Julien is a partner practicing in Osler’s Pensions and Benefits group and the Employment and Labour group from our Montreal office.
Julien has extensive expertise advising employers, pension fund administrators and service providers on issues such as pension plan governance and design, de-risking strategies, pension investments, plan mergers, plan conversions, use of surplus assets, administration expenses and retiree benefits matters. He also assists them in their representations before regulatory authorities, administrative tribunals and courts.
Julien also advises employers on a broad range of employment-related issues including executive compensation, employee hiring and terminations, employment standards compliance, and the development of human resources policies.
Julien has significant experience in advising clients on pension and employment issues arising in connection with various corporate events including acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, insolvencies and corporate reorganizations.
Representative Work
- Photonis Group Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. in its US$ 100 million sale to Ellimist Singapore Pte. Ltd.
- Caisse de dépôt et Placement du Québec Caisse de dépôt et Placement du Québec in its $150 million equity investment
- Québecor Québecor and its wholly-owned subsidiary Videotron Ltd. in their $2.85 billion acquisition of Freedom Mobile Inc. from Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.
- Bailey International Bailey International in connection with its acquisition of Hydrolico International
- Zebra Technologies Zebra Technologies in its acquisition of Matrox Imaging
- Nasdaq Nasdaq in its acquisition of Metrio
- Imerys Imerys in its sale of two graphite mines to Northern Graphite
- iNovia Capital iNovia Capital in connection with Talent.com’s US$120 million Series B financing round
- BBH Capital Partners BBH Capital Partners in its $120 million investment in Synex Group insurance
- Goldman Sachs Asset Management Goldman Sachs Asset Management in its US$250 million investment in Hydrostor
- Lattice Semiconductor Lattice Semiconductor in its acquisition of Mirametrix Inc.
- Quatro Air Technologies Quatro Air Technologies in its acquisition by Absolent Air Care Group
- TELUS Health Solutions Inc. TELUS Health Solutions Inc. in connection with the restructuring of ChronoMétriq Inc. and Health Myself Innovations Inc.
- LIFT Digital Inc. LIFT Digital in its acquisition by LifeSpeak
- IVC Nutrition Corporation IVC Nutrition Corporation in its acquisition of Vita Health Products Inc.
- Promark Electronics Inc. Promark Electronics Inc. in its acquisition by Electrical Components International
- TRC Companies Inc. TRC in its acquisition of Quatric
- Aceto Aceto in its acquisition of A&C
- Haivision Systems Inc. Haivision Systems Inc. in its Initial Public Offering
- ArcelorMittal ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada in its joint venture with Triple M Metal
- Frank and Oak Modasuite Inc., doing business as Frank and Oak completes sale transaction
- Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb in its acquisition of Forbius
- VetStrategy Lenders in Berkshire Partners’ acquisition of VetStrategy
- Madison Dearborn Partners Madison Dearborn Partners in its acquisition of the APM Group International
- Canadian and international companies in connection with the implementation of de-risking strategies (including annuity purchases, longevity insurance, soft freezes, hard freezes, conversions, terminations, lump sum payments, target benefit plans, etc.)
- BCE Inc. in its ground breaking pension de-risking strategy to transfer longevity risk for $5 billion of pension plan liability to Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
- BCE Inc., IBM Canada Limited, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Aviva Canada Inc., Axiall Corporation, Montreal Police Pension Fund and others, on matters of plan administration and governance and on the compliance of their plans with the applicable pension legislation
- Vivendi Canada Inc. in a class action concerning a post-retirement benefits reduction (including a hearing before the Supreme Court of Canada)
- IBM Canada Limited in a class action relating to amendments made to the pension and post-retirement benefit plans
- École polytechnique de Montréal in class actions relating to amendments made to its pension plan
- Trustees of the pension fund of the University of Montreal Pension Plan in a class action relating to pension plan investments
- Association de bienfaisance et de retraite des policiers et policières de la Ville de Montréal, in relation to the two actions regarding the constitutionality of Bill 15 (reform of municipal pension plans) and its application to the police pension plan
- Pension Committee of the Concordia University pension plan, in relation to a litigation regarding certain administrative expenses
- Negotiating various commercial agreements on behalf of plan administrators and service providers (investment management agreements, trust agreements, service and fee agreements, etc.)
- Secretary of the board of trustees of a registered defined benefit pension plan
- Canadian and international companies in connection with plan wind ups and the sharing of surplus assets
- Canadian and international companies on asset transfer issues and plan conversions from defined benefits to defined contributions
- Canadian and international companies in connection with the merger of their various Canadian pension plans and their representations to the regulatory authorities in that respect
- Canadian and international companies in the establishment and funding of supplementary executive pension plans (SERPs)
- Opinions relating to complex trust issues and the use of surplus assets
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- Legal advisor to the Quebec Employers Council (Conseil du patronat du Québec) in connection with the working group on the funding and restructuring of private sector pension plans
- Québecor Québecor and its wholly-owned subsidiary Videotron Ltd. in their $2.85 billion acquisition of Freedom Mobile Inc. from Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.
