PRINCIPAL
James Pierlot
James Pierlot is the founder and principal of Pierlot Pension Law. With decades of operational experience in public administration, law, institutional governance, and public policy, James has advised large employers and government stakeholders on the legal, regulatory, and policy dimensions of workplace retirement programs. He has provided legal and strategic counsel to policymakers, regulators, boards, and executive teams, and has authored numerous publications on retirement income policy, governance, and regulation.
James has appeared as an expert witness before parliamentary committees, contributed to legislative development, and serves on the C.D. Howe Institute Pension Policy Council and advisory committees of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario. A past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association Pensions & Benefits Law Executive Committee, James also chaired the Legal Advisory Committee to the Financial Services Commission of Ontario until 2019.
With public- and private-sector experience in the regulation, governance, design and delivery of workplace retirement programs, Mr. Pierlot is a recognized thought leader. He provides advice to policy makers and regulators, has authored or co-authored several articles and peer-reviewed publications on pension.
James is fluent in English and French and holds degrees in Taxation Law (Osgoode Hall), Droit Civil (Université de Montréal), International and European Community Law (Université d’Aix-Marseille III), Common Law (Osgoode Hall), and History (Western University). His published work and advocacy for stronger retirement income security have earned recognition including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the John Hanson Memorial Prize.
He is also the founder and CEO of Blue Pier™, Canada’s first Pension Plan-as-a-Service. Designed to serve small businesses, Blue Pier is available to employers from coast to coast who want to provide institutional-quality workplace pensions to their employees without the cost or complexity of traditional models.