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, the CPLED 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:
Paul Grower (Chairperson) | Tyler Koshowski |
Jessica Saunders (Vice Chairperson) | Leah Leibl |
Jonathan Avey | Jason Poettcker |
Miriam Browne | Vivian Rachlis |
Daniel Chornopynski | Dean Scaletta |
Dean Richard Jochelson | Bradley Zander |
Anthony Kavanagh | |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | 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:
Paul Grower (Chairperson) | Lynne McCarthy |
Jessica Saunders (Vice Chairperson) | Kenneth Molloy |
Jonathan Avey | Maureen Morrison |
Miriam Browne | Carmen Nedohin |
Daniel Chornopynski | Sandra Oakley |
Neil Cohen | Jason Poettcker |
Marston Grindey | Vivian Rachlis |
Dean Richard Jochelson | Keely Richmond |
Anthony Kavanagh | Dean Scaletta |
Tyler Koshowski | Bradley Zander |
Leah Leibl | |
Staff: Richard Porcher Rennie Stonyk |
CPLED Appeals Sub-Committee
Members:
Mason Broadfoot | Christian Monnin |
Jay Funke | Dean Scaletta |
Jeff Hirsch | Geraldine Wiebe |
Staff: Joan Holmstrom 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:
Kelli Potter (Chairperson) | Anthony Kavanagh |
Christian Monnin (Vice Chairperson) | Brian McLeod |
Bernice Bowley | Sean Shore |
Mason Broadfoot | Derrick Stewart |
Gregory Evans | Lynda Troup |
Tehani Jainarine | Robert Tyler |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: Noelia Bernardo Chris Donaldson Jennifer Houser Ashley Korsunsky |
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) | Brock Lee, Q.C. |
Wayne Onchulenko (Vice Chairperson) | Ellen Leibl, Q.C. |
Roberta Campbell, Q.C. (Conflicts Chairperson) | Heather Leonoff, Q.C. |
Douglas Bedford | Anna Maria Magnifico |
Victor Bellay | Kenneth Mandzuik |
Karlee Blatz | Wendy Martin-White |
Susan Boulter | Nunziata Masi |
Gemma Brown | Lynne McCarthy |
Miriam Browne | James McLandress, Q.C. |
Richard Buchwald | Grant Mitchell, Q.C. |
Katherine Bueti | Kenneth Molloy |
Neil Cohen | Maureen Morrison |
Peter Cole, Q.C. | Carmen Nedohin |
Kyle Dear | Sandra Oakley |
Donald Douglas | Anu Osborne |
Barry Effler | Joëlle Pastora Sala |
Lori Ferguson Sain | Penny Piper |
Catherine Finnbogason | Keely Richmond |
Patricia Fraser | Nadia Rumore |
William Gange | Jessica Saunders |
Gary Gilmour | Dean Scaletta |
Richard Good | James Shaw |
David Gray | Garth Smorang, Q.C. |
Marston Grindey | Anita Southall |
Paul Grower | Grant Stefanson |
Irene Hamilton, Q.C. | Wendy Stewart |
James Hedley | David Swayze |
Jeff Hirsch | Maureen Terra |
Sarah Innes | Gerrit Theule |
Jacob Janzen | Mark Toews |
Dean Richard Jochelson | Dr. Lorna Turnbull |
Ashley Joyce | Helga Van Iderstine |
Patricia Kloepfer | Gerri Wiebe |
Donald Knight, Q.C. | 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:
Vacant (Chairperson) | Isha Khan |
Gerri Wiebe (Vice Chairperson) | Elissa Neville |
Mason Broadfoot | Anu Osborne |
Shannon Carson | Joseph Pelletier |
Karen Dyck | Sandra Phillips |
Tehani Jainarine | Kobra Rahimi |
Dean Richard Jochelson | Jessica Saunders |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: 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:
Kyle Dear (Chairperson) | Kenneth Mandzuik |
Joëlle Pastora Sala (Vice Chairperson) | David Marr |
Jonathan Avey | Wendy Martin-White |
Gregory Evans | Nunziata Masi |
Sarah Innes | Yasothini Mathu |
Sidney Laviolette | Penny Piper |