- Bailey International Bailey International in connection with its acquisition of Hydrolico International
- Zebra Technologies Zebra Technologies in its acquisition of Matrox Imaging
- Nasdaq Nasdaq in its acquisition of Metrio
- Imerys Imerys in its sale of two graphite mines to Northern Graphite
- iNovia Capital iNovia Capital in connection with Talent.com’s US$120 million Series B financing round
- BBH Capital Partners BBH Capital Partners in its $120 million investment in Synex Group insurance
- Goldman Sachs Asset Management Goldman Sachs Asset Management in its US$250 million investment in Hydrostor
- Lattice Semiconductor Lattice Semiconductor in its acquisition of Mirametrix Inc.
- Quatro Air Technologies Quatro Air Technologies in its acquisition by Absolent Air Care Group
- TELUS Health Solutions Inc. TELUS Health Solutions Inc. in connection with the restructuring of ChronoMétriq Inc. and Health Myself Innovations Inc.
- LIFT Digital Inc. LIFT Digital in its acquisition by LifeSpeak
- IVC Nutrition Corporation IVC Nutrition Corporation in its acquisition of Vita Health Products Inc.
- Promark Electronics Inc. Promark Electronics Inc. in its acquisition by Electrical Components International
- TRC Companies Inc. TRC in its acquisition of Quatric
- Aceto Aceto in its acquisition of A&C
- Haivision Systems Inc. Haivision Systems Inc. in its Initial Public Offering
- ArcelorMittal ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada in its joint venture with Triple M Metal
- Frank and Oak Modasuite Inc., doing business as Frank and Oak completes sale transaction
- Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb in its acquisition of Forbius
- VetStrategy Lenders in Berkshire Partners’ acquisition of VetStrategy
- Madison Dearborn Partners Madison Dearborn Partners in its acquisition of the APM Group International
- Canadian and international companies in connection with the implementation of de-risking strategies (including annuity purchases, longevity insurance, soft freezes, hard freezes, conversions, terminations, lump sum payments, target benefit plans, etc.)
- BCE Inc. in its ground breaking pension de-risking strategy to transfer longevity risk for $5 billion of pension plan liability to Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
- BCE Inc., IBM Canada Limited, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Aviva Canada Inc., Axiall Corporation, Montreal Police Pension Fund and others, on matters of plan administration and governance and on the compliance of their plans with the applicable pension legislation
- Vivendi Canada Inc. in a class action concerning a post-retirement benefits reduction (including a hearing before the Supreme Court of Canada)
- IBM Canada Limited in a class action relating to amendments made to the pension and post-retirement benefit plans
- École polytechnique de Montréal in class actions relating to amendments made to its pension plan
- Trustees of the pension fund of the University of Montreal Pension Plan in a class action relating to pension plan investments
- Association de bienfaisance et de retraite des policiers et policières de la Ville de Montréal, in relation to the two actions regarding the constitutionality of Bill 15 (reform of municipal pension plans) and its application to the police pension plan
- Pension Committee of the Concordia University pension plan, in relation to a litigation regarding certain administrative expenses
- Negotiating various commercial agreements on behalf of plan administrators and service providers (investment management agreements, trust agreements, service and fee agreements, etc.)
- Secretary of the board of trustees of a registered defined benefit pension plan
- Canadian and international companies in connection with plan wind ups and the sharing of surplus assets
- Canadian and international companies on asset transfer issues and plan conversions from defined benefits to defined contributions
- Canadian and international companies in connection with the merger of their various Canadian pension plans and their representations to the regulatory authorities in that respect
- Canadian and international companies in the establishment and funding of supplementary executive pension plans (SERPs)
- Opinions relating to complex trust issues and the use of surplus assets
- Legal advisor to the Quebec Employers Council (Conseil du patronat du Québec) in connection with the working group on the funding and restructuring of private sector pension plans
Latest Insights
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Report Feb 1, 2024
Guide to Doing Business in Québec
Québec is Canada’s largest province by geography and its second most populous province. Québec’s strategic location offers unique...
Read more
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Webinar May 26, 2022
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Geo-Political Risk Management in a Changing World
Join Osler’s Pension & Benefits Group for our annual discussion on hot topics and recent developments facing Canadian pension plan sponsors and...
Read more -
Osler Update Dec 13, 2021
Government of Québec proposes stricter French language law
On May 13, 2021, the Government of Québec tabled An Act Respecting French, the Official and Common Language of Québec, which proposes the most...
Read more -
Webinar Sep 23, 2021
Government of Québec proposes stricter French language law – PART 2
Discover all the changes proposed to the Québec Charter of the French Language by Bill 96 through our two webinars.
