Executive Compensation: Overview

Osler’s seasoned, multi-disciplinary Executive Compensation Group applies deep experience and innovation in creating tax-effective compensation arrangements for executives. Unique to Canadian law firms, our group is able to provide a 360° perspective because our executive compensation expertise is bundled for clients and includes lawyers with cross-specialities in all relevant areas of law. We advise organizations, both public and private and small to large, on Canadian and cross-border complex and day-to-day compensation issues.

We offer unparalleled expertise in advising on executive compensation matters through:

• U.S./Cross-Border Expertise – Osler has a long-established history of advising our U.S. and international clients on compensation arrangements for employees in Canada. We draw upon our extensive experience as Canadian counsel, and our understanding of U.S. and foreign compensation practice, to provide practical and useful guidance. Our knowledge and experience in addressing the differing legal requirements of Canada and the United States allow us to offer a real advantage: We deliver one-stop, seamless service to our Canadian and U.S. clients.
• Cross-Functional Teams – Our Executive Compensation Group includes legal professionals in pensions and benefits, employment, securities, taxation and corporate governance, and is uniquely positioned to advise on matters governed by Canadian and U.S. law. We have executive compensation and benefits practitioners in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and New York who can provide efficient and co-ordinated advice on the domestic and cross-border aspects of executive compensation programs.
• Solutions That Work – We provide our clients with creative and integrated solutions that meet their business needs and mitigate risk. We help clients identify which arrangements provide the most appropriate incentives for employees and also provide guidance to boards of directors and their compensation committees in the discharge of their duties related to executive compensation matters.
• Transactional Work Experience – Our experience in dealing with diverse benefits and compensation structures on both sides of the border enables us to identify the complex compensation issues that arise in mergers & acquisitions, securities and other matters. For example, we help to negotiate employee matters and rationalize programs following a merger or acquisition. We also redo compensation arrangements in preparation for initial public offerings.