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
Lisa practices exclusively in the area of pensions and employee benefits, advising plan sponsors and administrators across the private and public sectors and a wide range of industries. Her practice focuses on legal and regulatory issues affecting pension and benefit plans, with particular experience supporting boards of trustees administering multi-employer arrangements.
She regularly advises on compliance with pension standards legislation and the Income Tax Act, plan amendments involving benefit improvements or reductions, and administrator duties. Lisa also assists with commercial agreements, risk management strategies such as annuitization, governance issues, and responding to member inquiries and complaints. She liaises frequently with pension regulatory bodies across Canada and often presents to plan administrators on emerging legal matters.
Lisa is relied upon by over 20 boards of trustees, including union-sponsored and jointly sponsored plans, to provide practical and timely legal advice. She also supports litigation counsel in complex disputes, offering strategic input grounded in her deep knowledge of pension and benefit law.
In addition to her core practice, Lisa has developed expertise in privacy and data management, advising plan sponsors and administrators on compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in this area.
She regularly advises on compliance with pension standards legislation and the Income Tax Act, plan amendments involving benefit improvements or reductions, and administrator duties. Lisa also assists with commercial agreements, risk management strategies such as annuitization, governance issues, and responding to member inquiries and complaints. She liaises frequently with pension regulatory bodies across Canada and often presents to plan administrators on emerging legal matters.
Lisa is relied upon by over 20 boards of trustees, including union-sponsored and jointly sponsored plans, to provide practical and timely legal advice. She also supports litigation counsel in complex disputes, offering strategic input grounded in her deep knowledge of pension and benefit law.
In addition to her core practice, Lisa has developed expertise in privacy and data management, advising plan sponsors and administrators on compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in this area.
Bar Admissions
Called to the British Columbia Bar, 2002
Called to the Alberta Bar, 2023
Education
Simon Fraser University (B.A., 1996)
University of Victoria (LL.B., 2000)
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Law
- Employee Benefits
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Pension & Benefit Plans
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
Board Governance Matters
* Providing educational support to pension and benefit plan administrators, in relation to fiduciary duties owed to members
* Drafting policies related to board governance
* Providing board governance advice including relating to recording board decisions
* Conducted governance review and generated report setting out recommendations
* Drafting and amending trust agreements and amendments to trust agreements including obtaining required consents from supporting partners
* Merging employee life and health trusts
* Continuing predecessor pension plan into successor pension plan
Compliance Matters
* Establishing new pension plan and drafting all required documentation and policies to support the new arrangement
* Conversion of pension plan to target benefit pension plan
* Compliance assessments for pension plans reflecting statutory requirements
* Drafting opinions related to pension standards and tax rules that apply
* Drafting and amending plan texts
* Providing opinions on surplus ownership
Litigious Matters
* Recovery of overpayments
* Entitlement to retiree health benefits
* Compliance with terms of trust document
* Defense of benefit reductions
* Competing potential beneficiaries
Other
* Providing advice in relation share purchase and asset purchase agreements as the terms relate to pension and benefit matters
* Negotiating annuity purchase policies on behalf of pension plan administrators
* Negotiating commercial agreements on behalf of pension and benefit administrators
* Privacy issues facing pension and benefit plans including sharing of information with service providers and other plan sponsors, and complaints from members
Professional Associations
Rankings & Recognition
* Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023-2026: Pensions and Employee Benefits - Employer (Leading Practitioner)
* Chambers Canada 2026: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 3)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2019-2026: Employee Benefits Law
* Chambers Canada 2024-2025: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 4)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2022: Lawyer of the Year - Employee Benefits Law (Vancouver)
* Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory 2018: BV Peer Review rate
Professional Activities and Experience
* Multi-Employer Benefit Plan Council of Canada, Advisory Director
* International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans: Chair, Legal/Legislative and Public Sector Committee; Member, Canadian Board
* Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute, Member
* Association of Canadian Pension Management, Member
* Law Society of British Columbia, Member
* Law Society of Alberta, Member
Board Governance Matters
* Providing educational support to pension and benefit plan administrators, in relation to fiduciary duties owed to members
* Drafting policies related to board governance
* Providing board governance advice including relating to recording board decisions
* Conducted governance review and generated report setting out recommendations
* Drafting and amending trust agreements and amendments to trust agreements including obtaining required consents from supporting partners
* Merging employee life and health trusts
* Continuing predecessor pension plan into successor pension plan
Compliance Matters
* Establishing new pension plan and drafting all required documentation and policies to support the new arrangement
* Conversion of pension plan to target benefit pension plan
* Compliance assessments for pension plans reflecting statutory requirements
* Drafting opinions related to pension standards and tax rules that apply
* Drafting and amending plan texts
* Providing opinions on surplus ownership
Litigious Matters
* Recovery of overpayments
* Entitlement to retiree health benefits
* Compliance with terms of trust document
* Defense of benefit reductions
* Competing potential beneficiaries
Other
* Providing advice in relation share purchase and asset purchase agreements as the terms relate to pension and benefit matters
* Negotiating annuity purchase policies on behalf of pension plan administrators
* Negotiating commercial agreements on behalf of pension and benefit administrators
* Privacy issues facing pension and benefit plans including sharing of information with service providers and other plan sponsors, and complaints from members
Professional Associations
Rankings & Recognition
* Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023-2026: Pensions and Employee Benefits - Employer (Leading Practitioner)
* Chambers Canada 2026: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 3)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2019-2026: Employee Benefits Law
* Chambers Canada 2024-2025: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 4)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2022: Lawyer of the Year - Employee Benefits Law (Vancouver)
* Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory 2018: BV Peer Review rate
Professional Activities and Experience
* Multi-Employer Benefit Plan Council of Canada, Advisory Director
* International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans: Chair, Legal/Legislative and Public Sector Committee; Member, Canadian Board
* Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute, Member
* Association of Canadian Pension Management, Member
* Law Society of British Columbia, Member
* Law Society of Alberta, 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.
Meet our Firms and Professionals
WSG’s member firms include legal, investment banking and accounting experts across industries and on a global scale. We invite you to meet our member firms and professionals.