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Susan G. Seller

Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

<p>Susan Seller wrote in <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.benefitscanada.com/expertpanel_/susan-g-seller/expert-panel-risk-management-target-benefit-framework-among-themes-shaping-pension-industry-in-2024/" target="_blank">Benefits Canada</a></em> on the<span style="color: #0d0d0d; background-color: #ffffff;"> anticipated developments in pension law and governance for the upcoming year. The article highlights the focus on risk management, particularly regarding environmental, social and governance factors, cybersecurity, and investment risks. There's also attention on improving governance for defined contribution pension plans, including better communication, member engagement and investment education. She discusses the need for more robust governance and funding policies, handling missing members' entitlements, reporting cybersecurity incidents and the adoption of target-benefit frameworks to address the decline in defined benefit plan coverage.</span></p>

Risk Management Target Benefit Framework Among Themes Shaping Pension Industry in 2024

Risk Management, Target-Benefit Framework Among Themes Shaping Pension Industry in 2024

Denise D. Bright

Public and Private Company Financial Transactions and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Michael S. Shakra

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

<p><span>Bill C-228, <em>An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985</em> received Royal Assent on April 27, 2023 and is now law, subject to a four-year transitional period before its provisions come into effect.</span></p>
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New Pension Priorities in Bankruptcy and Insolvency are Closer to Reality

New Pension Priorities in Bankruptcy and Insolvency Are Now Reality

Susan Seller writes in <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/governance-law/expert-panel-air-canada-decision-illustrates-danger-of-relying-on-pension-plan-terms-in-wrongful-dismissal-actions/" target="_blank">Benefits Canada</a></em> on the potential issues caused by exclusive dependence on the terms of pension plans during wrongful dismissal proceedings. Susan outlines a recent court decision involving Air Canada—in which an employee who was dismissed after 37 years of service claimed that his pension benefits were improperly calculated—and reviews the importance of language in pension plan text as well as risk mitigation strategies that companies can adopt to prepare them to avoid and counter these kinds of claims.

Expert Panel Air Canada Decision Illustrates Danger of Relying on Pension Plan Terms

Expert Panel: Air Canada Decision Illustrates Danger of Relying on Pension Plan Terms in Wrongful Dismissal Actions

Susan Seller writes in <em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.benefitscanada.com/expertpanel_/susan-g-seller/expert-panel-an-update-on-regulatory-oversight-of-pension-risk-management/?utm_source=EmailMarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_content=benefitscanada.com&utm_campaign=Benefits-Canada-Daily-Newsletters&oft_id=114899907&oft_k=VeaHvWcr&oft_lk=EsTp3E&oft_d=638066216812900000&fpid=455439&m32_fp_id=x8bVfO&ctx=newsletter&m32_fp_ctx=DI_MASTER_Relational" target="_blank">Benefits Canada</a></em> on the newly developed CAPSA committee aimed at developing risk management guidelines for pension plans. Susan explores how the feedback garnered from the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions could influence the findings and initiatives brought up by this new committee.

An Update on Regulatory Oversight of Pension Risk Management

David J. Wahl, FCIArb

Construction Arbitration & Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Christopher Petrucci

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Alex Payne

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

The Ontario Superior Court in Feldt Electric Ltd v Gorbern Mechanical Contractors held that non-compliance with an adjudicator&rsquo;s determination does not automatically invalidate a lien. The decision underscores the importance of jurisdiction and procedural fairness in construction disputes under Ontario&rsquo;s prompt payment and adjudication regime.

Liening on Fairness

Lorelei Graham

Food and Agribusiness Lawyer, IP Lawyer, Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Andrew Bozzato

Corporate, M&A, Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Michelle Galati

Corporate Commercial and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

Investment in agribusiness experienced a boom in the early 2020s, when investor enthusiasm for food security, supply chain resilience and agricultural innovation surged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Venture capital deployed unprecedented levels of funding into agrifood technology, while private equity groups targeted food processing, logistics and packaging platforms. At its peak, Canadian venture funding across the economy reached record highs in 2021 and 2022, and agribusiness was a direct beneficiary of that exuberance.

AI and Tech Are Powering Agribusiness Deal Flow

Kwang Lim

Corporate and Securities Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

Vancouver Managing Partner

Angela Blake

M&A, Securities and Corporate Finance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Laura James

Corporate Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

M&amp;A activity in Canada rebounded in Q3 2025, with total deal value rising sharply year-over-year. Our update explores shifting deal structures, the rise of earnouts, cross-border dynamics, and the sectors driving growth.

Canadas Q3 2025 MA Landscape

Canada's Q3 2025 M&A Landscape

Dominique Carli

Commercial Transactions Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Wittington Investments has launched a C$100 million fund to support Canadian food producers with equity or debt financing. Success depends on legal readiness, from IP protection to governance, ensuring businesses are prepared to attract and secure investment.

Legal Readiness for Food Producers Navigating Wittington Investments C100M Fund

Legal Readiness for Food Producers: Navigating Wittington Investments’ C$100M Fund

Kees de Ridder

Intellectual Property Lawyer, Patent Agent and Trademark Agent at Bennett Jones Calgary

Associate, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent

Benjamin K. Reingold

Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Stephen D. Burns

Technology Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Calgary

Partner, Trademark Agent

The Supreme Court of Canada will hear Pharmascience Inc v Janssen Inc on October 9, 2025, a case that could reshape the scope of patentable subject matter in Canada. At issue is whether a dosing regimen for a pharmaceutical product constitutes an unpatentable method of medical treatment or a valid invention under the Patent Act. The Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal upheld the patent&rsquo;s validity, but Pharmascience has challenged this position. With several industry groups granted intervenor status, the case is expected to have significant implications not only for the pharmaceutical industry but also for broader questions of what qualifies as an &ldquo;invention,&rdquo; including computer-implemented and AI-related technologies.

Supreme Court to Assess Subject Matter Eligibility in Canadian

Supreme Court to Assess Subject Matter Eligibility in Canadian Patent Law: Implications Beyond the Pharmaceutical Context

Regulation of Employee Benefit Plans in Canada

From the Same Authors