Mark Terence Firman

Mark's practice focuses on pension and benefit fund governance, pension fund investments, the taxation of equity awards and other long-term incentives, and pensions and benefits in mergers and acquisitions. His extensive experience includes advising on pension plan conversions and asset transfers, de-risking strategies, supplemental and international pension plans, compensation-related corporate disclosure obligations and the administration of pension and trust funds. Clients value Mark’s practical, business-focused approach, which is informed by his previous experience as in-house counsel at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Canada’s largest single-occupation pension fund.

ATCO and Canadian Utilities on the merger of equals between Emera and Canadian Utilities, the largest merger in Canadian history with a combined enterprise value of C$72-billion, and ATCO's related spinoff into a new publicly traded company

Sanjel Energy Services Inc. on its combination with STEP Energy Services Ltd., creating one of the largest and most diversified oilfield services providers in Canada

Mark has been recognized as a leading lawyer in several publications including the following:

The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2026 (Pensions & Employee Benefits – Employer)

Mark recently served as editor-in-chief of Canada’s leading pensions and benefits case law reporter, Canadian Cases on Pensions and Benefits . He regularly teaches at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and contributes to Taxation of Executive Compensation and Retiremen t, a journal that he previously edited. Mark has lectured at the University of Toronto, Queen’s University and Osgoode Hall Law School. He previously served as Secretary of the International Pension & Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA) in the Netherlands and Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Pension and Benefits Law Section. He is an active member of the Association of Canadian Pension Management, IPEBLA, the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Pension & Benefits Section of both the Canadian Bar Association and Ontario Bar Association.