Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Our Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation Group provides comprehensive advice and representation in all areas of employment, pensions and executive compensation matters. We routinely resolve employment issues linked to the most multifaceted, domestic and cross-border transactions in Canada and globally.
Our lawyers act on some of Canada’s largest transactions and c-suite employment disputes and provide expert counsel to employees and employers in the midst of complex transactions and restructurings.
Working with colleagues in complementary areas of law, such as securities, corporate and commercial, tax and intellectual property, our sophisticated team understands the business implications of pragmatic advice. We take care to understand our clients’ circumstances and deliver workable and bespoke solutions. Our public, private, non-profit and charitable sector clients benefit from our foresight and solution-driven approach.
Our practice extends beyond day-to-day employment advisory on statutory and regulatory employment matters. We advise employers on their legal obligations in the context of individual and collective terminations and layoffs, including preparing severance and departure arrangements, and provide employee compensation and benefits advice related to start-ups and business expansions, mergers and acquisitions, divestments, restructurings, insolvencies, and other business transactions.
Boards of directors and their human resources & compensation committees, and other human resource professionals turn to us to advise on employment law compliance and human resources management, including all aspects of employment standards and human rights matters. We advise on duties related to executive compensation, and prepare tailored executive compensation agreements, including change of control and retention arrangements, and incentive compensation arrangements. Our pensions experts advise on plan administration and windup, pension solvency funding, plan governance and compliance, as well as tax issues in pension and other retirement plans.
Our lawyers guide clients through workplace dispute resolution processes involving wrongful dismissal claims, human rights, discrimination and harassment complaints and legal issues surrounding departing employees, employee misconduct and fraud. We regularly appear before all levels of court, at arbitration hearings and at administrative tribunals, including provincial and federal labour boards, human rights boards of inquiry, and the workplace safety and insurance appeals tribunal.
Explore People in Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Meet our teamFeatured Work
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Mining
Hudbay Minerals to buy Copper Mountain Mining
Goodmans LLP is acting for Hudbay Minerals Inc. in its announcement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Copper Mountain Mining Corp. for US$439 million, pursuant to a court… -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Gamut Capital Management to Acquire Extreme Reach
Goodmans LLP is acting for Gamut Capital Management, L.P. (“Gamut”), a leading New York-based middle market private equity firm, in its definitive agreement to acquire Extreme Reach, Inc. (“Extreme… -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Classic Fire + Life Safety expands in Western Canada
Goodmans LLP advised Classic Fire + Life Safety, a McCain Capital Partners portfolio company, in its expansion into Western Canada through the acquisitions of Legacy Fire Protection, Photon Electric… -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Chair-man Mills Corp. acquires Higgins Event Rentals
Goodmans LLP acted for Chair-man Mills Corp. (CMMC) in connection with the acquisition of Higgins Event Rentals… -
Energy
Brantford Power merges with Energy+ to form GrandBridge Energy
Goodmans LLP acted as legal counsel Brantford Power Inc. in its merger with Energy+ Inc. to form GrandBridge Energy Inc., the seventh largest municipally-owned electricity distributor in Ontario… -
Mergers and Acquisitions
Brookfield Infrastructure's Sale of North American District Energy Business for $4.1 Billion
Goodmans LLP acted for Brookfield Infrastructure in connection with the sale of 100% of its North American district energy business, Enwave…
Insights
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Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Bill C-228: The Pension Protection Act – It’s Time to Prepare
Bill C-228, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, or the Pension Protection Act (PPA) in short… -
Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Treatment of Canadian Retirement Plans in M&A Transactions
The treatment of Canadian retirement plans in M&A transactions depends on a number of factors, including the type of plan, the deal structure and the province of plan registration. Unlike the… -
Financial Services Regulatory
FSRA Initiates Consultation on Guidance for Principles-Based Regulation
On March 16, 2022, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) initiated a consultation on its proposed Principles-Based Regulation Approach Guidance (the “Proposed PBR Guidance… -
Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Restricting restrictive covenants, Canadian Lawyer
The term “non-compete” has always conjured painful memories for me of my convincing ineptitude at most sports… -
Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Bill 27 Prohibition on Non-Competition Clauses in Ontario Employment Contracts Amended to Include Exception for Executives
On November 30, 2021, Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021, received its third reading. Among other changes, the Bill amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) to add a… -
Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Ontario Introduces Legislation Prohibiting Non-Competition Clauses in Employment Contracts and Requiring Right-to-Disconnect Policies for Employees
On October 26, 2021, the Ontario government introduced Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021. Among other changes, the Bill amends the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) to add a prohibition…
News & Events
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- 03:30 PM Technology
Brian Sweigman at EVOLVE: Benefits and Workforce Strategies Summit
Join Brian Sweigman on May 10, 2023 at 2:45 PM for The Greatest Cybersecurity Threats You Don’t Know You’re Facing session at EVOLVE: Benefits and Workforce Strategies Summit at… -
Banking and Financial Services
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023 Continues to Recognize Goodmans
We are proud to announce we have once again been recognized in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023.85 Goodmans lawyers have been recognized as top-tier in their fields and leaders across… -
- 12:00 PM Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Brian Sweigman at WLG's Crossing Borders: Remote Work Americas
The pandemic forcefully introduced many companies and employees to remote work. Although many have returned to the office, many others are embracing the idea of remote work indefinitely, and employers…