Overview
Brian is a partner in a business law group at Goodmans. His practice focuses on pensions and benefits, as well as employment, trusts and estates.
Brian advises plan sponsors and administrators on pension and benefit plan governance, administration, design and all other regulatory matters. He also advises on pension and benefit issues arising in corporate transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, mergers and corporate reorganizations. Brian also assists public and private clients with employment-related issues related to purchase and sale transactions and employment transition issues.
In respect of his trusts and estates practice, Brian represents and advises high-net-worth individuals, trustees, estate beneficiaries and private corporations on comprehensive estate planning, trust creation, corporate reorganizations and will drafting.
Before joining Goodmans, Brian was at a global consulting firm, advising clients on pension law within the corporate sector.
Featured Work
Brian’s representative work includes acting for:
- Newmont Corporation in its agreement to sell its Éléonore operation to Dhilmar Ltd for $795 million in cash consideration
- Newmont Corporation in its agreement to sell the Musselwhite Gold Mine to Orla Mining for $850 million
- Coeur Mining, Inc. in connection with entering into a definitive agreement with SilverCrest Metals Inc.
- Apotex Inc. in connection with its acquisition of Searchlight Pharma Inc.
- Chord Energy Corporation in connection with its acquisition of Enerplus Corporation for US$3.7 billion in stock and cash.
- Screaming Eagle Acquisition Corp. in connection with its merger with the Studio Business of Lionsgate Entertainment Corp.
- Endo and its Canadian affiliates in connection with the company’s cross-border restructuring proceedings to address its US$8.15 billion in debt obligations
- Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. in connection with its structured equity investment of $320 million to partially fund the take-private acquisition of Neighbourly Pharmacy Inc.
- Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. in the acquisition of Variperm Energy Services
- Minute Media in relation to its acquisition of STN Video, a North American industry leader in sports content distribution
- Cox Enterprises, Inc. in the disposition of Cox Automotive’s Manheim Canada business to OPENLANE
- Michael Andlauer and his partners on the acquisition of the Ottawa Senators hockey club
- Coinsquare Ltd. in its business combination transaction with WonderFi Technologies Inc. and CoinSmart Financial Inc.
- Hudbay Minerals Inc. in connection with its acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Copper Mountain Mining Corporation
- Firelight Investment LLC in a competitive auction process to purchase the coal operations of Teck Resources Limited
- Cargill, Incorporated in connection with the successful CCAA restructuring and recapitalization of Tacora Resources Inc.
- Rogers Communications Inc. in connection with its $26 billion acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc.
- Onex Corporation in connection with WestJet’s acquisition of Sunwing Vacations and Sunwing Airlines
- Voyant Beauty Holdings, LLC, in its acquisition of the personal care business of KIK Custom Products Inc., a leading North American manufacturer for prestige beauty, over-the-counter and household products
- Berkshire Partners LLC in connection with the investment in VetStrategy and Groupe Daubigny, Canada’s leading and largest operator of veterinary clinics
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Brian is a regular course presenter for the Pension Plan Administration Certificate (PPAC) program at Humber College.
Brian regularly teaches the Advanced Trust Management Standards (ATMS) certificate at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), and the Complying with Legislative and Best Practices in Pension Plan Asset Investment for the CEBS program offered by the IFEBP.
Brian is a member of the Defined Contribution Pension Plans Advisory Committee at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).Education
- University of Windsor, University of Detroit Mercy, LL.B. / J.D., 2010
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canada Bar Association, Pension Sector
- Ontario Bar Association, Pension Sector
- International Pension & Employee Benefits Law Association (IPEBLA)
- International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP)
- The Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM)
Call to Bar
- 2011 Ontario
Insights
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Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Panoramic: Pensions & Retirement Plans 2025 – Canada Chapter
Brian Sweigman authored the Canada Chapter of Lexology's Panoramic: Pensions & Retirement Plans 2025. This guide offers a side-by-side comparison of local insights, including into the statutory… -
Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Consideration of Government of Canada’s proposal to remove 30% rule for pension funds, Lexpert
In a recent article for Lexpert.ca, author Brian Sweigman explores how the context has changed both for Canadian pension funds, as global investment leaders seeking to maximize returns for… -
Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Understanding Cyber Risks for Pension Plan Administrators, ACPM
Brian Sweigman published an article in The Observer, ACPM. Excerpt from "Understanding Cyber Risks for Pension Plan Administrators": As pension plans are increasingly relying on technology… -
Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Pensions & Retirement Plans 2023 - Canada Chapter
Brian Sweigman authored the Canada Chapter of Lexology's Pensions & Retirement Plans 2023 Guide. The Pensions & Retirement Plans Guide offers a side-by-side comparison of local insights… -
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…
News & Events
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Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
Brian Sweigman at the IFEBP's Certified Employee Benefit Specialist Program
On December 16th, Goodmans partner Brian Sweigman lead the session "Complying with Legislative and Best Practices in Pension Plan Asset Investment" as part of the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist… -
Announcing our New Partners in 2024
Goodmans is delighted to announce that the following lawyers have joined our partnership:Kirby Cohen is a partner in the Dispute Resolution Group at Goodmans. She has a diverse corporate and… -
- 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…