Lawson Lundell's Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Blog follows new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.
Practice Expertise
- Administrative Law
- Employee Benefits
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Pension & Benefit Plans
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Law
- Employee Benefits
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Pension & Benefit Plans
Profile
Ken practices exclusively in the firm's pensions and employee benefits law practice group. He advises pension and benefit plan sponsors on a range of legal and regulatory issues affecting their plans. He advises on pension plan governance and compliance monitoring projects, regulatory applications and the handling of pension disputes. He works with managers in the drafting and maintenance of pension documents, including plan texts, trust declarations, statements of investment policies, as well as investment manager and other service provider contracts. Ken is frequently involved in assisting parties in mergers and acquisitions on the pension and benefits issues arising in the course of planning and executing their transactions.
Bar Admissions
British Columbia (1998)
Northwest Territories (2000)
Alberta (2006)
Education
University of Western Ontario (B.A., 1990)
McGill University (M.B.A., 1994)
University of Western Ontario (LL.B., 1997)
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Law
- Employee Benefits
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Pension & Benefit Plans
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
* Acting for the board of a public sector multi-employer pension plan in negotiations with government over changes to legislation governing the plan
* Acting for a mining company in the design and set up of new pension and benefit plans prior to the opening of operations in northern Canada
* Structuring and advising on a client company's pension committee, and providing professional oversight for several of the company's pension plans
* Setting up pension governance and legislative compliance monitoring systems for various clients
* Representing a multi-employer pension board in litigation to recover withdrawal liability obligations of a former participating employer
* Assisting a forest products company in negotiating the pension and benefits disclosure requirements in a complex lending agreement
* Negotiating pension and benefit terms in corporate mergers and acquisitions on behalf of numerous large and small clients
* Drafting submissions to pension regulators on behalf of numerous clients
* Advising on and setting up letters of credit to secure supplemental pension plans for various employers
* Setting up retirement compensation arrangements for employers in the forest, mining and retail industries
* Advising a US airline and a US mining company on ways to best mirror 401(k) plans for employees in Canada
* Drafting an opinion to a forestry company on best practices in winding down a pension plan
* Helping a Canadian multi-national company establish a savings plan for expatriate employees
* Drafting template custodial documents for a trust company
* Negotiating funding relief for a plan sponsor with the federal pension regulator
* Assisting an energy company in selecting and moving its pension fund to a new pension fund holder
* Assisting a consortium of pension funds on joint investments in private equity funds
* Drafting statements of investment policies and procedures for an insurance company's defined contribution plan
* Advising a US head office on the oversight of its Canadian subsidiary's pension obligations
* Drafting and amending pension trust agreements for various employers and multi-employer plan boards of trustees
* Advising a mining company on the implementation of phased retirement provisions in its pension plan
Professional Associations
Recognition and Ranking
* Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023-2026: Pensions & Employee Benefits - Employer (Leading Practitioner)
* Lexology Index Canada 2025: Labour, Employment & Benefits
* Chambers Canada 2024-2026: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 2)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2010-2026: Employee Benefits Law
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2023, 2025: Lawyer of the Year - Employee Benefits Law (Vancouver)
* Who's Who Legal 2023: Labour, Employment & Benefits (Global Guide)
* Who's Who Legal 2023: Labour, Employment & Benefits (Canada)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2014, 2017, 2019: Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver
Professional Activities and Experience
* Canadian Bar Insurance Association (CBIA) & Lawyers Financial, Board of Directors (2024)
* Association of Canadian Pension Management, Vice-President, British Columbia Regional Council, Past Chair; Chair of the 2013 and 2019 National Conference and National Conference Planning Committee
* Canadian Bar Association, Pension and Benefits Section, Past National Executive Member (3 terms) and Past British Columbia Section Chair (3 terms)
* International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Past Canadian Legal/Legislative and Public Sector Committee Member
* International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers' Association, Program Chair of the 2014 Conference; Member of the 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2020 Conference Planning Committees
* Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Past British Columbia Council Member
* Acting for the board of a public sector multi-employer pension plan in negotiations with government over changes to legislation governing the plan
