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:
| Grant Driedger (Chairperson) | Sharyne Hamm |
| Christian Monnin (Vice Chair) | Ashley Joyce |
| Kim Antonio | Patricia Kloepfer |
| Dr. Amarjit Arneja | Elliot Leven |
| Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch | David Marr |
| Susan Boulter | Brian McLeod |
| Miriam Browne | Bryton Moen |
| Richard Buchwald | Sacha Paul |
| Shannon Carson | Karine Pelletier |
| Neil Cohen | Jason Poettcker |
| Joyce Dalmyn | Vivian Rachlis |
| Kyle Dear | Dean Scaletta |
| Jay Funke | Helga Van Iderstine |
| Paul Grower | |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Eileen Derksen Joan Holmstrom Richard Porcher |
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:
| Grant Driedger (Chairperson) | Patricia Kloepfer |
| Christian Monnin (Vice Chair) | Elliot Leven |
| Kim Antonio | David Marr |
| Dr. Amarjit Arneja | Lynne McCarthy |
| Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch | Brian McLeod |
| Susan Boulter | Bryton Moen |
| Miriam Browne | Kenneth Molloy |
| Richard Buchwald | Maureen Morrison |
| Shannon Carson | Carmen Nedohin |
| Neil Cohen | Sandra Oakley |
| Joyce Dalmyn | Sacha Paul |
| Kyle Dear | Karine Pelletier |
| Jay Funke | Jason Poettcker |
| Marston Grindey | Vivian Rachlis |
| Paul Grower | Keely Richmond |
| Sharyne Hamm | Dean Scaletta |
| Ashley Joyce | Helga Van Iderstine |
| Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Eileen Derksen Joan Holmstrom 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:
| Wayne Onchulenko (Chairperson) | Christian Monnin |
| Ashley Joyce (Vice Chair) | Vivian Rachlis |
| Jeremy Akerstream | Jessica Saunders |
| Alexander Bainov | Sean Shore |
| Miriam Browne | Helga Van Iderstine |
| Gurdeep Chahal | Karen Webb |
| Peter Cole, Q.C. | |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Noelia Bernardo Susan Billinkoff Christopher Donaldson Jennifer Houser |
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:
| Hon. Richard Scott (Independent Chairperson) | Jeff Hirsch |
| Sacha Paul (Vice Chair) | Jake Janzen |
| Vacant (Conflicts Chair) | Patricia Kloepfer |
| Dr. Amarjit Arneja | Donald Knight, Q.C. |
| Gordon Bates | Brock Lee |
| Douglas Bedford | Ellen Leibl, Q.C. |
| Victor Bellay | Heather Leonoff, Q.C. |
| Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch | Lynne McCarthy |
| Karlee Blatz | James McLandress |
| Susan Boulter | Brian McLeod |
| Richard Buchwald | Grant Mitchell, Q.C. |
| Katherine Bueti | Kenneth Molloy |
| Roberta Campbell | Maureen Morrison |
| Bjorn Christianson, Q.C. | Carmen Nedohin |
| Neil Cohen | John Neufeld, Q.C. |
| John Cram | Sandra Oakley |
| Kyle Dear | Brian Pauls |
| Richard Deeley, Q.C. | Keely Richmond |
| Donald Douglas | Dean Scaletta |
| Grant Driedger | Harvey Secter |
| Barry Effler | Alan Semchuk |
| Lori Ferguson Sain, Q.C. | James Shaw |
| Douglas Finkbeiner, Q.C. | Norman Sims, Q.C. |
| Michael Finlayson | Vincent Sinclair |
| Catherine Finnbogason | Garth Smorang, Q.C. |
| Patricia Fraser | Grant Stefanson |
| Jay Funke | Diane Stevenson |
| William Gange | Wendy Stewart |
| Gary Gilmour | David Swayze |
| Richard Good | Gerrit Theule |
| David Gray | Mark Toews |
| Marston Grindey | Dr. Lorna Turnbull |
| Paul Grower | Jon van der Krabben |
| Irene Hamilton, Q.C. | Gerri Wiebe |
| James Hedley | |
| Staff: Leah Kosokowsky |
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:
| Vincent Sinclair (Chairperson) | Elliot Leven |
| Susan Boulter (Vice Chair) | Brian McLeod |
| Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch | Elizabeth Murray |
| Shannon Carson | Elissa Neville |
| Kyle Dear | Sandra Phillips |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Alissa Schacter |
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:
| Richard Buchwald (Chairperson) | Sharon Kravetsky |
| Christian Monnin (Vice Chair) | Sidney Laviolette |
| Jeremy Akerstream | Nunziata Masi |
| Jeannelle Allard | Sacha Paul |
| Alexandra Aquila | Paramjit Singh |
| Alexander Bainov | Gerri Wiebe |
| Susan Baragar | Norman Yusim |
| Susan Boulter | Helga Van Iderstine |
| Neil Cohen | Bradley Zander |
| Ashley Joyce | |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Darcia Senft |
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:
| Karen Webb (Chairperson) | Kelly Dixon |
| Gerri Wiebe (Vice Chair) | Michael Finlayson |
| Dr. Amarjit Arneja | Issie Frost, Q.C. |
| Jonathan Avey | Bradley Zander |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Tana Christianson |
Reimbursement Claims Fund Committee
The Reimbursement Claims 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 Claims Fund 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 Claims Fund.
