Jon practices exclusively in the pensions and employee benefits law area where he provides advice on legal and regulatory issues affecting all aspects of provincially and federally regulated pension plans and other employee benefit plans.
Jon deals with issues such as plan design, governance and administration, pension de-risking, plan wind ups, plan compliance, as well as pension and benefit issues arising in corporate transactions generally, including acquisitions, divestitures, mergers and corporate reorganizations.
Jon has assisted on several conversions of registered pension plans from defined benefit to shared risk plans (a form of target benefit plan) in both the public and private sectors in the province in New Brunswick. Jon also provides ongoing advice relating to the administration of shared risk plans.
Representative Work
- Trilogy Trilogy in its take-private of Indigo Books & Music
- Recursion Recursion in its acquisition of Valence Discovery for US$47.5 million
- Recursion Recursion in its acquisition of Cyclica for US$40 million
- CNH Industrial CNH Industrial in its agreement to acquire Hemisphere GNSS for $175 million
- TELUS International TELUS International in its US$1.225 billion acquisition of WillowTree
- Canalyst Canalyst in its acquisition by Tegus
- Verisk Analytics Verisk Analytics in its acquisition of Opta
- Kinross Gold Corporation Kinross Gold Corporation in its US$1.4 billion acquisition of Great Bear Resources
- Roadmunk Roadmunk in its acquisition by Tempo Software
- TopBuild TopBuild in its $1 billion acquisition of Distribution International
- Perpetua Perpetua in its US$52 million acquisition by Ascential
- Battle North Gold Corporation Battle North Gold Corporation in its acquisition by Evolution Mining Limited
- Drax Group plc Drax Group plc in its acquisition of Pinnacle Renewable Energy
- Suncor Energy Inc. Suncor Energy Inc. in its takeover of day-to-day operations at Syncrude oil sands mining joint venture
- Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley in its acquisition of Solium Capital for $1.1 billion
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board – Pension Plan Conversion The Board of Trustees of the WSIB Pension Plan Fund in the conversion of WSIB’s defined benefit, single employer pension plan to a jointly sponsored pension plan
- Essar Steel Algoma Algoma Steel Inc. and certain senior secured term lenders in Canada in Algoma’s acquisition of substantially all the assets of Essar Steel Algoma in connection to a restructuring under the CCAA
- The Bank of Nova Scotia The Bank of Nova Scotia in the sale of its Caribbean banking operations to Republic Financial Holdings Limited
- Artech Information Systems, LLC Artech Information Systems, LLC in its acquisition of the Talent & Technology Solutions business unit (“TTS”) of CDI Corporation
- The Weidmüller Group The Weidmüller Group in its acquisition of the W Interconnections group companies
- Corus Entertainment Inc. Corus Entertainment Inc. in the proposed sale of specialty channels to Bell Media Inc. for approximately $200 million
- Stryker Corporation Stryker Corporation in its acquisition of NOVADAQ Technologies Inc.
- Tim Hortons Inc. in its proposed $12.5 billion merger with Burger King, which will create a new global powerhouse restaurant company based in Canada.
- Manulife Financial Corporation in its $4-billion acquisition of the Canadian-based operations of Standard Life plc. The deal combines Manulife, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, and Standard Life Canada, the country’s fifth-largest insurer.
- Canadian counsel to JP Morgan Chase & Co. in the sale of its physical commodities business to Mercuria Energy Group Limited, a global energy and commodities trading company, for $3.5 billion.
- Assistance and advice relating to the conversion to, and administration of, shared risk plans (a form of target benefit plan) in the province of New Brunswick
- Ongoing advice to Canadian and international companies in connection with the implementation of de-risking strategies (including annuity purchases, soft freezes, hard freezes, conversions, terminations, lump sum payments, target benefit plans, etc.)
