Biography
Mr. Saxberg is one of the founding partners of Cochrane Saxberg Law. Prior to establishing Cochrane Saxberg Law, Mr. Saxberg was the managing partner at D’Arcy & Deacon LLP. He was called to the Bar in 1999. Prior to law, he worked in broadcasting at CKND-TV and CBC-TV and was a musician.
Mr. Saxberg practices in the areas of labour and employment law, human rights law, indigenous law, child protection law, insurance law, utility regulation and complex civil litigation.
Mr. Saxberg has been lead counsel or co-lead counsel on some of the biggest cases in Manitoba history.
Mr. Saxberg conducted a fourteen-week pension trial in which his clients won a judgment valued at $140 million against MTS (now Bell MTS). This judgment is the largest award made by a Manitoba court in a civil litigation, to our knowledge. The case was heard by the Supreme Court of Canada, who endorsed the decision of the trial judge and awarded solicitor and client costs on a full indemnity basis throughout the litigation to the Firm’s clients.
Mr. Saxberg has acted, and continues to act, on behalf of many indigenous organizations, including indigenous CFS Agencies, advocacy groups, and political organizations. He has been involved as lead or co-lead counsel in several high-profile cases, such as: the Kapyong Barracks surplus land case, the Monin Inquiry, the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry, the MTS pension lawsuit, and regulatory cases relating to sale of Centra Gas to Manitoba Hydro.
Most recently, Mr. Saxberg and Shawn Scarcello successfully argued a case which struck down provincial legislation which wrongfully claimed Children’s Special Allowances (“CSA”) benefits from off-reserve indigenous children living in care. The Firm expects that when the legal process runs its course and the last appeal is determined, more than $325 million in benefits will be returned to the children for whom the money was intended.
Mr. Saxberg and Danielle Morrison are counsel for the family of Eishia Hudson in connection with a lawsuit against the Winnipeg Police et al. They are also counsel to the family for the pending Inquest. The Firm expects that the Inquest and related proceedings will bring about major changes to policing and result in important findings abut the interaction of indigenous teens and the criminal justice system.
Mr. Saxberg is proud to be the long-time labour lawyer for TEAM-IFTPE Local 161. TEAM represents professional employees at Bell MTS.
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, the Manitoba Securities Commission, and the Municipal Board to name a few.
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
- Telecommunications Employees Association of Manitoba Inc. (TEAM – IFPTE Local 161) v. Bell MTS Inc. aka Bell Canada , 2023 MBKB 19
- Flette et al v The Government of Manitoba, 2022 MBQB 104 (CanLII)
- Flette et al v The Government of Manitoba, 2021 MBQB 84 (CanLII)
- Tacan v Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Adjudication under Division XIV – Part III of the Canada Labour Code
- Métis Child, Family and Community Services v HDGJ, 2021 MBCA 18 (CanLII)
- MK v Child and Family All Nations Coordinated Response Network, 2020 MBQB 156 (CanLII)
- 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
- Brokenhead First Nation v Canada (Attorney General), 2011 FCA 148
- Public Utilities Board Order 128/09 – Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. 2009/10 and 2010/11 General Rate Application and Other Matters – 2009/09/16
- 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
Practice Areas
Administrative & Regulatory
Arbitration & Mediation
Child Protection
Civil Litigation
Entertainment & Media
Labour and Employment
Pension
Personal Injury
Insurance