Pensions and Benefits

McInnes Cooper is involved in pension plan matters on a regional and national level. We handle pension plans for companies, universities, municipalities, unions and associations. We advise plan sponsors, trustees, employee groups and administrators on the various legal and regulatory issues that arise in private and public plans, jointly trusteed plans and multi-employer plans. Drawing on the expertise from a large Labour and Employment team and our Tax lawyers, McInnes Cooper’s Pensions and Benefits lawyers offer well-rounded advice.  

Services we provide to our clients include:

• Drafting, negotiating, interpreting pension plans and trust agreements
• Ensuring compliance with pensions standards legislation
• Litigation over benefit entitlements, surplus issues and other matters
• Class Actions – responding to or advancing them
• Tax Planning and Advocacy with Canada Revenue Agency
• Policy and procedure drafting as part of a plan’s administration
• Governance advice, including reviews and audits
• Human rights and collective agreement advice
• Contract Reviews with plan suppliers and agents
• Keeping clients apprised of proposed regulatory changes
• Representation to regulatory authorities provincially and federally
• Capital accumulation plans expertise, including advice on defined contribution plans, group RRSPs and deferred profit sharing plans
• Supplemental plans – negotiating, drafting and reviewing their terms
• Merger and wind-up of Pension plans
• Corporate reorganizations and downsizing
• Risk Management and insurance advice
• Advice on Individual Member Issues

Private Investments

A vital element of our practice involves the increasing amount of private investments made by Atlantic Canadian pension plans. In this regard, we establish special purpose corporations to carry out this activity and we advise on compliance with pension standards legislation and the Income Tax Act. We also advise on structured transactions to meet investment objectives and legislative and regulatory requirements.

Staying ahead of the pack

To stay abreast of new trends and developments in this industry, we maintain professional memberships and participate in the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers’ Association. Among our pensions and benefits team, we also have an instructor for the Advanced Trust Management System (ATMS™) program.   

McInnes Cooper recognizes the importance of pension fiduciaries understanding the nature of their role and obligations and remaining current with respect to important developments in the pension field. With this in mind, we distribute to our clients periodic newsletters regarding legal developments in the pension space. Subscribe here.