- Ongoing advice to clients on pension plan administration, governance and compliance issues, including trust law and surplus issues, pension plan termination issues, family law issues and non-pension benefits
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- Canalyst Canalyst in its acquisition by Tegus
- Verisk Analytics Verisk Analytics in its acquisition of Opta
- Kinross Gold Corporation Kinross Gold Corporation in its US$1.4 billion acquisition of Great Bear Resources
- Roadmunk Roadmunk in its acquisition by Tempo Software
- TopBuild TopBuild in its $1 billion acquisition of Distribution International
- Perpetua Perpetua in its US$52 million acquisition by Ascential
- Battle North Gold Corporation Battle North Gold Corporation in its acquisition by Evolution Mining Limited
- Drax Group plc Drax Group plc in its acquisition of Pinnacle Renewable Energy
- Suncor Energy Inc. Suncor Energy Inc. in its takeover of day-to-day operations at Syncrude oil sands mining joint venture
- Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley in its acquisition of Solium Capital for $1.1 billion
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board – Pension Plan Conversion The Board of Trustees of the WSIB Pension Plan Fund in the conversion of WSIB’s defined benefit, single employer pension plan to a jointly sponsored pension plan
- Essar Steel Algoma Algoma Steel Inc. and certain senior secured term lenders in Canada in Algoma’s acquisition of substantially all the assets of Essar Steel Algoma in connection to a restructuring under the CCAA
- The Bank of Nova Scotia The Bank of Nova Scotia in the sale of its Caribbean banking operations to Republic Financial Holdings Limited
- Artech Information Systems, LLC Artech Information Systems, LLC in its acquisition of the Talent & Technology Solutions business unit (“TTS”) of CDI Corporation
- The Weidmüller Group The Weidmüller Group in its acquisition of the W Interconnections group companies
- Corus Entertainment Inc. Corus Entertainment Inc. in the proposed sale of specialty channels to Bell Media Inc. for approximately $200 million
- Stryker Corporation Stryker Corporation in its acquisition of NOVADAQ Technologies Inc.
- Tim Hortons Inc. in its proposed $12.5 billion merger with Burger King, which will create a new global powerhouse restaurant company based in Canada.
- Manulife Financial Corporation in its $4-billion acquisition of the Canadian-based operations of Standard Life plc. The deal combines Manulife, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, and Standard Life Canada, the country’s fifth-largest insurer.
- Canadian counsel to JP Morgan Chase & Co. in the sale of its physical commodities business to Mercuria Energy Group Limited, a global energy and commodities trading company, for $3.5 billion.
- Assistance and advice relating to the conversion to, and administration of, shared risk plans (a form of target benefit plan) in the province of New Brunswick
- Ongoing advice to Canadian and international companies in connection with the implementation of de-risking strategies (including annuity purchases, soft freezes, hard freezes, conversions, terminations, lump sum payments, target benefit plans, etc.)
- Ongoing advice to clients on pension plan administration, governance and compliance issues, including trust law and surplus issues, pension plan termination issues, family law issues and non-pension benefits
Latest Insights
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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
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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 -
Webinar Jun 10, 2021
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Panel discussion on ESG considerations
Join Osler’s Pension & Benefits Group for our annual discussion on hot topics and recent developments facing Canadian pension plan sponsors and...
Read more -
Blog Dec 17, 2020
WSIB and OCEU complete first-ever SEPP to JSPP conversion in Canada
With current market conditions and a low interest rate environment creating sustainability-related concerns for sponsors of defined benefit...
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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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Employee Benefits Law
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Legal 500: Recognized as a “Rising Star”
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Lexpert Rising Stars: Recognized as a Rising Star (2024)
Media Mentions
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Osler News Nov 20, 2024
Olivia Dixon, Christine Jackson, Jonathan Marin and Dan Shea named 2024 Lexpert Rising Stars
Congratulations to Olivia Dixon, Christine Jackson, Jonathan Marin and Dan Shea on being named 2024 Lexpert Rising Stars: Canada’s Leading Lawyers...
Read more -
Osler News Apr 22, 2021
143 Osler lawyers recognized in the 2021 Canadian Lexpert Directory
Osler is proud to announce that 143 of our lawyers have been recognized in the 2021 edition of The Canadian Lexpert Directory, including 12 newly...
