History of IPEBLA

Remembering the Past, Planning for the Future

In 2014, the Steering Committee, with many founding members in or nearing retirement, undertook the task of writing its history. As an organization, we recognize the importance of remembering the past while planning for the future. We have since continued updating these records every two years to include the names of key leaders of the organization, award recipients, and memories shared by those in attendance at our conferences. Some key themes we are exploring within the Steering Committee’s current term include continuing to branch out our membership recruitment and retention initiatives by reaching out to prospective members in countries having never before held membership with IPEBLA, updating our website, expanding our work on a Regulatory Liaison Committee, and exploring creating Global Equity Compensation streams at our conferences. We look forward to continuing this work and reporting back to our members in 2019.

IPEBLA was founded in 1987 by pension lawyer Tony Thurnham. As a young practitioner, Tony was faced with the challenge of advising clients on the pension issues associated with cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Tony believed that an international forum to facilitate the sharing of information and ideas could be beneficial to all of its participants.

The organization that was to become IPEBLA held its first (unofficial) conference in London later that same year. Subsequently, the newly formed Steering Committee chose to name the organization the International Pension & Employee Benefits Law Association as a reflection of the organization’s breadth and focus.

Through the dedicated leadership of successive Steering Committees, and strategic partnerships with in-country legal organizations, IPEBLA has grown significantly from that initial informal gathering in London. It now boasts a membership of 250, with members in all corners of the globe. We invite you to click here to read more about the history of IPEBLA in Remembering the Past, Planning for the Future. You will find information about IPEBLA’s early years, its biennial conferences, its publications, as well as a list of key players involved in the association over the years, amongst other things. IPEBLA’s strong and varied history is the foundation for what is to come, and we hope that you will share your comments and memories with contactIPEBLA@redstoneagency.ca in this regard as we look toward the future.

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Past Steering Committee Chairs

2019-2022

Carolyn M. Trenda
Partner
McGuireWoods LLP

2017-2019

Jana Steele 
Partner, Pensions & Benefits
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

2015-2017

Lisa Butler Beatty
Head of the Wealth Management Office of the Trustee and Special Counsel
Commonwealth Bank of Australia

2013-2015

Mitch Frazer
Partner
Torys LLP

2011-2013

Jonathan Seres
Retired Partner
Sacker & Partners LLP/Solicitors

2009-2011

Randy Bauslaugh
Partner
McCarthy Tétrault LLP

2007-2009

Thomas Jorgensen
Partner
Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

2005-2007

Philip Bennett
Partner
Slaughter & May

2003-2005

Bjorn Dannberg
Head of Legal Department
KPA Pension Insurance

2001-2003

Janet G. Downing
Lawyer & Consultant
Watson & Wyatt Worldwide

1999-2001

Louis C. M. Kuypers
Partner
Houthoff Buruma

1997-1999

David W. Ellis
Partner
Baker & McKenzie

1995-1997

Ian J. F. McSweeney
Partner
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, LLP

1993-1995

Marianne H. van Coeverden
Judge
District Court of Justice - The Hague

Susan Serota
Partner
Pillsbury, Winthrop, LLC

1991-1993

James P. Klein
Partner
Deloitte & Touche

1987-1991 

Tony Thurnham 
Partner
Linklaters LLP