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:
Serena Ehrmantraut (Chairperson) | Simon Jack |
Joshua Weinstein (Vice Chairperson) | Dr. Richard Jochelson |
Clair Cerelli-Stankevicius | Leah Leibl |
Ruphine Djuissi | Jason Poettcker |
Miranda Grayson | Jocelyne Ritchot |
Kalanit Faingold | Chimwemwe Undi |
Jason Gisser | Gerry Wiebe, KC |
Ex officio: Kyle Dear Ken Mandzuik, KC | |
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:
Serena Ehrmantraut (Chairperson) | Leah Leibl |
Joshua Weinstein (Vice Chairperson) | Brian McLeod |
Susan Boulter | Kenneth Molloy |
Miriam Browne | Maureen Morrison |
Clair Cerelli-Stankevicius | Sandra Oakley |
Kalanit Faingold | Jason Poettcker |
Jason Gisser | Keely Richmond |
Miranda Grayson | David Rondeau |
Simon Jack | Gerry Wiebe, KC |
Dr. Richard Jochelson | |
Staff: Rennie Stonyk Richard Porcher |
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:
Sharyne Hamm (Chairperson) | Eli Goldenberg |
Joshua Weinstein (Vice Chairperson) | Janesca Kydd |
Kassy Baker | Brian Mcleod |
Sherry Brown | Gerrit Theule |
Jeremy de Jong | Robert Tyler |
Gregory Evans | Lean Unruh |
Robert Fleischaker | Deanna Wilson |
Ex officio: Kyle Dear Ken Mandzuik, KC | |
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) | Brock Lee, KC |
Kathrine Basarab (Vice Chairperson) | Ellen Leibl, KC |
Douglas Bedford (Conflicts Chairperson) | Rhea Majewski |
Victor Bellay | Wendy Martin-White, KC |
Karlee Blatz | Nunziata Masi |
Susan Boulter | James McLandress, KC |
Miriam Browne | Grant Mitchell, KC |
Richard Buchwald, KC | Kenneth Molloy |
Katherine Bueti, KC | Maureen Morrison |
Roberta Campbell, KC | Carmen Nedohin |
Gordon Daman | Sandra Oakley |
Grant Driedger, KC | Wayne Onchulenko |
Barry Effler | Anu Osborne |
Serena Ehrmantraut | Sacha Paul |
Lori Ferguson Sain, KC | Penny Piper |
Patrick Fortier | Vivian Rachlis |
Gary Gilmour | Keely Richmond |
David Gisser, KC | David Rondeau |
Jason Gisser | Dean Scaletta |
David Gray | Trent Sholdice |
Irene Hamilton, KC | James Shaw |
Nicole Hamilton | Garth Smorang, KC |
Kameron Hutchinson | Grant Stefanson, KC |
Jeff Hirsch, KC | Wendy Stewart |
Simon Jack | David Swayze, KC |
Teresa Jaenen | Maureen Terra |
Tehani Jainarine | Mark Toews |
Ashley Joyce | Lynda Troup |
Donald Knight, KC | Dr. Lorna Turnbull |
Timothy Kurbis | Gerry Wiebe, KC |
Mathieu Lafrenière | 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:
Leah Unruh (Chairperson) | Cameron Mckay |
Penny Piper (Vice Chairperson) | Elissa Neville |
Kassy Baker | Joseph Pelletier |
Raven-Dominique Gobiel | Kobra Rahimi |
Falilat Ibrahim | James Wood |
Tehani Jainarine | Celyna Yu |
Rhea Majewski | Ex officio: Kyle Dear Ken Mandzuik, KC |
Staff: Betta Wishart |
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:
Mathieu Lafrenière (Chairperson) | Wendy Martin White, KC |
Sharyne Hamm (Vice Chairperson) | Nunziata Masi |
Gregory Evans | Elissa Neville |
Leiba Feldman | Nadia Rumore |
Patrick Fortier | Trent Sholdice |
Nicole Hamilton | Robert Tyler |
Teresa Jaenen | Ex officio: Kyle Dear Ken Mandzuik, KC |
Staff: Betta Wishart |
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:
Timothy Kurbis (Chairperson) | Teresa Jaenen |
Mathieu Lafrenière (Vice Chairperson) | Sean Shore |
Gordon Daman | Helga Van Iderstine, KC |
Kelly Dixon | Bradley Zander |
Robert Fleischaker | Ex officio: Kyle Dear Ken Mandzuik, KC |
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:
Timothy Kurbis (Vice Chairperson) | Teresa Jaenen |
Mathieu Lafrenière (Vice Chairperson) | Sean Shore |
Gordon Daman | Helga Van Iderstine, KC |
Kelly Dixon | Bradley Zander |
Robert Fleischaker | Ex officio: Kyle Dear Ken Mandzuik, KC |
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:
Kathrine Basarab (Chairperson) | Kobra Rahimi |
Leah Unruh (Vice Chairperson) | Bonnie Schmidt |
Hon. Justice Ted Bock | Stacey Soldier |
Patrick Fortier | Gerrit Theule |
Sharyne Hamm | Deanna Wilson |
Rhea Majewski | Ex officio: Kyle Dear Ken Mandzuik, KC |
Staff: Alissa Schacter |
Audit and Risk Committee
The Audit and Risk Committee will review the audit plan of the Society’s independent auditors and receive the financial statements at the conclusion of the audit.
Members:
Kyle Dear (Chairperson) | Carmen Nedohin |
Ken Mandzuik, KC (Vice Chairperson) | Wayne Onchulenko |
Gerry Wiebe, KC | |
Staff: Leah Kosokowsky Rennie Stonyk Sandra Alleyne |
Indigenous Advisory Committee
Indigenous Advisory Committee was created to help guide the Law Society in its ongoing response to the TRC’s Calls to Action.
Members:
Jessica Saunders (Chairperson) | Elissa Neville |
Vacant (Vice Chairperson) | Sacha Paul |
Desiree Dorion | Frankie Snider |
Ken Mandzuik, KC | Ex officio: Kyle Dear |
Staff: Betta Wishart |
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:
Timothy Kurbis (Chairperson) | Carmen Nedohin |
Gordon Daman (Vice Chairperson) | Trent Sholdice |
Robert Fleischaker | Sean Shore |
Tehani Jainarine | David Swayze, KC |
David Marr | Bradley Zander |
Ex officio: Kyle Dear Ken Mandzuik, KC | |
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:
Gerri Wiebe, KC (Chairperson) | Carmen Nedohin |
Kyle Dear | Penny Piper |
Patrick Fortier | Trent Sholdice |
Ken Mandzuik, KC | |
Staff: Leah Kosokowsky Rennie Stonyk |
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:
Kyle Dear (Chairperson) | Carmen Nedohin |
Ken Mandzuik, KC | Helga Van Iderstine, KC |
Hon. Justice R. Kenneth Champagne | |
Staff: Leah Kosokowsky |
