Pensions & Benefits
Canada Guide 2025 : Nationwide - Canada
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+1 416 863 2400About
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
The Blakes Pensions, Benefits & Executive Compensation group offers an unsurpassed depth and breadth of experience in this highly specialized area of law with lawyers in Toronto, Calgary, Montréal and Vancouver.
We are renowned for our vast expertise in pension and employee benefits law, including plan governance, administration and investment, pension litigation, pension plan de-risking, executive compensation, transactional work and restructuring. We also have deep pension investment knowledge and advise on complicated investment structures and on environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, including the legal and equitable considerations that pension plans should consider.
Our clients include the administrators and sponsors of many of the largest public and private Canadian pension and benefit plans and funds. We also advise smaller pension plans and trust companies, banks and insurance companies. With one of the leading pension governance practices in the country, we regularly advise boards of directors, of trustees and pension committees.
In an ever-changing environment, our lawyers have the expertise to help you navigate any pensions challenges you encounter.
Chambers Review
Blake, Cassels & Graydon commands widespread respect for its national pensions and benefits practice, with lawyers in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Vancouver. The firm maintains a leading reputation across Canada, acting for clients such as government agencies, investment managers, trust companies, banks, and health and welfare funds. Its respected team often advises on heavyweight domestic and cross-border M&A transactions as well as pension fund structuring, governance and compliance, executive compensation arrangements and de-risking. The group handles a breadth of complex pensions matters, including litigation proceedings, insolvency and deficit cases and restructuring.
Work Highlights
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon assisted Carbon Engineering on its acquisition by Oxy Low Carbon Ventures in pensions and benefits issues.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"It is a very responsive team, with comprehensive answers and clear guidance. The depth and breadth of their team is very strong and they are always very aware of the commercial and deal dynamics."
"There is a reason why they are top in Canada for pensions. They can explain complex matters and deconstruct it in a way that business people can understand. They are unparalleled."
"Even when we may have pushed for unreasonable deadlines due to internal delays, the firm was very responsive."
"Blakes knowledge and understanding of our industry and commercial needs is unmatched. The advice is always beyond just legal advice, in that the commercial impact of the advice is well-explained."
"Blakes provides detailed and comprehensive advice, regardless of complexity of the issues. Blakes team are experts of the subject matter and we have confidence in our reliance on their expertise."
"It is a very responsive team, with comprehensive answers and clear guidance. The depth and breadth of their team is very strong and they are always very aware of the commercial and deal dynamics."
"There is a reason why they are top in Canada for pensions. They can explain complex matters and deconstruct it in a way that business people can understand. They are unparalleled."
"Even when we may have pushed for unreasonable deadlines due to internal delays, the firm was very responsive."
"Blakes knowledge and understanding of our industry and commercial needs is unmatched. The advice is always beyond just legal advice, in that the commercial impact of the advice is well-explained."
"Blakes provides detailed and comprehensive advice, regardless of complexity of the issues. Blakes team are experts of the subject matter and we have confidence in our reliance on their expertise."
Notable Practitioners
Jeremy Forgie is a senior practitioner with considerable regulatory experience. His work includes advising on the pensions and benefits elements of restructurings. Based in Blake, Cassels & Graydon's Toronto office, he is also skilled in de-risking pension plans and advising on tax structuring.
"Jeremy has been such an asset to the team."
"Jeremy is an exceptional lawyer and has a wealth of knowledge."
"Jeremy is strong in his knowledge of the subject matter and understands our culture and needs."
Jeffrey Sommers is highly active on pension plan governance matters, as well as advising on pensions and benefits issues arising from M&A. He is based in Blake, Cassels & Graydon's Toronto office and is also experienced in pension restructurings, de-risking work and asset and liability transfers.
"Jeff is proactive, always thinks outside the box and is very knowledgeable about pensions. He is also very response."
"He is our go-to. We love working with Jeff. He is the most responsive lawyer there is. You press send and you blink and he has responded. It is very much appreciated."
"Jeffrey is well-informed and is prompt in response. I always feel that we had the best representation available, and for excellent value."
"Jeff is professional, responsive, knowledgeable, hard working and patient. He is aware of the current environment and provides insight with risk mitigating in mind."
"Jeff Sommers is extremely knowledgeable and has excellent connections within his firm. He gives practical advice and really knows our business. He is a trusted advisor."
Natalie Bussière is a Montréal-based lawyer at Blake, Cassels & Graydon with a notable presence in pensions litigation, particularly with regard to pensions surplus issues and contributions holidays. Her clients include pension committees and pension plans.
"Natalie provided good advice that saved us a lot of money with a litigious pension case. Natalie exceeds our expectations."
Natalie is a true partner to her client and takes time to understand "les enjeux" and how it pertains to the situation. It is an absolute pleasure to work with Natalie and her team.
"Natalie is knowledgeable about our company and her advice is precise. Drafting also is a strength; a large volume of documents asked of her in short turnarounds. She is like an extension of our team."
"He is a business-minded, responsive, trusted advisor."
Adam Ngan is a Toronto-based lawyer at Blake, Cassels & Graydon, with a focus on matters relating to pensions, benefits and executive compensation law regulatory matters. His practice also has a notable focus on the pension aspects of M&A transactions.
"Nothing but good things to say here. Adam is responsive, aware of the bigger picture, knows how to take the technicalities and translate them appropriately."
"Adam is very responsive and very thorough."
"Adam is stellar. He is extremely thorough, analytical, efficient and commercially aware. He understood our needs and spearheaded all the legal aspects of the projects we needed his advice on."
"Adam has excellent technical knowledge and industry practice awareness."
Ranked Lawyers at
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Nationwide - Canada
Members
Provided by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP