Jeffrey Sommers > Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP > Toronto, Canada > Lawyer Profile

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
199 BAY STREET
SUITE 4000, COMMERCE COURT WEST
TORONTO, ONTARIO M5L 1A9
Canada

Work Department

Pension, Benefits & Executive Compensation

Position

Jeff has practised exclusively in the area of pensions, benefits and executive compensation for over 25 years. He frequently advises on pension and benefit issues arising in the context of corporate transactions, loan agreements, insolvencies and compliance disputes. His practice also focuses on pension investment, governance and fiduciary matters. Jeff has extensive experience assisting clients with pension plan mergers, as well as de-risking strategies, including buy-in and buy-out annuities and longevity insurance arrangements. Jeff’s clients include both public and private sector plan sponsors and administrators and a wide range of financial institutions and service providers.

Lawyer Rankings

Canada > Pensions

(Leading partners)

Jeffrey SommersBlake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP‘s pensions group is equipped to advise on the gamut of pension and benefit plans matters, including executive compensation arrangements, retirement compensation arrangements, employee share ownership plans, deferred income arrangements and profit-sharing plans. The team is frequently instructed by banks and companies in the energy and financial services segment. Toronto-based Jeffrey Sommers acts as sole practice head following the December 2023 retirement of Kathryn Bush. Sommers is well-versed in advising clients on the taxation, funding, administration and winding-up of pension and group benefit plans. Additional key contacts include Montreal-based Natalie Bussière, who handles both employment and pensions matters; and senior counsel Jeremy Forgie and partners Adam Ngan and Philipp Knoll in Toronto. Lindsay McLeod left the firm in May 2023, as did Sean Maxwell in May 2024. Pensions and benefits-focused counsel Jessica Bullock joined the Toronto office in June 2024.