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Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Department profile | Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Pensions & Benefits

About

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

Provided by Chambers

Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide - Canada

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

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.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Blakes is very pragmatic and solutions-oriented, with a focus on effectively and efficiently mitigating legal risk.

Pensions & Benefits respondent
Canada

The firm has strength of national pension expertise and deep insights into market practices. Blakes is a thought leader in pension law.

Pensions & Benefits respondent
Canada

The teams that I work with at Blakes are always thoughtful, collaborative and results-oriented.

Pensions & Benefits respondent
Canada

The firm goes beyond servicing the client's needs. Blakes understands the larger picture and anticipates a multitude of possibilities to mitigate current and future risks.

Pensions & Benefits respondent
Canada

The Blakes team has substantive expertise and commercial, practical judgement. Blakes seamlessly blurs the line between legal experts and trusted business partners.

Pensions & Benefits respondent
Canada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Jeremy J Forgie
S
Jeremy J Forgie
S
Senior Statespeople

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 is always highly knowledgeable, responsive and professional.

He has a very stellar reputation and is very well-rounded.

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Jeffrey Sommers
2
Jeffrey Sommers
2
Band 2

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.

I truly have peace of mind knowing whenever I need support, I can go to Jeff.

We appreciate and enjoy working with Jeff very much.

I admire that Jeff's extent of academic legal knowledge never gets in the way of suggesting pragmatic and commercially-viable solutions.

Jeff has been a great, knowledgeable partner in helping us to overcome challenges.

Jeff is our go-to point of contact for pension questions. He is experienced, understands the market very well and is an overall pleasure to work with.

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Natalie Bussière
3
Natalie Bussière
3
Band 3

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.

It is a real pleasure to work and discuss matters with Natalie. She is an active listener and brings concrete action plans.

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Mark Firman
4
Mark Firman
4
Band 4

Mark Firman has acted on a number of pension investments, structurings and administration matters. His work also includes advising on M&A and joint ventures.

He has great attention to detail and is very thoughtful of the client.

Mark is always very responsive, practical and solutions-oriented.

I love working with Mark, he's great. He's my go-to.

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Adam Ngan
5
Adam Ngan
5
Band 5

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.

It is such a pleasure to work with Adam. He puts his clients' needs first.

He is knowledgeable and quickly understands our requirements.

Adam's attention to detail is unsurpassed.

Adam is great to work with and is very strong in Canadian pension law and supporting clients.

Adam works seamlessly with the other groups at Blakes to deliver practical guidance.

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Philipp Knoll
U
Philipp Knoll
U
Up and Coming

Philipp Knoll is a partner based in Toronto and Ottawa. He offers full-spectrum legal support in pensions and benefits law, including on cross-border transactions.

Philipp is very responsive, proactive and easy to work with.

Philipp is very practical and outcome-oriented.

He has been able to explain everything to us and give us detailed checklists and recommendations. Philipp is excellent.

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Ranked Lawyers at
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Provided by Chambers
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Band

Nationwide - Canada

Pensions & Benefits
Jeremy J Forgie
S
Jeremy J Forgie
S
Senior Statespeople
View Profile
Jeffrey Sommers
2
Jeffrey Sommers
2
Band 2
View Profile
Natalie Bussière
3
Natalie Bussière
3
Band 3
View Profile
Mark Firman
4
Mark Firman
4
Band 4
View Profile
Adam Ngan
5
Adam Ngan
5
Band 5
View Profile
Philipp Knoll
U
Philipp Knoll
U
Up and Coming
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