Anna Maria Magnifico | Nadia Rumore |
Jennifer Malabar | Maureen Terra |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: 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:
Ashley Joyce (Chairperson) | Patricia Kloepfer |
Kyle Dear (Vice Chairperson) | Anna Maria Magnifico |
Bernice Bowley | Joëlle Pastora Sala |
Kelly Dixon | Kelli Potter |
Jay Funke | Helga Van Iderstine |
Eli Goldenberg | |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | 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:
Ashley Joyce (Chairperson) | Patricia Kloepfer |
Anthony Kavanagh (Vice Chairperson) | Anna Maria Magnifico |
Bernice Bowley | Joëlle Pastora Sala |
Kelly Dixon | Kelli Potter |
Blair Filyk | Gerrit Theule |
Eli Goldenberg | Helga Van Iderstine |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: 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:
Geraldine Wiebe (Co-Chairperson) | Hon. Madam Justice Lore Mirwaldt |
Brian McLeod (Co-Chairperson) | Sr. Lesley Sacouman |
Neil Cohen | Stacey Soldier |
Bruce Gammon | Wendy Stewart |
Jason Gisser | Deputy Minister David Wright/Charlotte Price |
Dean Richard Jochelson | |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: Natasha Brown |
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:
Geraldine Wiebe (Chairperson) | Voula Karlaftis |
Brian McLeod (Vice-Chair) | Peter Kingsley |
Kristal Bayes-McDonald | Leah Klassen |
Neil Cohen | Hon. Associate Chief Judge Anne Krahn |
Ast. Deputy Minister Suzanne Gervais | Julyda Lagimodiere |
Jason Gisser | Hon. Madam Justice Lore Mirwaldt |
Paula Hamilton | Tracy Morrow |
Nasra Hassan | Karen Sawatzky |
Dean Richard Jochelson | Mary Troszko |
Guy Jourdain | Erin Wilcott |
Leita Kalinowsky | Deputy Minister David Wright/Charlotte Price |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: Natasha Brown |
Indigenous Advisory Committee
Hon. Murray Sinclair (Chairperson) | Desiree Dorion |
Jessica Saunders (Vice Chairperson) | Kenneth Mandzuik |
Knowledge Keeper E.J. Fontaine | Elissa Neville |
Knowledge Keeper Eva Wilson-Fontaine | Frankie Snider |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: Alissa Schacter |
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) | Bryton Moen |
Patricia Kloepfer (Vice Chairperson) | Sean Shore |
Brian Lerner | David Swayze |
David Marr | |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: Leah Kosokowsky 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:
Christian Monnin (Chairperson) | Paul Grower |
Wayne Onchulenko (Vice Chairperson) | Sharyne Hamm |
Hon. Mr. Justice Theodor Bock | Tehani Jainarine |
Susan Boulter | Gerrit Theule |
Katherine Bueti | Norman Yusim |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: Leah Kosokowsky 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:
Gerri Wiebe (Chairperson) | Brian McLeod |
Kenneth Mandzuik (Vice Chairperson) | Maria Mitousis |
Lynne Arnason | Anu Osborne |
Miriam Browne | K.K. Pinkowski |
Kyle Dear | Vivian Rachlis |
Cynthia Hiebert-Simkin | Anita Southall |
Mathieu Lafreniere | Lynda Troup |
Ex officio: Grant Driedger Sacha Paul | Staff: Eileen Derksen 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:
Special Committee - Richard J. Scott Award Selection Committee
Hon. Richard J. Scott (Chairperson) | Hon. Madam Justice Freda Steel |
Susan Boulter | Helga Van Iderstine |
Grant Driedger | |
Staff: Leah Kosokowsky |