Note: The President and Vice-President are ex-officio members of all committees, except the Admissions and Education Appeals and Trust Safety Appeals Sub-Committee, and the Discipline Committee.
Standing Committees
Admissions and Education Committee
The Admissions and Education Committee sets policy related to continuing professional development as well as the admission and re-admission of persons to the Bar.
Members:
| Kelli Potter (Chairperson) | Tehani Jainarine |
| Serena Ehrmantraut (Vice Chairperson) | Dr. Richard Jochelson |
| Clair Cerelli-Stankevicius | Leah Leibl |
| Jeremy de Jong | Penny Piper |
| Ruphine Djuissi | Jason Poettcker |
| Mason Geddes | Jocelyne Ritchot |
| Miranda Grayson | Chimwemwe Undi |
| Simon Jack | |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Eileen Derksen Joan Holmstrom Richard Porcher Rennie Stonyk |
Admissions and Education Appeals and Trust Safety Appeals Sub-Committee
The Admissions and Education Appeals and Trust Safety Appeals Sub-Committee hears and decides appeals of decisions made by the Chief Executive Officer or the Director of the Admissions and Membership Department, the Director of the Education, or the Director of the Audit Department as designates of the Chief Executive Officer.
Members:
| Kelli Potter Chairperson) | Dr. Richard Jochelson |
| Serena Ehrmantraut (Vice Chairperson) | Leah Leibl |
| Susan Boulter | Brian McLeod |
| Miriam Browne | Kenneth Molloy |
| Clair Cerelli-Stankevicius | Maureen Morrison |
| Jeremy de Jong | Sandra Oakley |
| Mason Geddes | Penny Piper |
| Miranda Grayson | Jason Poettcker |
| Simon Jack | Keely Richmond |
| Tehani Jainarine | David Rondeau |
| Staff: Richard Porcher Rennie Stonyk |
Complaints Investigation Committee
The Complaints Investigation Committee considers matters which raise concerns of “professional misconduct”, “conduct unbecoming a barrister and solicitor” or “incompetence” on the part of lawyers. This Committee can dispose of a complaint in a number of ways. If the Committee is satisfied that a complaint discloses professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming a barrister and solicitor or incompetence, the Committee may authorize that charges be laid and direct that an inquiry be held before the Discipline Committee.
Members:
| Kyle Dear (Chairperson) | Brian McLeod |
| Sharyne Hamm (Vice Chairperson) | Jerilee Ryle |
| Kassy Baker | Robert Tyler |
| Gregory Evans | Leah Unruh |
| Robert Fleischaker | Joshua Weinstein |
| Eli Goldenberg | Deanna Wilson |
| Janesca Kydd | |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Christopher Donaldson Ashley Korsunsky Madison Pearlman Spencer Weisensel |
Discipline Committee
The Discipline Committee holds an inquiry when a charge of professional misconduct, conduct unbecoming a barrister and solicitor or incompetence has been authorized. If the lawyer is convicted of such charges, the Discipline Committee may reprimand, fine, impose conditions of practice on, suspend, disbar or permit the lawyer to resign, and may make an order of costs.
Members:
| Heather Leonoff, KC (Independent Chairperson) | Ellen Leibl, KC |
| Kenneth Mandzuik, KC (Vice Chairperson) | Wendy Martin-White, KC |
| Douglas Bedford (Conflicts Chairperson) | Nunziata Masi |
| Kathrine Basarab | James McLandress, KC |
| Victor Bellay | Grant Mitchell, KC |
| Karlee Blatz | Kenneth Molloy |
| Susan Boulter | Maureen Morrison |
| Gemma Brown | Carmen Nedohin |
| Miriam Browne | Sandra Oakley |
| Richard Buchwald, KC | Wayne Onchulenko |
| Katherine Bueti, KC | Anu Osborne |
| Roberta Campbell, KC | Sacha Paul |
| Gordon Daman | Penny Piper |
| Grant Driedger, KC | Kelli Potter |
| Barry Effler | Vivian Rachlis |
| Serena Ehrmantraut | Keely Richmond |
| Lori Ferguson Sain, KC | David Rondeau |
| Patrick Fortier | Dean Scaletta |
| Gary Gilmour | Hon Richard Scott |
| David Gisser, KC | James Shaw |
| David Gray | Trent Sholdice |
| Irene Hamilton, KC | Garth Smorang, KC |
| Jeff Hirsch, KC | Anita Southall |
| Kameron Hutchinson | Grant Stefanson, KC |
| Simon Jack | Wendy Stewart |
| Teresa Jaenen | David Swayze, KC |
| Tehani Jainarine | Maureen Terra |
| Ashley Joyce | Mark Toews |
| Donald Knight, KC | Lynda Troup |
| Timothy Kurbis | Dr. Lorna Turnbull |
| Mathieu Lafrenière | Helga Van Iderstine, KC |
| Brock Lee, KC | Bradley Zander |
| Staff: Leah Kosokowsky Rennie Stonyk |
Equity Committee
The Equity Committee considers and provides strategic advice and recommendations to the benchers and staff on a variety of policy issues and program initiatives aimed at advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the regulation of the legal profession and in the delivery of legal services.
