• Manitoba Venture Challenge
• Centrallia
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• Manitoba Marathon

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) Congratulates Lawyers on their Call to the Bar

The partners of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) congratulate Alex S. Bainov, Andrea R. Doyle, Hayley B. Main and Laura C. Workman on their Call to the Manitoba Bar and welcome each of them as new associate lawyers at TDS.

Alex S. Bainov
corporate and commercial law, wills, trusts and estates, tax planning and real estate.

Andrea R. Doyle
corporate and commercial law, employment law and civil litigation

Hayley B. Main
labour and employment law

Laura C. Workman
corporate and commercial law and providing services to Acumen Corporate Development Inc. (an affiliate of TDS)
 
 

TDS Welcomes Our ARTICLING Students for 2010
 
Caitlin B. Bodnar
Heather Belle Guest
Lauren S. Leinburd
Stephanie M. Messner
Paul D. Simms
Danny C. Spencer
 

We provide our students with extensive practical experience and regular exposure to clients and to other lawyers so that their legal and personal skills can be appropriately developed and assessed. The student is given the opportunity to work with lawyers in many different practice areas while, at the same time, the firm has the opportunity to assist the student in developing the skills that are necessary in becoming a good lawyer and a good addition to the firm.
 

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) and Perlov Stewart LLP are pleased to announce that effective June 1, 2010 their practices will merge under the name Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP. All Perlov Stewart LLP lawyers, I. David Perlov, Allan L. V. Stewart, Peter A. Sim and Gerald S. Ashcroft, are joining TDS.

TDS Welcomes Our Summer Students for 2010
 
Selena T.K. Eng - (Returning for 2nd summer)
Brandon M. Trask
Lewis H. Allen - (Returning for 2nd summer)
Andrew D.F. Sain

The objective of our Summer Student Program is to provide law students with experience in the practice of law and to get to know the firm's lawyers and practice areas.  The students assist in legal research, drafting documents and participate in preparations for court proceedings and other hearings. The students will also actively participate in meetings with clients, pre-trial proceedings, court, hearings and commercial transaction closings.
 

• Glen Agar, a partner with TDS has been appointed the Chair of the Lex Mundi Agribusiness Practice Group.
• Jim Edmond, a partner with TDS has been appointed the Chair of the Lex Mundi Insurance/Reinsurance Practice Group.
• Douglas Forbes, a partner with TDS has been appointed the Regional Vice Chair (North America) of the Lex Mundi Cross-Border Transactions Practice Group
• Jan Lederman, a partner with TDS has been appointed Regional Vice Chair (North America) of the Lex Mundi Corporate Organizations and Securities Practice Group.

LEXPERT® RISING STARS: SHANE PERLMUTTER NAMED AMONG CANADA'S TOP 40 LAWYERS UNDER 40.

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) Announces Ross McFadyen’s Admission to the Partnership

Don Douglas, TDS CEO and Managing Partner says, "We are very pleased to announce that Ross McFadyen has accepted Partnership with TDS". Douglas adds, "Ross will continue to be a tremendous asset to our clients, the litigation practice group and the entire firm."

The partners of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) congratulate Ross A. McFadyen on his admission to the partnership of the firm.

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP is pleased to announce that Terra Welsh has returned to the firm. Terra articled with TDS in 2007-2008 and left to clerk for the Honourable Madam Justice Dawson in the Federal Court in Ottawa. Terra’s practice is focused in the areas of administrative law, labour and employment law, and civil litigation.

TDS IS PLEASED TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH MTS ALLSTREAM IN CONNECTION WITH MTS' RECENTLY ANNOUNCED STRATEGIC WIRELESS AGREEMENT WITH ROGERS.

TDS worked closely with the MTS Allstream legal department and MTS Allstream executives in structuring and negotiating a number of strategic agreements with Rogers that will see both companies share the cost to deploy a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems/High Speed Packet Access ("HSPA") wireless network across the existing MTS Allstream regional wireless footprint. The agreements allow MTS Allstream to leverage Rogers' purchasing scope and scale to gain cost effective access to new network technology and HSPA handsets. MTS Allstream's HSPA customers will have access to the best national and international roaming capabilities as a Rogers roaming partner. The agreements also provide MTS Allstream with the opportunity to launch a national wireless business offering under the Allstream brand through a competitive wholesale arrangement.

The transactions to be implemented by the agreements closed late in the evening on July 27, 2009 with MTS Allstream and Rogers publicly announcing the new arrangements on July 28, 2009. The full details of the parties' announcements can be found here:

MTS Allstream: newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2009/28/c9127.html

Rogers: newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2009/28/c9139.html

Leandro Damian Zylberman was awarded the 2009 A. Montague Israels, Q.C. Prize at the Call to the Bar Ceremony on June 18, 2009.

