Kris M. Saxberg

Biography

Mr. Saxberg is one of the founding partners of Cochrane Saxberg Law. In 2016, he was the managing partner at D’Arcy & Deacon LLP, a large law firm in downtown Winnipeg. He is a litigator and business lawyer practicing in labour and employment law, human rights law, indigenous law, child protection law, insurance law, complex commercial litigation, pension law, utility regulation, and entertainment/music law. He was called to the Bar in 1999. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Saxberg worked in broadcasting, the music business and in politics. As a graduate studies student at The University of Manitoba he completed The Manitoba Legislative Internship Program.

One of Mr. Saxberg’s many legal accomplishments is conducting a fourteen-week pension trial in which the clients ultimately won a judgment of $140 million against MTS (now Bell MTS) in 2014. This judgment is the largest award made by a Manitoba court in a commercial litigation to our knowledge. Mr. Saxberg argued the case all the way up to the Supreme Court of Canada; winning solicitor and client costs on a full indemnity basis throughout the litigation.

Mr. Saxberg has been hired as lead or co-lead counsel in many other high profile cases, such as: the “Kapyong Barracks” surplus land case, the Monnin Inquiry, the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry, and regulatory cases relating to the sale of Centra Gas to Manitoba Hydro. He has acted, and continues to act, on behalf of many Manitoba First Nations and other indigenous organizations, including indigenous CFS Agencies, advocacy groups, and political organizations.

Mr. Saxberg is also the labour lawyer for Child Protection Agencies and Telecommunications Employees Association of Manitoba – International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 161 (TEAM). TEAM is a union representing professional employees at Bell MTS Inc.

Mr. Saxberg is an experienced trial lawyer. He has argued at The Supreme Court of Canada, The Federal Court of Appeal, the Alberta Court of Appeal and in all levels of court in Manitoba. He also has extensive experience appearing before administrative and regulatory tribunals, such as The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, The Public Utilities Board, The Canadian Industrial Relations Board, Labour Arbitration panels, and the Municipal Board to name a few.

Recently, Mr. Saxberg won a case before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in which his client was award the maximum amount of general and punitive damages available. In the same year he successfully defended a Real Estate Agent whose license was at risk before the Manitoba Securities Commission. He is currently involved in a major litigation brought by Child Welfare Agencies against the Province of Manitoba. Click below for a representative sample Mr. Saxberg’s cases.

Education

University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Arts with distinction, 1993

University of Manitoba, Premaster, 1994

The Manitoba Legislative Internship, 1995

University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Laws, 1998

Canadian Gas Association Regulatory Course, 2001

Leadership, Membership and Achievements

• Law Society of Manitoba
• Manitoba Bar Association
• Canadian Bar Association
• Former Director and Legal Counsel, Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Experience Program
• Member, SOCAN

Representative Cases

• Pereira, Jose Antonio a.k.a. Joe Pereira – Jurisdiction Manitoba Securities Commission
• Alizadeh-Ebadi v. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., 2017 CHRT 36 (CanLII) – human rights law – discrimination
• Telecommunication Employees Association of Manitoba Inc. et al. v. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. et al., 2014 SCC11 (CanLII) – 2014-01-30 Supreme Court of Canada – employees retirees  – pension plan  – actuary  – initial surplus  – governance
• Telecommunication Employees Association of Manitoba Inc. et al. v. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. et al., 2010 MBQB 11 (CanLII) – 2010-01-19 Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba – employees retirees  – pension plan  – actuary  – initial surplus  – governance
• Sagkeeng Child and Family Services v. A.R.W. et al., 2007 MBCA 122 (CanLII)  – 2007-10-12 Court of Appeal principles of fundamental justice  – permanent guardianship  – adoption  – parental
• Consumers’ Assn. of Canada (Man.) Inc. et al. v. Manitoba (Public Utilities Board), 2005 MBQB 152 (CanLII)  – 2005-06-27 Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba
• Terracon Development Ltd. v. Winnipeg City Assessor, 2002 MBCA 117 (CanLII)  – 2002-09-20 Court of Appeal  – Manitoba infrastructure  – evidence  – expenses  – owner  – property
• Public Utilities Board Order 128/09 – Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. 2009/10 and 2010/11 General Rate Application and Other Matters – 2009/09/16

Practice Areas

Administrative & Regulatory
Arbitration & Mediation
Child Protection
Civil Litigation
Entertainment & Media
Labour and Employment
Pension
Personal Injury
Insurance