Members:
| Serena Ehrmantraut (Chairperson) | Tehani Jainarine |
| Leah Unruh (Vice Chairperson) | Elissa Neville |
| Kathrine Basarab | Joseph Pelletier |
| Nikolai Bola | Kobra Rahimi |
| Raven-Dominique Gobiel | James Wood |
| Celyna Yu | |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Noelia Bernardo |
Practice and Ethics Committee
The Practice and Ethics Committee considers requests from members of the legal profession for practice direction on matters which apply to the profession in general and for ethical advice on practice-related matters. The Committee will also consider and make recommendations to benchers on specific practice-related issues.
Members:
| Kenneth Mandzuik, KC (Chairperson) | Nunziata Masi |
| Kyle Dear (Vice Chairperson) | Elissa Neville |
| Nikolai Bola | Penny Piper |
| Gordon Daman | Nadia Rumore |
| Gregory Evans | Jerilee Ryle |
| Timothy Kurbis | Gerrit Theule |
| Wendy Martin-White, KC | Joshua Weinstein |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Noelia Bernardo |
Professional Liability Claims Fund Committee
The Professional Liability Claims Fund Committee sets policy in fulfilment of the Law Society’s mandate to protect the public by providing all practising lawyers in Manitoba with mandatory professional liability insurance for errors or omissions in connection with the rendering of professional services. The Committee considers insurance claims in excess of $125,000 and also considers appeals made by claimants where the Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of Insurance as designate, has refused to pay a claim or part of a claim under $125,000.
Members:
| Mathieu Lafrenière (Chairperson) | Teresa Jaenen |
| Kelli Potter (Vice Chairperson) | Trent Sholdice |
| Kassy Baker | Sean Shore |
| Kelly Dixon | Helga Van Iderstine, KC |
| Robert Fleischaker | Bradley Zander |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Tana Christianson |
Reimbursement Fund Claims Committee
The Reimbursement Fund offers reimbursement to clients of lawyers for losses sustained as a result of the misappropriation or conversion of trust funds by their lawyer. The Reimbursement Fund Claims Committee considers reimbursement claims over $25,000 and appeals made by claimants where the Chief Executive Officer, or the Director of Insurance as designate, has refused to pay a claim or part of a claim under $25,000. The Committee also considers and makes recommendations to Benchers regarding the policies which govern the Reimbursement Fund.
Members:
| Kelli Potter (Chairperson) | Teresa Jaenen |
| Mathieu Lafrenière (Vice Chairperson) | Trent Sholdice |
| Kassy Baker | Sean Shore |
| Kelly Dixon | Helga Van Iderstine, KC |
| Robert Fleischaker | Bradley Zander |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Tana Christianson |
Special Committees and Working Groups
Access to Justice Committee
The Access to Justice Committee explores, sets policy, makes recommendations and coordinates initiatives to promote and enhance equal and accessible justice for Manitobans.
Members:
| Leah Unruh (Co-Chairperson) | Kobra Rahimi |
| Sharyne Hamm (Co-Chairperson) | Bonnie Schmidt |
| Hon. Mr. Justice Theodor Bock | Stacey Soldier |
| Patrick Fortier | Gerrit Theule |
| Dr. Richard Jochelson | Deanna Wilson |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Alissa Schacter |
Indigenous Advisory Committee
| Jessica Saunders (Chairperson) | Kenneth Mandzuik, KC |
| Vacant (Vice Chairperson) | Elissa Neville |
| Desiree Dorion | Sacha Paul |
| Frankie Snider | |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Noelia Bernardo |
Investment Committee
The Investment Committee monitors the Law Society’s investment portfolio, reports to benchers on compliance, and makes recommendations to benchers regarding the Law Society’s investment policies.
Members:
| Wayne Onchulenko (Chairperson) | David Marr |
| Mathieu Lafrenière (Vice Chairperson) | Carmen Nedohin |
| Robert Fleischaker | Trent Sholdice |
| Teresa Jaenen | Sean Shore |
| Brian Lerner | David Swayze, KC |
| Bradley Zander | |
| Ex officio: Gerri Wiebe, KC Christian Monnin | Staff: Leah Kosokowsky Sandra Alleyne Tana Christianson |
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee makes recommendations regarding the appointment of candidates to fill the appointed practising bencher and lay bencher positions; develops the membership of all standing and special committees; and makes recommendations regarding the appointment of representatives to external boards and organizations.
Members:
| Wayne Onchulenko (Chairperson) | Mathieu Lafrenière |
| Serena Ehrmantraut | Christian Monnin |
| Teresa Jaenen | Gerri Wiebe, KC |
| Tehani Jainarine | |
| Staff: Leah Kosokowsky Rennie Stonyk |
Strategic Planning Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee will guide benchers in the development of the Society’s new Strategic Plan which will come into effect in 2025.
Members:
| Gerri Wiebe, KC (Chairperson) | Sharyne Hamm |
| Carmen Nedohin (Vice Chairperson) | Mathieu Lafrenière |
| Gordon Daman | Kenneth Mandzuik, KC |
| Sharyne Hamm | Christian Monnin |
| Staff: Leah Kosokowsky Rennie Stonyk Alissa Schacter |
Richard J. Scott Award Selection Committee
The Richard J. Scott Award is presented annually to an individual who advances the rule of law through advocacy, litigation, teaching, research or writing. Activities that support an independent judiciary, an independent legal profession, access to legal services, access to justice, and public interest advocacy are all eligible. The Richard J. Scott Award Selection Committee selects the recipients of this award.
Members:
| Hon. Richard Scott (Chairperson) | Carmen Nedohin |
| Hon. Justice R. Kenneth Champagne | Helga Van Iderstine, KC |
| Gerri Wiebe, KC | |
| Staff: Leah Kosokowsky |