Members:
| Karen Webb (Chairperson) | Kelly Dixon |
| Vacant (Vice Chair) | Kirsty Elgert |
| Dr. Amarjit Arneja | Michael Finlayson |
| Jonathan Avey | Issie Frost, Q.C. |
| Stephen Christie | Gerri Wiebe |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Tana Christianson |
Special Committees and Working Groups
Access to Justice Steering Committee
The Access to Justice Steering Committee explores, sets policy, makes recommendations and coordinates initiatives to promote and enhance equal and accessible justice for Manitobans.
Members:
| Vincent Sinclair (Co-Chairperson) | Diane Redsky |
| Neil Cohen (Co-Chairperson) | Lavonne Ross |
| Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch | Sr. Lesley Sacouman |
| Karen Dyck | Ian Scarth |
| Hon. Madam Justice Lore Mirwaldt | Karen Webb |
| Samuel Raposo | |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Darcia Senft |
Access to Justice Stakeholders Sub-Committee
The Access to Justice Stakeholders Sub-Committee is a forum for sharing information among stakeholders in the field of accessible legal services. Members of this committee are representatives of a stakeholder organization.
Members:
| Vincent Sinclair (Chairperson) | Associate Chief Judge Anne Krahn |
| Neil Cohen (Vice-Chair) | Julyda Lagimodiere |
| Kristal Bayes – McDonald | Hon. Madam Justice Lore Mirwaldt |
| Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch | Lavonne Ross |
| Natasha Brown | Karen Sawatzky |
| Bruce Gammon | Ian Scarth |
| Acting Ast. Dep. Minister Suzanne Gervais | Ainslie Schroeder |
| Ghezae Hagos Berhe | Janet Sigurdson |
| Paula Hamilton | Mary Troszko |
| Hon. Gerald Jewers | Erin Wilcott |
| Leita Kalinowsky | |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Darcia Senft |
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) | Brian Lerner |
| Brian McLeod (Vice Chair) | Dean Scaletta |
| Irene Hamilton, Q.C. | Sean Shore |
| Patricia Kloepfer | David Swayze |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Tana Christianson Colleen Malone |
The President’s Special Committee on Regulating Legal Entities
The President’s Special Committee on Regulating Legal Entities will explore and identify the necessary regulatory framework for Alternate Business Structures.
Members:
| Grant Driedger (Chairperson) | Richard Good |
| Ashley Joyce (Vice Chair) | Paul Grower |
| Susan Boulter | Patricia Kloepfer |
| Katherine Bueti | Steven London |
| Roberta Campbell | Christian Monnin |
| Neil Cohen | Gerrit Theule |
| Karen Webb | |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Darcia Senft |
The President’s Special Committee on Health and Wellness
The President’s Special Committee on Health and Wellness will explore issues around lawyer health and wellness, consider options to address members’ capacity issues, and develop a diversion program outside of the complaints/discipline stream for members who suffer from mental health issues or addictions that may affect legal practices.
Members:
| Sacha Paul (Chairperson) | Cynthia Hiebert-Simkin |
| Wayne Onchulenko (Vice Chair) | James McLandress |
| Lynne Arnason | Brian McLeod |
| Dr. Amarjit Arneja | Maria Mitousis |
| Miriam Browne | Vivian Rachlis |
| Frank Cantafio | Gerri Wiebe |
| Kyle Dear | |
| Ex officio: Anita Southall Lynda Troup |
Staff: Kristin Dangerfield Leah Kosokowsky Eileen Derksen |
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) | Justice Freda Steel |
| Neil Cohen | Helga Van Iderstine |
| Anita Southall | |
| Staff: Kristin Dangerfield |