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Pensions & Benefits
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Pensions & Employee Benefits – Employer
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Employee Benefits Law; “Lawyer of the Year”, Employee Benefits Law
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Legal 500: Recognized in Next Generation Lawyer, Pensions and Benefits
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Benefits and Pensions Monitor: Recognized on Hot List 2023
Media Mentions
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Osler News Nov 16, 2023
Julien Ranger recognized in Benefits and Pensions Monitor’s Hot List of 2023
Congratulations to Julien Ranger for being named in Benefits and Pensions Monitor’s inaugural Hot List of 2023.
Read more -
Osler News Aug 24, 2023
178 Osler lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2024
Osler is proud to announce that 178 of our lawyers have been recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada, with 13 named “Lawyer of the...
Read more -
Media Mentions Nov 3, 2021
Québec aims to strengthen communication in French at work – SHRM
Proposed changes to the Charter of the French Language in Québec would be the most significant overhaul to the Charter since it was first...
Read more -
Media Mentions May 19, 2020
How are pension plan sponsors’ fiduciary duties evolving in the time of coronavirus? – Benefits Canada
One of the issues that pension plan sponsors should consider during the COVID-19 pandemic is benefits security, Osler partner Julien Ranger tells a...
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Osler’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 moreOsler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Modernizing Pensions in Canada
Read moreOpportunities and Obligations – The Road Forward – Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar
Read moreEmployment Law Update: New challenges and opportunities for Quebec employers
Read moreOsler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Geo-Political Risk Management in a Changing World
Speaker, May 26, 2022
Government of Québec proposes stricter French language law – PART 2
Speaker, Thursday, September 23, 2021
Government of Québec proposes stricter French language law – PART 2
Speaker, September 23, 2021
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Panel discussion on ESG considerations
Speaker, Toronto, June 10, 2021
ACPM Video Roundtable Event
Speaker, May 14, 2020
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Modernizing Pensions in Canada
Speaker, Toronto, Tuesday, April 30, 2019
CBA/ABA/IPEBLA Global Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Conference
Speaker, Boston, MA, June 10 – 12, 2018
Opportunities and Obligations – The Road Forward – Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar
Speaker, June 5, 2018
Pension Fund Investing at Any Size – The Fundamentals
Speaker, Toronto, October 24, 2017
Employment Law Update: New challenges and opportunities for Quebec employers
Panelist, June 15, 2016
Published Work
- L’encadrement des régimes CD : maintenir le statu quo ou réglementer ?, a conference of the Association of Canadian Pension Management regarding the legal environment for defined contribution plans, April 2016.
- Change in the Legal Landscape, a conference at the ACPM national conference in Kelowna, September 2015.
- La priorité incertaine des régimes de retraite, a conference regarding issues arising on the insolvency of a plan sponsor, May 2015.
- Pension Fund Investments and Related Fiduciary Issues From a Québec Perspective, published in Employee Benefits in Canada, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
- Panel discussion with experts of the insurance industry regarding litigation trends in fiduciary liability, Professional Liability Underwriting Society.
- Attention au décaissement, an article regarding issues relating to decumulation options under defined contribution plans, Avantages magazine, February 2015.
- Dois-je vraiment conserver tous ces documents?, an article regarding the importance of record retention, Avantages magazine, June 2014.
- Indalex: What Impact has the Supreme Court of Canada’s Decision had on Pension Plans?, webinar organized by the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute (CPBI).
- Pension Governance Course of the College of Corporate Directors (Collège des administrateurs de sociétés), May 2013 and May 2014.
- An Overview of the Canadian Pension Regulatory System; an article published in the Journal of the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association, 2014.
- Panel discussion with Jim Leech (CEO of Teachers) and other experts regarding Canada’s pension crisis and the need for innovative solutions, November 2013.
- The Powers and Duties of Pension Board Members, a presentation on the role and fiduciary duties of a pension plan administrator, Osler seminar, March 25, 2013.
- La gestion du risque relié aux régimes de retraite, a presentation on pension de-risking strategies, Osler seminar, October 30, 2012.
- Le régime à prestation cible : une solution incontournable?; a presentation on target benefit plans, conference of the Association of Canadian Pension Management, December 2, 2011.
- Agreement Respecting Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans in Effect for Certain Ontario and Québec Plans; article published in the Taxation of Executive Compensation and Retirement Journal, August 2011.
- Déficit actuariels des régimes de retraite et augmentation des coûts liés aux avantages sociaux, an article on recent developments in pension and post-retirement benefits law published in Développements récents en droit du travail 2011, volume 333, Service de la formation continue du Barreau du Québec.
- Insaisissabilité des régimes de retraite et du CÉLI et partage du patrimoine familial: qu’en est-il ?, a presentation on seizure of pension benefits and division of pensions on marriage breakdown, conference of the Association de planification fiscale et financière (APFF), November 26, 2009.
Credentials
Education
- University of Ottawa, LL.L. (Civil Law)
- Dalhousie University, LL.B. (Common Law)
Languages
- French
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Bar of Québec
- Law Society of Ontario
- Chair of the Quebec Regional Council of the Association of Canadian Pension Management
- Canadian Bar Association
- International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
- Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute.
