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:
Kyle Dear (Chairperson) | Mathieu Lafreniere |
Joëlle Pastora Sala (Vice Chairperson) | Leah Leibl |
Miriam Browne | Jason Poettcker |
Clair Cerilli-Stankevicius | Dean Scaletta |
Dean Richard Jochelson | Nik Verma |
Janesca Kydd | Bradley Zander |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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:
Kyle Dear (Chairperson) | Kenneth Molloy |
Joëlle Pastora Sala (Vice Chairperson) | Maureen Morrison |
Miriam Browne | Carmen Nedohin |
Clair Cerilli-Stankevicius | Sandra Oakley |
Neil Cohen | Jason Poettcker |
Dean Richard Jochelson | Keely Richmond |
Janesca Kydd | David Rondeau |
Mathieu Lafreniere | Dean Scaletta |
Leah Leibl | Nik Verma |
Lynne McCarthy | Bradley Zander |
Staff: Richard Porcher Rennie Stonyk |
CPLED Appeals Sub-Committee
Members:
Mason Broadfoot | Christian Monnin |
Jay Funke | Dean Scaletta |
Jeff Hirsch, K.C. | 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:
Christian Monnin (Chairperson) | Sharyne Hamm |
Geraldine Wiebe (Vice Chairperson) | Tehani Jainarine |
Mason Broadfoot | Brian McLeod |
Kyle Dear | Jerilee Ryle |
Grant Driedger | Gerrit Theule |
Gregory Evans | Robert Tyler |
Blair Filyk | |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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) | Ellen Leibl, K.C. |
Heather Leonoff, K.C. (Vice Chairperson) | Kenneth Mandzuik |
Roberta Campbell, K.C. (Conflicts Chairperson) | Wendy Martin-White |
Douglas Bedford | Nunziata Masi |
Victor Bellay | Lynne McCarthy |
Karlee Blatz | James McLandress, K.C. |
Susan Boulter | Grant Mitchell, K.C. |
Gemma Brown | Kenneth Molloy |
Miriam Browne | Maureen Morrison |
Richard Buchwald, K.C. | Carmen Nedohin |
Katherine Bueti | Sandra Oakley |
Neil Cohen | Anu Osborne |
Peter Cole, K.C. | Joëlle Pastora Sala |
Donald Douglas | Penny Piper |
Barry Effler | Kelli Potter |
Serena Ehrmantraut | Vivian Rachlis |
Lori Ferguson Sain | Keely Richmond |
Patricia Fraser | David Rondeau |
Gary Gilmour | Dean Scaletta |
David Gray | James Shaw |
Irene Hamilton, K.C. | Garth Smorang, K.C. |
Jeff Hirsch, K.C. | Anita Southall |
Kameron Hutchinson | Grant Stefanson, K.C. |
Sarah Innes, K.C. | Wendy Stewart |
Teresa Jaenen | David Swayze, K.C. |
Ashley Joyce | Maureen Terra |
Leah Klassen | Mark Toews |
Donald Knight, K.C. | Lynda Troup |
Janesca Kydd | Dr. Lorna Turnbull |
Mathieu Lafreniere | Helga Van Iderstine, K.C. |
Christopher Lange | Bradley Zander |
Brock Lee, K.C. | |
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:
Mandzuik, Kenneth (Chairperson) | Leah Klassen |
Kelli Potter (Vice Chairperson) | Brian McLeod |
Serena Ehrmantraut | Carmen Nedohin |
Raven-Dominique Gobiel | Elissa Neville |
Kameron Hutchinson | Joseph Pelletier |
Dean Richard Jochelson | Korbra Rahimi |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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:
Kelli Potter (Chairperson) | Wendy Martin-White |
Mason Broadfoot (Vice Chairperson) | Nunziata Masi |
Gregory Evans | Carmen Nedohin |
Sarah Innes, K.C. | Joëlle Pastora Sala |
Leah Klassen | Penny Piper |
Jean-Rene Dominique Kwilu | Nadia Rumore |
Kenneth Mandzuik | Maureen Terra |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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:
Geraldine Wiebe (Chairperson) | Eli Goldenberg |
Kyle Dear (Vice Chairperson) | Teresa Jaenen |
Miriam Browne | Kelli Potter |
Kelly Dixon | Helga Van Iderstine, K.C. |
Blair Filyk | Bradley Zander |
Jay Funke | |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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:
Geraldine Wiebe (Chairperson) | Jay Funke |
Kyle Dear (Vice Chairperson) | Eli Goldenberg |
Miriam Browne | Teresa Jaenen |
Kelly Dixon | Kelli Potter |
Blair Filyk | Helga Van Iderstine, K.C. |
Bradley Zander | |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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:
Kenneth Mandzuik (Co-Chairperson) | Peter Kingsley |
Brian McLeod (Co-Chairperson) | Dean Richard Jochelson |
Neil Cohen | Hon. Madam Justice Lore Mirwaldt |
Michael Conner, K.C. | Sr. Lesley Sacouman |
Alexandra Dueck-Dunsford | Stacey Soldier |
Wendy Stewart | |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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:
Kenneth Mandzuik (Chairperson) | Leita Kalinowsky |
Brian McLeod (Vice-Chair) | Voula Karlaftis |
Kristal Bayes-McDonald | Peter Kingsley |
Neil Cohen | Leah Klassen |
Michael Conner, K.C. | Julyda Lagimodiere |
Tarik Daoudi | Hon. Associate Chief Judge Tracey Lord |
Alexandra Dueck-Dunsford | Hon. Madam Justice Lore Mirwaldt |
Ast. Deputy Minister Suzanne Gervais | Tracy Morrow |
Paula Hamilton | Karen Sawatzky |
Dean Richard Jochelson/ David Ireland | Mary Troszko |
Erin Wilcott | |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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: Wayne Onchulenko 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:
Susan Boulter (Chairperson) | Brian Lerner |
Mason Broadfoot (Vice Chairperson) | David Marr |
Mathieu Lafreniere | Sean Shore |
Christopher Lange | David Swayze, K.C. |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko 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:
Mason Broadfoot (Chairperson) | Serena Ehrmantraut, |
Christian Monnin (Vice Chairperson) | Blair Filyk |
Hon. Mr. Justice Theodor Bock | Sharyne Hamm |
Susan Boulter | Kameron Hutchinson |
Kyle Dear | Teresa Jaenen |
Grant Driedger | Gerrit Theule |
Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Sacha Paul | Staff: Leah Kosokowsky Darcia Senft |
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) | Sacha Paul |
Susan Boulter | Hon. Madam Justice Freda Steel |
Miriam Browne | |
Sacha Paul | Staff: Leah Kosokowsky |