, the designation of beneficiaries and fiduciary responsibilities. The team is regularly instructed by employers, administrators, sponsors, governments, regulators and service providers. Key partners Deron Waldock and Kelleher Lynch are active on advisory and transactional matters. Ex-practice co-head Randy Bauslaugh departed in January 2023 into private practice. The department was bolstered by the April 2023 arrival of new practice leader Susan Nickerson from Torys. Nickerson has focused her practice on the implementation of pension plans, fiduciary duties and risk management.
Practice head(s):
Susan Nickerson
Key clients
Rayonier Advanced Materials
CCMP Capital Advisors
Jamieson Laboratories
Paper Excellence Group
HSBC Bank
University of Windsor
OMERS
Enbridge
Credit Suisse
Brewers Retail
Climate Change Law Initiative
Christian Schools Pension and Benefit Plans Boards of Trustees
Wells Fargo
Nestlé
Torys
Torys‘ practice provides clients with pension plan governance and pension law counsel. Its expertise also spans plan drafting, wind-ups, administration and tax issues, regulatory and governance matters and transactional support. The practice is jointly led by two Toronto-based partners: Tom Stevenson handles pension governance matters in relation to corporate and commercial transactions, and Lisa Talbot specializes in contentious employment and pensions matters. Counsel Raegan Kennedy is also of note. Ex-practice head Mitch Frazer left the firm in March 2023, along with partner Susan Nickerson, who departed in April 2023. Partner Stephanie Kalinowski, previously at Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP, joined the group in June 2023.
Other key lawyers:
Raegan Kennedy
Key clients
LifeWorks
University of Waterloo
Yellow Pages Group
Federal Express Canada Corporation
Sienna Senior Living
Extendicare
Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
Triple Flag Precious Metals
Alterna Bank
Rogers Communications
Procter & Gamble
ACCO Brands Canada LP
Fairstone Financial
Sun Life Financial
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
CPP Investments
Cadillac Fairview
Work highlights
- Assisted LifeWorks with the administration of U.S. Steel Canada pension plans following U.S. Steel’s insolvency and restructuring.
- Advised the University of Waterloo on the implementation of an ESG investment strategy for its pension plan.
- Assisted Yellow Pages with strategic advice on the long-term administration of its defined benefit pension plan, including its ongoing deficit reduction plan.
Bennett Jones LLP
The pension and benefits group at Bennett Jones LLP works under the umbrella of the firm’s broader employment practice. The team regularly assists clients with M&A and financing transactions and provides pension governance counsel to companies and their boards of directors on plan administration and pension fund investment. The practice is co-led from Toronto by Susan Seller, knowledgeable on executive compensation matters, pension asset transfers and surplus payments; and Jordan Fremont, who advises on pension, benefits and compensation plan design.
Practice head(s):
Susan Seller; Jordan Fremont
Key clients
EQT Partners
CF Acquisition VI
Lineage Logistics Holding LLC
Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation IV
RedeCan Pharm
ATCO Power/Canadian Utilities Limited/ATCO Group
Canadian Medical Association
RMG
Equitable Bank
Dayco Products LLC/Dayco Canada