* Acting for a mining company in the design and set up of new pension and benefit plans prior to the opening of operations in northern Canada
* Structuring and advising on a client company's pension committee, and providing professional oversight for several of the company's pension plans
* Setting up pension governance and legislative compliance monitoring systems for various clients
* Representing a multi-employer pension board in litigation to recover withdrawal liability obligations of a former participating employer
* Assisting a forest products company in negotiating the pension and benefits disclosure requirements in a complex lending agreement
* Negotiating pension and benefit terms in corporate mergers and acquisitions on behalf of numerous large and small clients
* Drafting submissions to pension regulators on behalf of numerous clients
* Advising on and setting up letters of credit to secure supplemental pension plans for various employers
* Setting up retirement compensation arrangements for employers in the forest, mining and retail industries
* Advising a US airline and a US mining company on ways to best mirror 401(k) plans for employees in Canada
* Drafting an opinion to a forestry company on best practices in winding down a pension plan
* Helping a Canadian multi-national company establish a savings plan for expatriate employees
* Drafting template custodial documents for a trust company
* Negotiating funding relief for a plan sponsor with the federal pension regulator
* Assisting an energy company in selecting and moving its pension fund to a new pension fund holder
* Assisting a consortium of pension funds on joint investments in private equity funds
* Drafting statements of investment policies and procedures for an insurance company's defined contribution plan
* Advising a US head office on the oversight of its Canadian subsidiary's pension obligations
* Drafting and amending pension trust agreements for various employers and multi-employer plan boards of trustees
* Advising a mining company on the implementation of phased retirement provisions in its pension plan
Professional Associations
Recognition and Ranking
* Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023-2026: Pensions & Employee Benefits - Employer (Leading Practitioner)
* Lexology Index Canada 2025: Labour, Employment & Benefits
* Chambers Canada 2024-2026: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 2)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2010-2026: Employee Benefits Law
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2023, 2025: Lawyer of the Year - Employee Benefits Law (Vancouver)
* Who's Who Legal 2023: Labour, Employment & Benefits (Global Guide)
* Who's Who Legal 2023: Labour, Employment & Benefits (Canada)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2014, 2017, 2019: Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver
Professional Activities and Experience
* Canadian Bar Insurance Association (CBIA) & Lawyers Financial, Board of Directors (2024)
* Association of Canadian Pension Management, Vice-President, British Columbia Regional Council, Past Chair; Chair of the 2013 and 2019 National Conference and National Conference Planning Committee
* Canadian Bar Association, Pension and Benefits Section, Past National Executive Member (3 terms) and Past British Columbia Section Chair (3 terms)
* International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Past Canadian Legal/Legislative and Public Sector Committee Member
* International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers' Association, Program Chair of the 2014 Conference; Member of the 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2020 Conference Planning Committees
* Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Past British Columbia Council Member
Blogs
Labour & Employment Law Blog
Lawson Lundell's Labour and Employment Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting the Canadian workplace and offers practical tips for employers. We cover a range of topics, including labour relations, employment law, collective bargaining, human rights, employment standards, employment equity, workers' compensation, business immigration, privacy, occupational health and safety and pensions and employee benefits.
North of 60 Blog
Our North of 60 Blog provides commentary on current legal trends and developments, and legislative updates affecting businesses in Northern Canada.
Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog
Lawson Lundell's Pension and Employee Benefits Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting pension and employee benefit plans. We cover a range of topics, including recent case law and changes to relevant provincial and federal legislation.
Privacy & Data Management Blog
This blog is authored by members of the Privacy & Data Management Department. We follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. We follow emerging issues, legal developments, and new technology as they impact privacy and data management. We will focus on how organizations can protect, manage and innovate with information considering the various risks, regulatory and governance requirements.
The Business Law Blog
This blog is authored by members of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. We intend to follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. The wide range of experience among the members of our litigation group will provide a diverse and insightful examination of current legal trends and topics. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.
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