Chambers Canada 2019 Guide Recognizes Hicks Morley for Employment and Labour, Pensions and Benefits, and Privacy and Data Protection

Hicks Morley has been recognized in Chambers Canada 2019 Guide for Employment & Labour – Nationwide and Ontario, and Pensions & Benefits – Nationwide. The firm receives praise from clients for giving “sound advice and explaining things in a business-friendly way,” as well as for its “very strong bench” as well as its “technical expertise and promptness.”

Congratulations to our lawyers who have been recognized as notable practitioners in Chambers Canada 2019.

Marriage Breakdown Workshop

The division of pension benefits on marriage breakdown and the determination of entitlement to death benefits often gives rise to complex administration issues, which can be compounded by the emotions of the parties involved. This learn-by-doing workshop is designed to build and enhance the specific technical skills required by HR and pension benefits professionals in the context of a pension plan member’s marriage breakdown.

Hicks Morley Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2019

Hicks Morley congratulates 27 of our lawyers for being recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2019 in the areas of Labour and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Privacy and Data Security Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.

2018 Federal Budget Bill Passes

On June 21, 2018, Bill C-74, the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 1, received Royal Assent. Bill C-74 is omnibus legislation enacting some of the measures outlined in the 2018 Federal Budget. Among other things,  it includes amendments to the following: Employment Insurance Act, to permanently implement the Working While on Claim pilot project; Canada…

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Decision on Post Age 65 Benefits Raises Important Issues

The recent decision from the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) in Talos v. Grand Erie District School Board raises important issues about the provision of benefits to employees aged 65 and older. In Talos, the Tribunal found that section 25 (2.1) of the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code), which effectively permits employers to cease providing employees with benefits at age 65, is unconstitutional. More specifically, the Tribunal held that this age-based “carve out” from Code protection violates the equality guarantee under section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter) and cannot be justified under section 1 of the Charter as a reasonable limit.

Ontario Budget Bill Passes

On May 8, 2018, Bill 31, the Plan for Care and Opportunity Act (Budget Measures), 2018, passed Third Reading and received Royal Assent. As previously reported, Bill 31 is omnibus legislation implementing some of the key initiatives outlined in the government’s 2018 Budget. Bill 31 makes the following pension-related changes: Increases Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund…

Natasha Monkman Quoted by the Financial Post on Nortel Pensioners Litigation

Hicks Morley’s Natasha Monkman was quoted by the Financial Post in an article titled “More waiting could be in store for Nortel pensioners.” The article discusses how a recent decision by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) to reclaim $200 million from monies allocated to pensioners in the Nortel Networks Corp. bankruptcy, and the related litigation, could…