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:
| Christian Monnin (Chairperson) | Dr. Richard Jochelson |
| Serena Ehrmantraut (Vice Chairperson) | Janesca Kydd |
| Susan Boulter | Mathieu Lafreniere |
| Clair Cerilli-Stankevicius | Christopher Lange |
| Mason Geddes | Leah Leibl |
| Miranda Grayson | Jason Poettcker |
| Kameron Hutchinson | Dean Scaletta |
| Tehani Jainarine | Bradley Zander |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | 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:
| Christian Monnin (Chairperson) | Christopher Lange |
| Serena Ehrmantraut (Vice Chairperson) | Leah Leibl |
| Susan Boulter | Kenneth Molloy |
| Clair Cerilli-Stankevicius | Maureen Morrison |
| Mason Geddes | Sandra Oakley |
| Miranda Grayson | Jason Poettcker |
| Kameron Hutchinson | Keely Richmond |
| Tehani Jainarine | David Rondeau |
| Dr. Richard Jochelson | Dean Scaletta |
| Janesca Kydd | Bradley Zander |
| Mathieu Lafreniere | |
| Staff: Richard Porcher Rennie Stonyk |
CPLED Appeals Sub-Committee
Members:
| Mason Broadfoot | Jeff Hirsch, K.C. |
| Katherine Bueti, K.C. | Christian Monnin |
| Jay Funke | Dean Scaletta |
| 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:
| Kyle Dear (Chairperson) | Teresa Jaenen |
| Joëlle Pastora Sala (Vice Chairperson) | Leah Unruh |
| Jeremy de Jong | Brian McLeod |
| Gregory Evans | Sacha Paul |
| Blair Filyk | Jerilee Ryle |
| Eli Goldenberg | Gerrit Theule |
| Sharyne Hamm | Robert Tyler |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | Staff: Noelia Bernardo Chris Donaldson 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:
| Heather Leonoff, K.C. (Independent Chairperson) | Wendy Martin-White, K.C. |
| Kenneth Mandzuik, K.C. (Vice Chairperson) | Nunziata Masi |
| Kathrine Basarab | James McLandress, K.C. |
| Douglas Bedford (Conflicts Chairperson) | Grant Mitchell, K.C. |
| Victor Bellay | Kenneth Molloy |
| Karlee Blatz | Christian Monnin |
| Susan Boulter | Maureen Morrison |
| Gemma Brown | Carmen Nedohin |
| Miriam Browne | Sandra Oakley |
| Richard Buchwald, K.C. | Anu Osborne |
| Katherine Bueti, K.C. | Penny Piper |
| Roberta Campbell, K.C. | Kelli Potter |
| Grant Driedger, K.C. | Vivian Rachlis |
| Barry Effler | Keely Richmond |
| Serena Ehrmantraut | David Rondeau |
| Lori Ferguson Sain | Dean Scaletta |
| Gary Gilmour | Hon Richard Scott |
| David Gisser | James Shaw |
| David Gray | Garth Smorang, K.C. |
| Irene Hamilton, K.C. | Anita Southall |
| Jeff Hirsch, K.C. | Grant Stefanson, K.C. |
| Kameron Hutchinson | Wendy Stewart |
| Tehani Jainarine | David Swayze, K.C. |
| Ashley Joyce | Maureen Terra |
| Donald Knight, K.C. | Mark Toews |
| Janesca Kydd | Lynda Troup |
| Mathieu Lafreniere | Dr. Lorna Turnbull |
| Christopher Lange | Helga Van Iderstine, K.C. |
| Brock Lee, K.C. | Bradley Zander |
| Ellen Leibl, 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:
| Mason Broadfoot (Chairperson) | Tehani Jainarine |
| Leah Unruh (Vice Chairperson) | Mathieu Lafreniere |
| Kathrine Basarab | Carmen Nedohin |
| Serena Ehrmantraut | Elissa Neville |
| Raven-Dominique Gobiel | Joëlle Pastora Sala |
| Kameron Hutchinson | Joseph Pelletier |
| Kobra Rahimi | |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | 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, K.C. |
| Kyle Dear (Vice Chairperson) | Nunziata Masi |
| Kathrine Basarab | Joëlle Pastora Sala |
| Mason Broadfoot | Penny Piper |
| Gregory Evans | Nadia Rumore |
| Sharyne Hamm | Maureen Terra |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | 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:
| Blair Filyk (Chairperson) | Robert Fleischaker |
| Kelli Potter (Vice Chairperson) | Brian McLeod |
| Mason Broadfoot | Sean Shore |
| Miriam Browne | Helga Van Iderstine, K.C. |
| Kyle Dear | Bradley Zander |
| Kelly Dixon | |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | 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:
| Blair Filyk (Chairperson) | Kelly Dixon |
| Kelli Potter (Vice Chairperson) | Robert Fleischaker |
| Mason Broadfoot | Brian McLeod |
| Miriam Browne | Sean Shore |
| Kyle Dear | Helga Van Iderstine, K.C. |
| Bradley Zander | |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | 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:
| Kenneth Mandzuik, K.C. (Co-Chairperson) | Dr. Richard Jochelson |
| Sharyne Hamm (Co-Chairperson) | Leah Unruh |
| Hon. Mr. Justice Theodor Bock | Mathieu Lafreniere |
| Susan Boulter | Bonnie Schmidt |
| Kameron Hutchinson | Stacey Soldier |
| Teresa Jaenen | Gerrit Theule |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | Staff: Darcia Senft |
Indigenous Advisory Committee
| Hon. Murray Sinclair (Chairperson) | Kenneth Mandzuik, K.C. |
| Jessica Saunders (Vice Chairperson) | Elissa Neville |
| Desiree Dorion | Sacha Paul |
| Frankie Snider | |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | 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) | Carmen Nedohin |
| Mathieu Lafreniere | David Marr |
| Christopher Lange | Sean Shore |
| David Swayze | |
| Ex officio: Wayne Onchulenko Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. | Staff: Leah Kosokowsky Tana Christianson Sandra Alleyne |
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:
| Sacha Paul (Chairperson) | Wayne Onchulenko |
| Teresa Jaenen | Kelli Potter |
| Kenneth Mandzuik, K.C. | Geraldine Wiebe, K.C. |
| Brian McLeod | |
| Staff: Leah Kosokowsky |
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 J. Scott (Chairperson) | Wayne Onchulenko |
| Susan Boulter | Hon. Madam Justice Freda Steel |
| Miriam Browne | Helga Van Iderstine, K.C. |
| Staff: Leah Kosokowsky |