Read more -
Media Mentions May 11, 2020
Considerations for DC plan sponsors before suspending employer contributions – Canadian Investment Review
The fact that the Canada Revenue Agency is waiving the minimum 1% employer contribution requirement for defined contribution (DC) pension plans until...
Read more -
Osler News Mar 1, 2020
Osler welcomes 11 new partners, 1 new counsel
Osler is proud to announce the addition of 11 new partners and one new counsel across three of our offices, effective March 1.
Read more
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 moreOsler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Modernizing Pensions in Canada
Read moreOpportunities and Obligations – The Road Forward – Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar
Read moreOsler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Managing IT & Cybersecurity Risk
Panelist, May 9, 2023
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Geo-Political Risk Management in a Changing World
Speaker, May 26, 2022
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Panel discussion on ESG considerations
Speaker, Toronto, June 10, 2021
Benefits Canada 2019 Defined Constitution Investment Forum
Speaker, Toronto, September 27, 2019
Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar – Modernizing Pensions in Canada
Speaker, Toronto, Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Webinar – Employers Prepare for Cannabis Legalization in Canada
Speaker, June 12, 2018
Opportunities and Obligations – The Road Forward – Osler’s Annual Pensions & Benefits Seminar
Speaker, June 5, 2018
Defined Contribution Pension Plans in an Evolving Retirement Landscape
Panelist, Toronto, November 30, 2016
Defined Contribution Pension Plans in an Evolving Retirement Landscape
Panelist, Terminal City Club – 837 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, May 27, 2016
Benefits and Pensions Monitor Half Day Meeting
Speaker, June 2015
Human Resources Professionals Association/Canadian Pensions & Benefits Institute Pension Certificate Course
Speaker, May 2015
Canadian Pensions & Benefits Institute National Webinar Series
Speaker, May 6, 2014
More infrastructure, real estate investment to come with new rules – Pensions & Investments
Pension industry hamstrung in efforts to find missing plan members – Benefits Canada
Published Work
Publications
- Regular contributor to the Osler Pensions & Benefits Law Blog (http://www.pensionsbenefitslaw.com)
- “Decumulation – Increasing Plan Value And Ensuring Compliance With Best Practices”, Benefits and Pensions Monitor, Volume 24, Number 8 (December 2014) (co-authored)
- “Heavy Duty: An emerging focus on the payout phase could mean a greater fiduciary role for DC plan sponsors”, Benefits Canada (July/August 2014) (co-authored)
- “First Nation Pension Governance and Federal Funding Assistance”, Aboriginal Writes – CBA National Aboriginal Law Section Newsletter (September 2013)
- “Private-Sector Pension Plans: Have Recent Pension Reforms Addressed the Needs of Plan Sponsors?” Canadian Labour & Employment Law Journal, Volume 17, Number 1 (2013) (co-authored).
- “Understanding and Advising Clients on Pension Entitlements on Termination of Employment or Retirement”, Estates, Trusts & Pensions Journal, Volume 32, Number 3 (May 2013) (co-authored).
- “How Documenting Keeps Clients Out of Legal Trouble”, Small Biz Advisor (February 28, 2013).
- “Navigating the uncertainty of post-retirement benefit changes”, Canadian Corporate Counsel Association Magazine, Volume 6, Number 4 (Winter 2012).
- “Withler May Make Challenges More Difficult”, Benefits and Pensions Monitor (May 2012) (co-authored).
- “Developments in the Concept of a Pension Trust: A Case Comment on Burke v. Hudson’s Bay Co.”, Estates, Trusts & Pensions Journal, Volume 30, Number 2 (March 2011) (co-authored).
- Quoted on the Pension & Investments website, “Canadian plans prepare to increase risk assets” By Rick Baert on January 8, 2018.
Credentials
Education
- University of Western Ontario, J.D.
- University of St. Andrews, M.Litt
- Queen’s University, B.A. (Hons.)
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Ontario Bar Association (Pensions & Benefits Law Section Executive: Member-At-Large, 2015–2016)
- Canadian Bar Association (Pension and Benefits Law Sector Executive, since 2017)
- Association of Canadian Pension Management
- Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute
