Biography
Spotlight
Sources consider Lisa "very attentive and knowledgeable," emphasising her "prompt responses and feedback." Her practice includes a focus on multi-employer pension plans.
- Chambers Canada, 2021 Guide
Lisa is a partner in the firm’s Pensions and Employee Benefits Group and Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Information Group.
Pension and Employee Benefits
Lisa’s pension and employee benefits practice has a particular emphasis on multi-employer pension plans and health and welfare trusts, usually sponsored for specific industries. Lisa represents dozens of board of trustees and corporate plan sponsors in both the public and private sector and in a wide variety of industries.
Lisa provides advice and strategic support to boards of trustees, sponsors of pension and employee benefits plans and administration teams in respect of the interpretation and amendment of plan texts, the application of the governing legal principles and provincial and federal legislation and also on the day to day issues that arise with these plans. Through her pension practice Lisa works regularly with the BC Financial Services Authority and other regulatory agencies.
Lisa manages and provides strategic support and risk assessment to her clients on complex pension and employee benefit litigation, including class actions.
Privacy Law
Lisa is the firm’s privacy law and document retention lawyer and works regularly with clients to comply with applicable privacy legislation and to find and implement creative solutions to privacy issues as they arise. Lisa works regularly with the Personal Information and Protection Act (British Columbia), the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada), and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (British Columbia).
Lisa clerked for the Supreme Court of British Columbia before joining Lawson Lundell LLP.
Professional Activities
- The Law Society of British Columbia, Member
- Canadian Bar Association: Pensions and Benefits, (Former Chair/ Former Secretary)
- Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Member
- International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Member; Canadian Legal/Legislative and Public Sector, Committee Member
Recognitions & Rankings
Recognitions & Rankings
- Chambers Canada: Pensions & Benefits - Nationwide (Band 4), 2024-2025
- Best Lawyers in Canada:
- Employee Benefits Law, 2019-2025
- Lawyer of the Year - Employee Benefits Law (Vancouver), 2022
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Pensions and Employee Benefits - Employer (Leading Practitioner), 2023-2024
- Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory: BV Peer Review rated
Experience
Experience
Lisa’s pensions and employee benefits experience includes:
- Advising various clients on changes in BC and AB pension plan legislation to ensure compliance with new regulations.
- Negotiating investment management agreements
- Negotiating a buy-in annuity purchase on behalf of a pension plan sponsor
- Establishing and overseeing governance of a multi-employer, non-collectively bargained pension plan
- Merging pension plans sponsored by one corporate entity
- Acting for a company determining whether changes can be made to the program of post-retirement group benefits
- Representing a multi-employer pension plan recover withdrawal obligations from a former participating employer
- Acting for a company seeking to add new members to an existing pension plan
- Advising a health and welfare trust on a range of privacy issues, drafting requisite forms and negotiating with service providers
- Negotiating trust and custodial agreements and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals
- Drafting opinions on the tax rules that apply to pension plans and health and welfare trusts
- Representing trustees and other administrators in litigation matters including disputes among competing beneficiaries
- Drafting and amending plan texts for pension plans and health and welfare plans
- Drafting policies for plan administrators, including conflict of interest policies and other governance policies
- Drafting legal opinions on a variety of topics including: vesting, fiduciary, obligations, and privacy issues
- Negotiating group benefit arrangements
Lisa’s recent services in the area of privacy law and document retention include:
- Drafting and finalizing privacy policies for numerous clients in both the private and public spheres
- Drafting consent language and authorization forms to permit the collection, use and disclosure of personal information
- Responding to specific privacy questions and concerns
- Drafting and finalizing document retention policies that comply with applicable law
- Representing clients in applications to the Privacy Commissioner of BC
- Consideration and application of Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)
News & Publications
News & Publications
- Lisa Chamzuk Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter Article About a Decision that Could Affect Long-Term Disability Benefits , Canadian HR Reporter, October 21, 2024
- 48 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 16 Practice Areas in Chambers Canada 2025, Chambers Canada, September 26, 2024
- 83 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognised Across 35 Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025, Best Lawyers in Canada, August 29, 2024
- 46 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Ranked Across 26 Practice Areas in 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, March 5, 2024
- Lawson Lundell Lawyers Speak at PBLI Pensions & Benefits Conference, January 24, 2024
- 43 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 16 Practice Areas in Chambers Canada 2024, Chambers Canada, September 27, 2023
- 75 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognised Across 34 Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024, Best Lawyers in Canada, August 24, 2023
- 41 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Ranked Across 24 Practice Areas in 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, March 1, 2023
- 43 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 17 Practice Areas in Chambers Canada 2023, Chambers Canada, September 29, 2022
- 70 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 37 Practice Areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada 2023 , Best Lawyers in Canada, August 25, 2022
- 40 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Ranked Across 25 Practice Areas in 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, February 25, 2022
- Lawson Lundell Lawyers Speak at PBLI Pensions & Benefits Event, February 24, 2022
- 36 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 15 Practice Areas in Chambers Canada 2022, Chambers Canada, September 9, 2021
- 66 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 36 Practice Areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada® 2022 , Best Lawyers in Canada, August 26, 2021
- Lawson Lundell Wins Multiple Law Firm & Lawyer of the Year Awards from Best Lawyers in Canada 2022, Best Lawyers in Canada, August 26, 2021
- 58 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 34 Practice Areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada® 2021 , Best Lawyers in Canada® 2021 Edition, August 27, 2020
- Lawson Lundell Privacy & Data Management Organizational Risk Analysis Checklist, November 7, 2019, Co-Author
- 34 Lawson Lundell Lawyers recognized across 17 practice areas in Chambers Canada 2020, Chambers Canada, 2020 Edition, September 19, 2019
- 53 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 32 Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Canada® 2020, The Best Lawyers in Canada® 2020 Edition, August 21, 2019
- 29 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Ranked Across 19 Practice Areas in 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, © Thomson Reuters Canada Limited, Lexpert Directory 2019, April 18, 2019
- 31 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Ranked in Chambers Canada 2019, Chambers Canada , 2019 Edition, September 21, 2018
- 50 Lawson Lundell Lawyers Recognized Across 33 Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in Canada® 2019, The Best Lawyers in Canada® , 13th Edition, August 21, 2018
- CRTC Releases CASL Decision Clarifying the Limits of Implied Consent, November 3, 2016
- "'De-Risking' Picks Up Momentum as Insurers Offer Innovative Products", Pension Planning, Vol. XIX, No. 1, Federated Press, 2014, Author
- "New Wills, Estates and Succession Act Coming to BC – Application to Pension Plans", February 4, 2014, Author
- "Disengaged DC plan members could land a plan sponsor in legal hot water", Benefits Canada, October 1, 2012, Author
- "DB to DC Plan Conversions - Litigation Update", Pension Planning, Vol. XVIII, No. 1, Federated Press, 2012, Author
- Lisa Chamzuk quoted in Business in Vancouver, "Pension plan flexibility to the rescue", June 26, 2012, Interview
- "Restructuring Employee Benefits: Options and Restrictions", Pension & Benefits: Critical Issues and What’s Often Overlooked Course, The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, May 25, 2011, Author
- "Recent Changes Involving the GST and Pension Plans", Pension Planning, Vol. XV, No. 3, Federated Press, July 22, 2010, Author
- Practical Tips for Tough Economic Times, May 20, 2009
- "Pension Plan Funding Update”, Continuing Legal Education, April 2006, co-author with Murray Campbell
- “Recent Legal Developments Affecting Trusteed Pension and Benefit Plans”, February 2006, co-author with Murray Campbell
- “Cho v. Telus Communications (B.C.) Inc.: Consequences of Ambiguous Terms in Pension Plans”, Pension Planning, Vol. X, No. 3, 2003, Author
Blog Posts
- Termination of LTD Benefits at Age 65 Means Plan not “Bona Fide” under Human Rights Code, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , October 4, 2024
- Risky Business: CAPSA Publishes Final Risk Management Guideline for Pension Plans, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , September 19, 2024
- New Draft Information Security Guideline Released for Pension Plans, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , July 10, 2024
- BCFSA to Collect Information on Defined Contribution Plans from Fundholders, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , April 22, 2024
- BC FSA Issues Best Practices Guidance for Multi-Employer Pension Plans, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , June 8, 2023
- ‘Tis the Season…for Triennial Assessments!, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , December 16, 2022
- Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits Increasing from 15 to 26 Weeks, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , December 12, 2022
- New Pension Plan Information & Records Guidelines Come Into Effect September 30th , Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , July 12, 2022
- BC Financial Services Authority Revises Their Information Security and Outsourcing Guidelines, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , June 21, 2021
- CAPSA Updates Pension Plan Funding Policy Guidelines, Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog , May 25, 2021
- Privacy in Public: Supreme Court Says Individuals May Have a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy in Public Spaces, Privacy & Data Management Blog, March 6, 2019
Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
"Being an Effective Pension and Benefit Trustee: Responsibilities and Protections" by Lisa Chamzuk, at the Pacific Business & Law Institute's 'Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefit Plan Trustees' Conference (2024).
- Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefit Plan Trustees Conference, Vancouver, February 19, 2025, Speaker
- IFEBP Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, San Antonio, TX, November 25, 2024, Panelist, Speaker
- ISCEBS Recent Legal Developments in Western Canada Webinar, Online Webinar, September 26, 2024, Speaker
- 2024 ACPM National Conference | Navigating Data Governance, Security and the Legal Landscape of Pension Plans, Kelowna, BC, September 25, 2024, Moderator
- Canadian Legal and Legislative Update | Cross-Country Pensions Update, Halifax, NS, May 15, 2024, Speaker
- “Being an Effective Pension and Benefit Trustee: Responsibilities and Protections”, 28th Annual Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefit Plan Trustees, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC, February 16, 2022 (Speaker)
- What do BC Public Bodies and partner agencies need to know about FOIPPA, Webinar On-Demand, Presenter
- “Legal/Legislative Update Across Canada”, International Foundation 54th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, November 22, 2021 (Speaker)
- “The U.K. Pension Schemes Act Mandating the Consideration of Climate Change”, Pension Fund Perspectives for ESG Osgoode ESG, Climate & Law Certificate, Osgoode Law School Professional Development, November 18, 2021 (Speaker)
- “Master of Trust Management Standards (MTMS)”, International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans Certificate Program, October 4, 2021 (Instructor)
- “Cross-Country Pension Update - Today's Legal & Legislative Landscape Across Canada”, International Foundation 54th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, May 12, 2021 (Co-Speaker)
- Privacy and Security Trends: With Tales From the Front Lines, Webinar On-Demand
- “Legal/Legislative Update – Western Canada”, International Foundation 52nd Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, San Francisco, California, November 25, 2019 (Speaker)
- “Plenary 2/Legal/Legislative Developments Across Canada”, International Foundation 52nd Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, San Francisco, California, November 25, 2019 (Co-Speaker)
- “Master of Trust Management Standards (MTMS)”, International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans Certificate Program, San Francisco, California, November 24, 2019 (Instructor)
- Master of Trust Management Standard Course, November 23 - 24, Teacher
- “Canada Legal and Legislative Update”, 38th Annual ISCEBS Employee Benefits Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 9, 2019 (Speaker)
- “Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefits Plan Trustees”, Pacific Business & Law Institute, Vancouver, BC, February 27, 2019 (Speaker)
- “Legal/Legislative Update – Western Canada”, International Foundation 51st Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, November 19, 2018 (Speaker)
- “Legal and Regulatory Update: Trends and Developments in Pensions and Benefits”, International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans, Ottawa, Ontario, May 17, 2018 (Speaker)
- "Exploring the Unique Ethical and Professional Issues Faced by Pension Lawyers", CBA Law Series - Spring 2018, Webinar, April 25, 2018, Co-Speaker
- "Hot pension topics: Legal and actuarial perspectives", 2018 Pension Leadership Forum, Facing Challenges, Finding Solutions, Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE), Vancouver BC, February 22, 2018, Co-Speaker
- “Canada Legal / Legislative Update”, International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists 36th Annual ISCEBS Symposium, Denver, Colorado, (September 18, 2017), Speaker
- “Legal/Legislative Update—Western Canada”, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 50th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, Montréal, Québec (August 21, 2017), Speaker
- "Featured Presentation – Legal/Legislative Developments Across Canada", International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 50th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, Montréal, Québec (August 21, 2017), Panelist
- “Pension Law and Fiduciary Duties”, SHARE's Boot Camp, Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE), Vancouver BC (February 23, 2017), Speaker
