Pensions

Blake, 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.

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Key clients

Royal Bank of Canada
Truelink Capital
Advent International
TC Energy Corporation
TXT e-solutions
BC Financial Services Authority
Sagard Holdings Management

Work highlights

Advised RBC on its acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada.
Advised Bell Canada on its CAD $1bn sale of Northwestel to Sixty North Unity, a consortium of Indigenous communities from Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Acted as Canadian counsel to Truelink Capital on its acquisition of Flipp Corporation.