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
WSG Practice Industries
Employment & Labor
Financial Services
Government & Public Sector
Corporate & Business
Dispute Resolution View More
WSG Leadership
- WSG Coronavirus Task Force Group - Member
Profile
Murray's practice is focused exclusively on pension and benefits law. He advises clients on the governance, restructuring, and modernization of pension and benefit plans and their supporting legal frameworks. With over 30 years' experience, he has advised numerous clients with respect to the reorganization and modernization of their pension and benefit plans, as well as their governing documents.
Murray played a central role in the introduction of joint trusteeship to pension plans in the British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba public sectors, and currently acts for more than 20 boards of trustees (or similar governing bodies) of public sector pension and benefit plans.
Murray's clients include boards of trustees and other sponsors of public and private sector pension and benefit plans across British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. While his practice is solicitor-based, he regularly provides strategic direction and technical support in pension and benefit litigation.
Murray played a central role in the introduction of joint trusteeship to pension plans in the British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba public sectors, and currently acts for more than 20 boards of trustees (or similar governing bodies) of public sector pension and benefit plans.
Murray's clients include boards of trustees and other sponsors of public and private sector pension and benefit plans across British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. While his practice is solicitor-based, he regularly provides strategic direction and technical support in pension and benefit litigation.
Bar Admissions
Called to the Saskatchewan Bar, 2021
Called to the British Columbia Bar, 1990
Called to the Alberta Bar, 1985 (inactive)
Education
University of Saskatchewan (B.Comm., 1983)
Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B., 1984)
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Law
- Employee Benefits
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Pension & Benefit Plans
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
Pension and Benefit Experience (Contentious Matters)
Involved in disputes over or involving:
* Collection of exit levies from employers leaving non collectively bargained multi-employer pension plans and health and welfare trusts
* Entitlement to pre-retirement death benefits
* Recovery of benefit overpayments, including recovery on account of recovery from third party
* Disability benefit denial
* Systemic or ad hoc failure to enroll in pension or benefit plan, and collection of resulting arrears
* Errors in pension estimates and similar communication, and allegations of detrimental reliance
* Trustee deadlock resolution
* Registration of pension plan amendments converting floating indexing to fixed indexing
* Entitlement to post-retirement group benefits, and closure of such programs to new entrants
* Integration of registered pensions plans with Canada Pension Plan
* Enhanced early retirement entitlement
Professional Associations
Recognition and Ranking
* Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023-2026: Pensions and Employee Benefits - Employer (Leading Practitioner)
* Thomson Reuters 2024-2026: Stand Out Lawyer
* The Legal 500 Canada 2021-2026: Pensions (Leading Individual)
* Lexology Index Canada 2025: Labour, Employment & Benefits
* Chambers Canada 2024-2026: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 1)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2006-2026: Employee Benefits Law
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2011, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2024: Lawyer of the Year: Employee Benefits Law (Vancouver)
* Who's Who Legal 2023: Labour, Employment & Benefits (Global Guide)
Professional Activities and Experience
* Canadian Institute of Actuaries' Actuarial Profession Oversight Board (APOB), Member (January 2026 to present)
* Pension and Benefits Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch) (1993 - 1995) and (2008 - 2010), Chair
* International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Member
* International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA), Member
* Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Member
Pension and Benefit Experience (Contentious Matters)
Involved in disputes over or involving:
* Collection of exit levies from employers leaving non collectively bargained multi-employer pension plans and health and welfare trusts
* Entitlement to pre-retirement death benefits
* Recovery of benefit overpayments, including recovery on account of recovery from third party
* Disability benefit denial
* Systemic or ad hoc failure to enroll in pension or benefit plan, and collection of resulting arrears
* Errors in pension estimates and similar communication, and allegations of detrimental reliance
* Trustee deadlock resolution
* Registration of pension plan amendments converting floating indexing to fixed indexing
* Entitlement to post-retirement group benefits, and closure of such programs to new entrants
* Integration of registered pensions plans with Canada Pension Plan
* Enhanced early retirement entitlement
Professional Associations
Recognition and Ranking
* Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023-2026: Pensions and Employee Benefits - Employer (Leading Practitioner)
* Thomson Reuters 2024-2026: Stand Out Lawyer
* The Legal 500 Canada 2021-2026: Pensions (Leading Individual)
* Lexology Index Canada 2025: Labour, Employment & Benefits
* Chambers Canada 2024-2026: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 1)
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2006-2026: Employee Benefits Law
* Best Lawyers in Canada 2011, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2024: Lawyer of the Year: Employee Benefits Law (Vancouver)
* Who's Who Legal 2023: Labour, Employment & Benefits (Global Guide)
Professional Activities and Experience
* Canadian Institute of Actuaries' Actuarial Profession Oversight Board (APOB), Member (January 2026 to present)
* Pension and Benefits Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch) (1993 - 1995) and (2008 - 2010), Chair
* International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Member
* International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA), Member
* Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, 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.