- “Legal/Legislative Update—Western Canada”, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 49th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, San Diego, CA (November 21, 2016), Speaker
- "Featured Presentation – Legal/Legislative Developments Across Canada", International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans 49th Annual Canadian Employee Benefits Conference, San Diego, CA (November 21, 2016), Panelist
- “Canadian Legal Update”, International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists 35th Annual Symposium, Baltimore, Maryland (September 20, 2016), Speaker
- "Change in the Legal Landscape", Association of Canadian Pension Management National Conference, Kelowna, BC (September 17, 2015), Speaker
- "Canadian Legal Update", International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists Symposium, Vancouver, BC (August 25, 2015), Speaker
- “Canadian Legal Update”, International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists 33rd Annual Symposium, Phoenix, Arizona (September 7, 2014), Speaker
- "Application of CASL", Presentation to Victoria Advanced Technology Council (VIATeC), Victoria, BC (June 4, 2014), Speaker
- "Cross Country Legislative Update", Canadian Legal and Legislative Update Conference, Ottawa, ON (May 29, 2014), Speaker
- "Privacy and Record Management for Pension & Benefit Plans", Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefit Plan Trustees, Vancouver, BC (February 26, 2014), Speaker
- "You Be The Judge", Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute Western Regional Conference, Whistler, BC (October 11, 2013), Speaker
- "2013 Legal and Legislative Update", The Changing Landscape for Trustees and Administrators, BC Building Trades 35th Annual Pension, Health & Welfare Seminar, Burnaby, BC (October 9, 2013), Speaker
- "Liability and the Fiduciary" and "Trust Law Basics", 21st Essential Skills for Pension Committee Members, Speaker
- "Legal & Legislative Update", The International Foundation’s Canadian Legal and Legislative Conference, Victoria, BC, (May 24-25, 2012), Speaker
- "Pension Plan Solvency", CPBI Continuing Education Session, Vancouver, BC (April 25, 2012), Speaker
- "Assessing & Managing Conflicts of Interest", 7th Pension Law & Litigation Course, Federated Press, Vancouver, BC, (March 12-13, 2012), Speaker
- "Liability and the Trustee"7th Pension Law & Litigation Course, Federated Press, Vancouver, BC (March 12-13, 2012), Speaker
- "Pension Plan Funding"Pension Funding and Current Issues, Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Victoria, BC (February 22, 2011) , Speaker
- "Managing Service Provider Contracts"16th Essential Skills for Pension Committee Members, Federated Press, Vancouver, BC (November 8-9, 2010), Course Leader
- "Assessing and Managing Conflicts of Interest"5th Pension Law & Litigation Course, Federated Press, Vancouver, BC (March 17-18, 2010), Speaker
- "Plan Design in Difficult Times"Pension Basics - Beyond the Basics Continuing Education Series, Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Burnaby, BC (January 20, 2010), Speaker
- “The Funding Fiasco: What you can do when Faced with Staggering Pension Funding Obligations”Practical Tips for Tough Economic Times Seminar, Vancouver, BC (May 20, 2009), Speaker
- "Foundations for Trustees"International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Vancouver, BC (June 23, 2008), Speaker
- “Fiduciary Obligations and Liability” Federated Press, Vancouver, BC (December 20, 2007) , Speaker
- “Introduction to Trust Responsibility” International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans, Vancouver, BC (September 27, 2007), Speaker
- “Pension Division on Marital Breakdown: An Introduction” Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute, Continuing Education Series (February 5, 2003) , Speaker
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Assistant Contact
- Lisa Trim
- Legal Assistant
- T: 604.408.5419
- ltrim@lawsonlundell.com
Bar Admissions
- British Columbia (2002)
Education
Simon Fraser University (B.A., 1996)
University of Victoria (LL.B., 2000)