Sacha practices primarily in two areas of law - Aboriginal law and Public/Administrative law. Pronouns are he/him.
Sacha practices primarily in two areas of law – Aboriginal law and Public/Administrative law
Sacha is a partner with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP. He articled at TDS in 2002. In 2003, Sacha left the firm for one year to clerk for the Honourable Justice Ian Binnie of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Sacha has been active as a volunteer on the Law Societies in Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. In 2016, he became a Bencher for the Manitoba Law Society. In 2022, he became the President of the Law Society.
Sacha was a member of the Manitoba Law Reform Commission from 2015 to 2022. The Commission is an independent law reform agency that considers how to improve, modernize and reform laws in Manitoba.
Sacha has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in Manitoba, including the Supreme Court of Canada.
Aboriginal Law
Sacha is a member of the English River First Nation, a Dene community located in Northern Saskatchewan. His long-standing interest in Indigenous issues has resulted in an Aboriginal law practice. Sacha has experience working for resource developers, such as mining companies, forestry companies, and hydro-electric utilities, in engaging with First Nations and Metis communities, particularly when it comes to future resource developments or the impacts of past developments.
In addition, Sacha has developed a practice respecting First Nation elections and governance issues. He has acted for Indigenous Governments/Tribunals in enforcing orders to remove people from Chief and Council and has acted for First Nation people in challenging elections.
Public Law/Administrative Law
Sacha’s work in Aboriginal law ties into his practice in Public Law/Administrative law. Aboriginal law frequently engages principles of administrative law, such as duties of fairness. In addition to acting for Indigenous Tribunals, Sacha has acted for and provided advice to other administrative tribunals, such as Workers’ Compensation tribunals and Residential Tenancies tribunals.
In the area of Public law, Sacha has experience with human rights under human rights legislation and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. For example, Sacha acted for Amnesty International in the case of Canada v. Khadr respecting “life, liberty and security of the person” rights under the Charter. Sacha has also acted for clients respecting addressing human rights issues, such as equality rights.
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Western Ontario, 1999
Bachelor of Laws, University of Manitoba, 2002
Manitoba, 2003
Northwest Territories, 2007
Nunavut, 2014
Yukon, 2016
Received the Best Lawyers® Aboriginal Law “Lawyer of the Year” award in Winnipeg for 2022 and 2023
Recognized consistently by his peers in Best Lawyers® Directory in Canada in the specialties of Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice (since 2012)
Manitoba Human Rights Commission, Aaron Berg Award, 2019
Repeatedly recognized by Lexpert as a Leading Lawyer in Aboriginal Law
Recognized by Lexpert as a Leader Energy Lawyer in 2021
Law Society of Manitoba, A.M. Israels Q.C. Prize, 2003
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, Circle of Honour Award, 1999
In the past, Sacha taught classes at Robson Hall Faculty of Law including Indigenous Economic Development in the Law as well as Insurance Law.
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