Mr. Israels, a distinguished lawyer and man of far-reaching interests, was the first Director of the Law Society's Bar admission Course until his death in 1973. To honour his memory, a fund was established by members of the Manitoba Bar and by his friends. Since 1979, the Law Society of Manitoba annually awards a prize named after Mr. Israels to a Bar Admission Course student who possesses the professional and personal attributes of scholarship, character, skill and breadth of interest that Mr. Israels valued and exemplified in his life.

Mr. Zylberman articled with TDS where he now practices as an associate.
 

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) continues to demonstrate its commitment to local entrepreneurs in knowledge- and technology-based businesses. TDS recently signed on as the newest Corporate Partner of the eureka project: Smartpark’s business incubator.

Jeff Hirsch Elected as President of The Law Society of Manitoba

Jeff Hirsch has been elected as the 89th President of The Law Society of Manitoba.  The Law Society of Manitoba is the governing body for the legal profession in Manitoba and its purpose is to uphold and protect the public interest in the delivery of legal services with competence, integrity and independence.

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) has provided trusted legal advice for 100 years and was recently designated by LEXPERT® as the leading business law firm in Manitoba. TDS is a founding member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. Through Lex Mundi, TDS provides its clients with access to more than 20,000 lawyers practising in 160 elite law firms.

TDS is rooted in the legal and business communities of Manitoba, encouraging its lawyers to be significantly engaged in wider community matters. This spirit of community engagement has been extended to the Minister’s Dinner.

TDS has been the exemplary Minister’s Dinner Event Sponsor for the past 11 years and over this time has contributed a total of $124,000 at the prestigious Benefactor level. They have been instrumental in making the Minister’s Dinner the success it is today.

TDS partner Bill Burnett, QC, is a past member of the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre Board of Directors and has been a leading member of the Minister’s Dinner Blue Ribbon Committee for 11 years.

At the 2008 dinner, TDS was presented with a custom street sign, designating the vehicle loop in front of the public entrance to the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre as “Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP Circle Drive”. This sign is now a permanent reminder of TDS’s wonderful ongoing support.

During TDS’s - 11 year sponsorship, a total of $1.1 million has been raised at the Minister’s Dinner to support more than 101 programs at the Centre. In that time, 371,000 students and visitors from more than 88 countries around the world have visited the Centre. The Centre has received numerous community, national and international awards and accolades including the Award for Excellence in Environmental Education, British Airways Award for Environmental Experience, Green Roof Award for Excellence, Best Outdoor Site in Canada (Attractions Canada), among many others.

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman has significantly enhanced environmental education programs for people from around the world through its support of the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre in partnership with DUC and the Province of Manitoba. DUC gratefully acknowledges this support and tonight we are pleased to present the 2009 Conservation Education Award to Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP.

A PDF version of the press release is available for download from the Media Releases section of the website.
 

On April 16th, 2009 Antoine Hacault and Rob Olson presented to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities in Brandon, Manitoba at the 2009 Municipal Officials Seminar. The topic “Employment Terminations: Do’s, Don’ts and Dollars” was taken in by over 300 municipal officials. To view the full presentation information visit our Current Legal News & Publication web page.

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP is pleased to congratulate Leilani J. Kagan and Keith D. LaBossiere on receiving Lexpert Magazine's Canadian Top 40 Leading Lawyers Under 40 award. Lexpert Magazine, the leading national source for business law information, presents Rising Star honours to worthy candidates each year. Leilani and Keith are shining examples of TDS quality, each achieving this prestigious rating - Leilani in 2008 and Keith in 2007.

As national leaders in their respective areas of practice, you can rely on TDS lawyers as trusted legal advisors.
 

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP is pleased to announce that Silvia de Sousa has been selected for publication in the 14th edition of Practical Law Company’s Cross-border Doing Business In ... Handbook. Her article, Doing Business in Canada: Manitoba touches on labour and employment law, intellectual property law, incentives for doing business in Manitoba and legal considerations when performing cross-border business in Manitoba. Silvia’s contribution is available for download from the TDS web site with a hard copy to be available from Lex Mundi.

Click here for more information about Silvia de Sousa and her law practice at TDS.

IBM Corporate Challenge: Winnipeg Cheer Board

We are pleased to inform you that the 2008 IBM Corporate Challenge, on behalf of the Christmas Cheer Board, has completed another successful year thanks to the support of all the participating companies.

This year’s challenge raised approximately $34,000 in cash, 8,550 pounds of food, 1,130 toys, and 60 hampers. This is a tremendous accomplishment given the timeframe of only two short weeks during the busy year-end, and all the participating companies are to be commended for their generosity and support.

