Dante Manna

Partner

• Queen’s Marque
  600-1741 Lower Water Street
  Halifax, N.S.
  B3J 0J2
• +1.902.420.3343
• +1.902.420.1417
• dmanna@stewartmckelvey.com

Language(s) spoken: English

Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 2015

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Legal Assistant(s): Amber MacInnis

Dante is a labour and employment lawyer specializing in pensions, benefits, and executive compensation.  Dante helps employers and plan administrators establish, maintain and administer benefits and pension plans and represents them in regulatory proceedings and claim-related disputes.  He also assists plans with reviewing investment subscription agreements and service contracts, and advises on plan governance, texts and policies.

Dante provides full service in labour and employment matters, from employment agreements, policies, and equity compensation plans, to collective bargaining, workforce management, and dispute resolution.  His ultimate goal in all matters is to develop an understanding of his client’s interests and help them reach practical, lasting resolutions as quickly as possible.

A former mathematics professor and, prior to that, professional Lego model builder, Dante takes joy in solving difficult technical problems, employing creativity within a framework, and explaining complex concepts to audiences of varying sophistication. In addition to his quantitative abilities, Dante brings focused thought, determination and dedication to his work.

Dante has interest in all things tech and innovation and has been leading practice re-engineering efforts in the labour and employment group at Stewart McKelvey.   He is a passionate supporter of professional development, as a frequent author of thought leadership pieces, invited speaker on legal topics, and organizer of seminars, webinars and conferences.

His representative experience includes:

Labour and Employment

• Legal compliance review of employment agreements, policies, practices and training
• Defending claims for wrongful dismissal and constructive dismissal
• Defending employers in human rights claims and board of inquiry proceedings
• Responding to employee appeals of workers’ compensation decisions
• Negotiating executive employment agreements and incentives
• Negotiating collective bargaining agreements
• Representing employers in mediation, conciliation, and injunction proceedings related to collective bargaining
• Defending labour grievances, representing employers in mediation and arbitration

Pensions, Benefits, and Executive Compensation

• Regulatory compliance review of pension and benefits plan texts, policies, and practices
• Advising private and public pension plan administrators and funds on compliance with amended legislation
• Review and advice relating to fiduciary duties and plan governance
• Representing parties in legal proceedings related to administration of benefits upon death
• Negotiating participation agreements for multi-employer pension plans
• Co-authoring an independent review report for a public service pension plan
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating terms of investment management agreements on behalf of private and public pension plan funds
• Reviewing and advising on legal requirements with respect to supplementary employment retirement plans and retirement compensation arrangements
• Advising public and private sector pension plans with regard to the division of pension entitlements following spousal separation
• Providing advice and court representation with regard to entitlements of prospective pension beneficiaries
• Advising on pensions and benefits issues arising upon merger or spin-off of public sector employers
• Review and advice related to various equity compensation plans, including employee benefit plans, employees profit sharing plans, group RRSPs, group TFSAs, and related trust agreements and administrative agreements
• Review and amendments to trust agreements for employee life and health trusts