Murray is a pension lawyer who acts for boards of trustees and other sponsors of pension and benefit plans in the private and public sectors in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. While Murray is a solicitor, he is regularly involved in pension and benefit litigation.

Murray is the head of Western Canada's largest and most experienced Pensions and Benefits Law Group.

Bar Admissions
Alberta (1985)
British Columbia (1990)

Education
University of Saskatchewan (B.Comm., 1983)
Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B., 1984)

Significant Accomplishments
Pension and Benefit Litigation Experience

Involved in disputes over or involving:

*Reduction in post-retirement benefits
*Trustee deadlock resolution
*Integration of registered pensions plans with Canada Pension Plan
*Conversion of defined benefit pension plans to defined contribution pension plans
*Collection of Exit Levies from employers leaving health and welfare trusts
*Enhanced early retirement entitlement
*Entitlement to pre-retirement death benefit
*Recovery of benefit overpayments, including recovery on account of recovery from third party
*Disability benefit denial
*Trustee advice and direction
*Surplus ownership
*Contribution holidays

Pension and Benefits Practice (Non-Litigious)

*Advises over 30 boards of trustees of multi-employer pension or benefit plans
*Helped introduce Saskatchewan's first target benefit pension plan
*Chaired Union Management Task Force constituted to determine future pension arrangements for a large public sector employer "€œ implemented unanimous report accepted by all parties
*Conducted review of governance structure of staff pension plan of significant public sector employer, including extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders, and implementation of recommendations
*Helped introduce joint trusteeship to several public sector pension plans in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba
*Advises trustees and other plan sponsors on fiduciary liability
*Prepares plan texts and other documentation for post-retirement benefit plans
*Drafts and amends plan texts and trust agreements for RPPs, health and welfare plans, DPSPs, EPSPs, group RRSPs, RCAs and IPPs
*Prepares complete restatements of plan texts
*Drafts and implements supplemental pension arrangements
*Drafts and implements letters of credit trust arrangements to secure supplemental pension arrangements or comply with new solvency rules
*Helped establish new defined benefit multi-employer pension plan
*Advises on compliance with CAPSA CAP guidelines for participant directed defined contribution plans
*Implements PIPA compliant privacy policies for boards of trustees of pension and benefit plans
*Prepares opinions on, and liaises with regulators and fundholders regarding, surplus ownership, contribution holidays and payment of administrative expenses


Professional Associations
Canadian Bar Insurance Association, Board of Directors
Pension and Benefits Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association (B.C. Branch) (1993 - 1995) and (2008 - 2010), Chair
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Member
International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA), Member
Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Member

Recognition and Ranking

*Lexpert Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada: recognized for pensions and employee benefits law
*Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2015: most frequently recommended as a Leading Practitioner for pensions and employee benefits - employer
*Legal 500 Canada 2014: recognized as a Leading Individual in the Labour and Employment category
*Best Lawyers in Canada: recognized for employee benefits law
*Best Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver for 2013
*Best Lawyers: Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver for 2011
*Chambers Global: recognized in the Pensions & Benefits (Canada) category

Community Activities
*Forest Hills Little League (North Vancouver), Coach (2004 - 2012)
*Lawyers Assistance Program of BC Society, Board Member (2001 - 2007)

Seminars/ Presentation
Murray has chaired and presented at many Pension and Employee Benefits Law conferences over the last 15 years. Some of his most recent engagements include:

"Legal and Legislative Developments Across Canada", 47th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Calgary, Alberta, (August 10-13, 2014), Panelist

"Recent Legal Developments", 20th Annual Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefit Plan Trustees Conference, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC, (February 26, 2014), Chair and Speaker

"Legal and Legislative Developments Across Canada", 45th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Orlando, Florida, (November 18-21, 2012), Panelist

"Legal and Legislative Developments Across Canada”, 42nd Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Las Vegas, Nevada, (November 22-25, 2009), Panelist

"Negotiating Investment Management Contracts for Trustees and Administrators”, 42nd Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Las Vegas, Nevada, (November 22-25, 2009), Speaker

"Recent Legal Developments", 19th Annual Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefit Plan Trustees Conference, Vancouver, BC (February 27, 2013), Chair and Speaker

"Legal Update", 2012 BC Pension Forum, Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE), Vancouver, BC (March 12, 2012), Speaker

"Recent Legal Developments", 18th Annual Essential Tasks of Pensions and Benefit Plan Trustees Conference, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (February 22, 2012), Chair and Speaker

"Legal and Legislative Developments Across Canada", 44th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Vancouver, BC (September 11-14, 2011), Panelist

"Statutory Reform - What It Means to My Plan", 44th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Vancouver, BC (September 11-14, 2011), Speaker

"Recent Legal Developments", 17th Annual Essential Tasks of Pensions and Benefit Plan Trustees Conference, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (February 23, 2011), Chair and Speaker

"Current Pension and Benefits Issues", 7th Annual Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) Conference, Vancouver, BC (September 23-25, 2010), Speaker

"Recent Legal Developments", 16th Annual Essential Tasks of Pensions and Benefit Plan Trustees Conference, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (January 27, 2010), Chair and Speaker

"Recent Legal Developments", 15th Annual Essential Tasks of Pensions and Benefit Plan Trustees Conference, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC (February 24, 2009), Chair and Speaker

"Employee Benefit Plans in Global Transactions" and "Post-Closing Integration Issues", Pension and Employee Benefits in Mergers and Acquisitions Conference, Canadian Bar Association and the Continuing Legal Education Committee (November 20-22, 2008), Speaker

"Legal and Legislative Developments, Western Canada", 41st annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (August 2008), Speaker

"New Legal Challenges Facing Trustees and Plan Administrator", 31st Annual Pension, Health & Welfare Seminar of the British Columbia & Yukon Territory Building & Construction Trades Council (May 2008), Speaker

"3rd Annual, The Essential Course in Pensions, The Legal and Practical Guide for Lawyers and Other Professionals", Continuing Legal Education Conference, Toronto, Ontario (October 2007), Speaker

"Legal and Legislative Developments, Western Canada", 40th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (August 2007), Speaker

Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefit Plan Trustees (February 25, 2015), Co-author

Lawson Lundell Recognized in Chambers Global 2013 (March 22, 2013)

Murray Campbell named Employee Benefits Law Lawyer of the Year (Vancouver) by Best Lawyers (August 30, 2012)

Lawson Lundell Recognized in Chambers Global 2012 (March 19, 2012)

Murray Campbell named Employee Benefits Lawyer of the Year (Vancouver) by Best Lawyers (November 5, 2010)

Pension Dispute Arbitration Prevails Over Class Proceedings (July 30, 2007)

Court of Appeal Upholds Decision on Unequal Benefits Reduction in Multi-Employer Plan (November 1, 2006)

Ontario Divisional Court Disallows Plan Amendments Permitting Payment of Administrative Expenses from Pension Fund; Orders Repayment (May 30, 2006)

Pension Arbitration Trumped by Class Proceeding Legislation (March 12, 2006)

How Class Action Suits are Changing the Pension and Benefits Landscape (November 10, 2004)

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