While each organization made significant contributions, and we can all appreciate that the true “winner” of the Challenge is the Cheer Board itself and our community, we would like to recognize the following companies for their achievements in this year’s campaign:

The overall winner (based on a per employee basis) is Insight Enterprises. Two other participants were so close (on a per employee basis), that we are declaring a tie for 2nd place - going to Shaw Communications and Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP. These three companies demonstrated a leadership role in the campaign by raising the most “giving points” per employee.

Honourable mentions goes to Manitoba Hydro and the Canadian Wheat Board for the most cash, food, and toy donations.

We would also like to recognize two new participants in the Corporate Challenge this year, being Insight Enterprises and Magellan Aerospace. Both Insight and Magellan were quick to take part in the campaign, and definitely showed the spirit of giving that is so crucial to the campaign. We hope that both organizations will take part for many years to come.

Wellington West Capital, Investors Group Winnipeg West, Pollard Banknote, and Lazer Grant are “veterans” of the Corporate Challenge Campaign, and were also huge supporters of the 2008 campaign - thank you very much!

Finally, the three IBM draw prizes of a one iPod Touch and 2 iPod shuffles were won by lucky recipients from Manitoba Hydro (2) and Lazer Grant (1).

Thank you again on behalf of the Cheer Board and the IBM team. You truly have helped to make Christmas happier for everyone.

We look forward to your involvement again next year.

Michael Bligh
IBM Canada Ltd.
2008 IBM Corporate Challenge

Four TDS Lawyers Named to Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada

Four TDS Partners have been named to the 2009 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada in the following practice area:
 

• Michael Sinclair - Corporate Commercial Law
• Bill Olson, Q.C. - Corporate Commercial Litigation
• Jim Ripley - Corporate Commercial Law
• John Stefaniuk - Environmental Law

Jeffrey D. Pniowsky joins TDS Tax and Litigation Practice

Formerly a senior Tax Litigator with the Federal Department of Justice for almost 10 years, Jeff focuses his practice in the areas of tax litigation and other complex commercial litigation, as well as tax planning and advisory services.

Now serving local and national clients, Jeff brings a wealth of experience in litigating at all levels of both the Provincial and Federal courts. Acting on behalf of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Jeff has handled more than 300 income tax, general commercial and bankruptcy matters.

His work has included challenges to complex tax avoidance techniques involving large corporate transactions, international taxation and interpretation of tax treaties. Most recently, Jeff had been advising the Aggressive Tax Planning Division of CRA involving some of the most significant tax matters in the Prairie region. He also sat on the National Tax Avoidance Committee for Justice Canada.

In addition, Jeff has extensive experience dealing with tax enforcement and other regulatory compliance issues including document disclosure requirements. Jeff sat on the National Documentary Requirements Committee. He is also considered an authority on solicitor and client privilege issues relating to documentary disclosure, having litigated several matters in this area as well as being called upon to act as an adjudicator in a privilege determination.

TDS Hits the Bulls-eye

TDS has again been recently recognized as a leading Manitoba law firm by LEXPERT®  The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory which identifies the leading Canadian law firms and lawyers in more than fifty practice areas across Canada. It is the most comprehensive directory available. The Directory clearly sets out which firms and practitioners are the leaders in their practice areas and is specifically designed to assist sophisticated users of legal services. Eleven of our lawyers have been recognized by LEXPERT® as leaders and TDS is the only firm that hits the centre of the target on the current "Bulls-Eye" ranking for Manitoba business law firms.

TDS Congratulates New Associates

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP is pleased to welcome the following
TDS lawyers on their Call to the Bar.

David M. Cordingley
Civil Litigation, Labour and Employment

Allison E.M. Fenske
Aboriginal Law, Civil Litigation, Labour and Employment

Scott J. Hoeppner
Civil Litigation, Labour and Employment

Renée G.A. Lemieux
Commerical Law and Real Estate

Melissa M. Malden
Commercial Law, Wills and Estates
 

New Managing Partner and CEO 

As of January 1, 2008, Donald G. Douglas has taken on the duties of CEO and Managing Partner.

Don has extensive experience in corporate and commercial transactions, commercial lending, real estate development and financing, commercial litigation including shareholder disputes, and insolvency and restructuring. At present, his preferred role is to provide counsel to business owners and managers and their advisors and to act as a negotiator in advancing clients' interests in all manner of commercial transactions and in the resolution of differences relating to commercial matters. In appropriate circumstances, Don believes in the value of an independent and impartial mediator providing assistance to the parties in their negotiations by seeking to identify and promote common interests through a cost-effective, expedient, creative and confidential process.