Paul  Litner

Paul Litner, Partner, Pensions & Benefits

Contact Information

  • tel: 416.862.4730
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Bar Admission

Ontario, 1990

Education

  • Queen’s University, LL.B.
  • University of Toronto, B.A.

Office

Toronto

Language(s)

English

Biography

Paul’s practice relates exclusively to pensions, benefits and compensation plans and their related investment arrangements. He advises both private and public sector clients on the legal and regulatory aspects of pension and employee benefits plans including: governance, fiduciary responsibilities, plan administration and compliance, pension fund investment, pension committees, plan wind up, surplus strategies, and the negotiation and drafting of plan and trust documents.

Paul deals extensively with pension and benefits issues arising in corporate mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations, and has advised on many large Canadian and international transactions. Paul regularly advises on pension litigation matters, and has appeared before and made submissions to federal and provincial regulators on various pension compliance and surplus matters. He has also assisted several clients in successfully implementing pension plan mergers and conversions.

Notable Matters

  • NOVA Chemicals Corporation’s acquisition by an Abu Dhabi based International Petroleum Investment Company.
  • South Coast Partners Limited Partnership on pension and benefit matters related to its $165 million acquisition of Oceanex Inc.
  • Vivendi on its successful $60 million surplus sharing agreement with plan members.
  • Several large Canadian employers in successfully transitioning from defined benefit pension plans to defined contribution pension plans.
  • A leading actuarial consulting firm in an action for rectification of plan terms.
  • A major insurance company in obtaining regulatory approval to pension plan mergers.

Affiliations

  • Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM)
  • International Pension & Employee Benefits Lawyers Association
  • International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
  • Canadian Bar Association (Ontario), Pension Section
  • Ontario Financial Services Tribunal, Member since 2002

Industry Recognition

  • Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2010: Employment
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2010: Pensions
  • The Best Lawyers in Canada 2010: Employee Benefits Law
  • Peer Review rated by Martinade Hubbell

Publications/Events/Education

Paul is a Consulting Editor, providing commentary on case law developments, for Lancaster House’s Pension E-Bulletin. He has co-authored several submissions to government agencies on behalf of the ACPM and various other industry associations/task forces, including: the Ontario Expert Commission on Pension Reform; Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities; and the Joint Forum of Financial Market Regulators.

Paul also regularly writes for Benefits Canada on emerging legal issues. Recent articles include:

  • Controlling Interests (employer/administrator legal duties), November 2009.
  • Duty Calls (legal duties in an economic downturn), April 2009.
  • What’s the Difference? (pension reform comparison), March 2009.

Other recent publications and events include:

  • Managing Pension Plans in Turbulent Times: Pension Plans and Legal Duties in the Current Economic Downturn, Client Seminar, December 2008.
  • DC Summit, Benefits Canada, February 28, 2008.

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