Overview
In an increasingly competitive market, companies must provide creative and tax-effective compensation and benefits to attract, retain and motivate the highest-quality people.
Well-designed compensation plans and arrangements that take into account the complexities of domestic and foreign tax regimes, as well as securities and employment laws, can assist companies in avoiding unexpected costs and controversy - and can yield significant advantages in developing a premier workforce and superior management team.
The Gowling WLG Executive Compensation Group is a multidisciplinary team of legal professionals with expertise in taxation, pensions and benefits, employment and securities laws, and corporate governance. As part of a global, full-service law firm with offices across Canada as well as in the U.K., Europe, Asia and the Middle East, we provide practical, seamless advice on all compensation and benefits issues.
Plans tailored to your needs
Before adopting any executive compensation plan, we work with clients to determine which plan(s) will help them best meet their business objectives. Once we understand an organization's goals, we use our experience, knowledge and creativity to devise unique and innovative ways to achieve them.
Our group can design a full range of contemporary compensation plans, including equity-based incentive plans and arrangements, and phantom share and performance-based plans as well as registered pension plans, supplementary retirement plans, retirement compensation arrangements, group RRSPs and retiring allowances.
We counsel clients on governance aspects, securities law and stock exchange compliance, and the tax implications for the company and individuals participating in these plans. Our employment lawyers have expertise in drafting and negotiating senior executive employment contracts as well as change-of-control, indemnification and severance agreements.
In Canada and abroad
Gowling WLG bridges tax borders by delivering high-quality, integrated advice on the tax laws of foreign countries, in addition to the Canadian tax implications of arrangements for clients and their employees.
We also assist with transfers of foreign personnel between Canada and other jurisdictions on a temporary or permanent basis, and provide advice regarding visa and work permit issues as well as Canadian income tax implications for inbound and outbound personnel.
Learn more
We want to help you succeed. To learn more about our services, please contact any member of our team.