
A 2018 roundup of the top legal cases in the benefits industry
December 21, 2018 When considering the legal cases attracting the most attention from the pension and benefits industry in 2018, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal’s decision in Talos v. Grand Erie District School Board was one of the most talked about of the year. “This case is important because plan administrators who previously relied on the Employment Standards […]

What pension legislation is expected in 2020?
Pension plan stakeholders will see a continued evolution of both short- and long-term reform, with some significant developments expected in 2020. “Hopefully, Ontario will finalize the rules for its target benefit regime — perhaps we’ll see the introduction of single employer target-benefit rules — and there should be some action on variable benefits because the […]

For all the brouhaha, law firms – and especially Canadian firms – are still “missing the boat” on wellness – and profit
By Julius Melnitzer | May 7, 2025 Sadly, the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Workplace Wellbeing Survey 2024 Analysis and Discussion reports that law firms still don’t understand “the importance of addressing workplace well-being challenges”. The heart of the problem seems to be that line managers, who are crucial to supporting mental health, “currently lack the […]

Top 10 business decisions for 2024 – – and the law firm players, Part II
By Julius Melnitzer | January 29, 2025 Here is the second part of Law360 Canada’s annual list of the Top 10 business decisions in Canada for the year just ended. This is a two-part series, which began in Part I with our honourable mentions and the cases ranked 6-10. What follows are the Top 5 […]

Top 10 business decisions for 2024 – – and the law firms involved, Part I
By Julius Melnitzer | January 20, 2025 Here is Law360 Canada’s annual list of the Top 10 business decisions in Canada for the year just ended. This is a two-part series, which begins below with our honourable mentions, followed by the cases ranked 6-10, in ascending order. Part II will deal with cases ranked 1-5. Honourable mention […]

How mergers and acquisitions impact executive compensation
By Julius Melnitzer | December 19, 2024 Mergers and acquisitions can give rise to many legal and financial complexities related to executive compensation. “The key thing from acquirers’ point of view is to understand what their objectives are with respect to executive compensation,” says Elizabeth Boyd, a pensions, benefits and executive compensation partner at Blake, […]

What Should Employers Know About Quebec’s Pension Laws?
By Jenna Shelby | November 24, 2024 When expanding or acquiring businesses in Quebec, understanding the province’s unique pension laws is crucial. The rules that govern retirement savings here are among the most progressive in Canada, making it essential for businesses to ensure they’re in full compliance while also tapping into the advantages these frameworks […]

More work to be done on feds’ plan to encourage domestic pension investments: lawyers
By: Julius Melnitzer | May 23, 2024 The federal government’s promise to encourage Canadian institutional investors to invest more domestically is taking shape with two key initiatives found in the 2024 budget. The first involves the creation of a working group led by Stephen Poloz, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, to explore domestic opportunities for […]