Andrea is Chair of Osler’s Pensions and Benefits group. Her practice specializes in all areas of pensions and benefits, with a focus on pension administration, fiduciary duty and governance, and issues arising in the context of bankruptcy and insolvency.
She also advises clients on a full range of pension investment issues from both a fund and manager perspective, as well as on executive compensation matters and pension issues that arise in the context of mergers and acquisitions and lending arrangements. Andrea is often sought out for her expertise by government, in litigation matters, and for second opinions.
Andrea speaks and writes extensively on pensions related issues. She is the co-editor of Pensions and Benefits Law in Ontario and the long-time former editor of Canadian Cases on Pensions and Benefits. Andrea has also been an adjunct professor at Queen’s University Law School and is often a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Professional Development.
Representative Work
- Bird Construction
Bird Construction in its acquisition of Jacob Bros Construction for $135 million
- Contractor Compliance
Contractor Compliance in its acquisition by VelocityEHS
- First Quality Enterprises LLC
First Quality Enterprises in its acquisition of Domtar’s Pulp and Paper Mill in Dryden, Ontario
- BAI Communications
BAI Communications in the sale of its Canadian business to Rogers Communications
- LifeWorks
LifeWorks in its $2.9 billion acquisition by TELUS
- Security Compass Technologies
Security Compass Technologies in the sale of its consulting business to Kroll
- Spire Global
Spire Global in its $204.2 million acquisition of exactEarth
- TransUnion
TransUnion in its $638 million acquisition of Sontiq
- Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in its $1.13 billion acquisition of People Corporation
Bird Construction in its acquisition of Jacob Bros Construction for $135 million
Contractor Compliance in its acquisition by VelocityEHS
First Quality Enterprises in its acquisition of Domtar’s Pulp and Paper Mill in Dryden, Ontario
BAI Communications in the sale of its Canadian business to Rogers Communications
LifeWorks in its $2.9 billion acquisition by TELUS
- Security Compass Technologies
Security Compass Technologies in the sale of its consulting business to Kroll
- Spire Global
Spire Global in its $204.2 million acquisition of exactEarth
- TransUnion
TransUnion in its $638 million acquisition of Sontiq
- Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking in its $1.13 billion acquisition of People Corporation
Latest Insights
-
Blog Dec 18, 2023
‘Material IT risk’ reporting requirement for Ontario pension plans goes live April 1, 2024
Ontario's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) finalizes its guidance on IT risk management for pension plan administrators and other...
Read more
-
Osler Update Aug 28, 2023
Bill C-228: What secured parties need to know
Bill C-228, known as the “Pension Protection Act” (the PPA) received Royal Assent in April 2023 and is now law.
Read more
-
Webinar May 9, 2023
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Managing IT & Cybersecurity Risk
Join Osler’s Pension & Benefits Group virtually or in-person for our annual discussion on hot topics and recent developments facing Canadian...
Read more
-
Blog Feb 24, 2023
Osler’s Andrea Boctor and Jon Wypych advised PRI on its Canadian Legal Framework for Impact
On February 13, 2023 the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative...
Read more
Awards and Recognition
-
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Pensions and Benefits
-
Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Pensions and Benefits
- “she provides excellent service – she really understands our needs and is very adaptable.”
-
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Pensions & Employee Benefits – Employer as “Recommended”
-
The Legal 500 Canada: Recognized as a leading lawyer in Pensions and Benefits
-
The Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Employee Benefits
Media Mentions
-
Osler News Jun 15, 2023
Osler hosts UN PRI’s Canadian Legal Framework for Impact workshop for asset owners
Supported by the United Nations, the PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) is a pro bono client of the firm that helps its investor signatories...
Read more -
Media Mentions Aug 13, 2021
Court of Appeal decision highlights importance of clear pension communications — Benefits Canada
After a negligent misrepresentation claim, a recent Saskatchewan Court of Appeal case highlights the importance of clear communications from pension...
Read more -
Media Mentions May 11, 2021
Federal budget promising relief for DC pension plan under, over contributions – Benefits Canada
Federal budget promising relief for DC pension plan under, over contributions – Benefits Canada.
Read more -
Media Mentions Oct 27, 2020
Supreme Court ruling in RCMP pension case may force plan design changes – Benefits Canada
A recent article in Benefits Canada looks at a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that declared the Royal Canadian Mounted Police pension plan...
Read more
Community Involvement
- Member of the Osler Community Law Committee
- Counsel to UNEP on world legal survey for Responsible Investing, Canada
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Managing IT & Cybersecurity Risk
Read moreOsler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Geo-Political Risk Management in a Changing World
Read moreOsler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Panel discussion on ESG considerations
Read moreUnderstanding Fraser v Canada. Impacts and Risks for Pension Administrators and Employers Across Canada
Read morePublished Work
- “C228 – Future of DB“, Northwind Professional Institute, 20th Annual Pension Fund Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario, November 2023
- “Bill C-228 – Pension Benefit Security and Banking Implications”, Canadian Institute of Actuaries, Pension and Investment Seminar, Toronto, Ontario, November 2023
- “Insolvency and Restructuring Primer”, Osgoode Professional Development, The Osgoode Certificate in Pension Law, Toronto, Ontario, March 2023
- “Canada Legal and Legislative Update”, 41st Annual ISCEBS Employee Benefits Symposium, Toronto, Ontario, August 2022
- “Fireside Chat on Canadian Pension Risk Transfer Innovation”, Pension & Investments, Toronto, Ontario, June 2022
- “Insolvency and Restructuring Primer and Pension Issues in Insolvencies and Restructuring”, Osgoode Professional Development, The Osgoode Certificate in Pension Law, Toronto, Ontario, March 2021
- “Change is Coming: Climate Change Risk and Activism for Pension Fund Managers“, Northwind Professional Institute, 17th Annual Pension Fund Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario, November 2021
- “Are Pandemic Proof Pension Plans Possible?”, Northwind Professional Institute, 17th Annual Pension Fund Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario, November 2020
- “How Technology is Changing Participant Engagement: Missing Participants and Participant Communications”, International Pension & Employee Benefits Lawyers Association, 17th Biennial IPEBLA Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2019
- “Insolvency and Restructuring Primer”, Osgoode Professional Development, The Osgoode Certificate in Pension Law, Toronto, Ontario, March 2019
- “When the Bottom Falls Out: Strategies to Protect Pensions on Employer Insolvency”, Lancaster House Publishing, Pensions Conference, Toronto, Ontario, November 2018
- “Pensions 2018: Managing Risk Exposure”, Northwind Professional Institute, 15th Annual Pension Fund Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario, November 2018
- “Whose Claim is it Anyway?”, Estates, Trusts and Pensions Journal, vol. 37, no. 1, pg 108, Thomson Reuters, 2017
- “Review of Stock Option Arrangements in Light of Tax Withholding Changes”, Business Beat, Ontario Bar Association, April 2011 (co-author)
- “Canada Chapter”, Employee Share Plans: International Legal and Tax Issues, 2nd edition, Globe Law and Business, 2011 (co-author)
- “Indalex – Do Hard Cases Make Bad Law?”, Annual Review of Insolvency Law, Thomson Reuters, 2011 (co-author)
Credentials
Education
- Queen’s University, LL.B.
- Queen’s University, B.Comm.
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association, Pensions and Benefits Section Government Relations committee
- Ontario Bar Association, Pensions and Benefits Section Executive, Past Chair
- Association of Canadian Pension Management, Federal Council, Past Chair
- International Pension & Employee Benefits Lawyers Association
