MLT Aikins wishes to recognize and extend congratulations to Winnipeg lawyers James Ferguson, David Filmon and Richard L. Yaffe recipients of the 2019 Queen’s Counsel designation.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General (Manitoba) Cliff Cullen has announced that MLT Aikins lawyers James Ferguson, David Filmon and Richard L. Yaffe are among 15 members of the Manitoba Bar being honoured with the distinction of Queen’s Counsel for 2019.
“The Queen’s counsel designation is reserved for long-serving members of the legal profession who have demonstrated outstanding practice, fostered excellence in the profession, and who have conducted themselves with integrity and leadership throughout their careers,” said Cullen. “I congratulate these appointees, all of whom greatly deserve this remarkable honour.”
Queen’s counsel appointments have not been awarded in Manitoba since 2001, when the practice was ended in the province. The practice of designating Queen’s Counsel appointments for Manitoba lawyers was reinstated in 2018 when the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba passed The Queen’s Counsel Act with a new and transparent eligibility criteria for lawyers in Manitoba. Qualified lawyers are appointed as Queen’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor in Council based on the recommendation of the Attorney General following consultation with an advisory council. To be considered, the lawyer must have demonstrated outstanding practice, shown integrity and leadership, made contributions to excellence in the profession and been in practice for at least 10 years. The advisory council includes representatives from the judiciary, legal community and the public. It is chaired by Chief Justice Richard Chartier of the Manitoba Court of Appeal and includes representatives from the Law Society of Manitoba and the Manitoba Bar Association.
Read the complete press release from the Province of Manitoba
About James Ferguson
James is a senior partner of MLT Aikins and practises in the area of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, securities law and corporate law including corporate governance. His practice includes representing both national and international clients in complex transactions. He is a former Chair of the Firm. His volunteer experience has included the following: chair and director of the Pan Am Clinic Foundation, co-chair for Foundations for Health (Joint Children’s Hospital of Winnipeg Research Foundation, Health Sciences Centre Foundation and John Buhler Research Centre) as well as the chair and honorary director of the Health Sciences Centre Foundation.
About David Filmon
David is currently the chair and senior partner of MLT Aikins and has acted as a trusted advisor to many of Manitoba’s most important businesses in the area of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities law throughout Canada including as lead counsel on hundreds of transactions. His volunteer experience has included the following: chair and director of St. Paul’s High School, director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet as well as the director of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
About Richard L. Yaffe
Richard is a partner at MLT Aikins and practices in the area of securities law. He is nationally and internationally recognized for his expertise on the use of Manitoba limited partnerships in structuring commercial transactions. Within the community, Richard is recognized as a noteworthy leader in many organizations including chair of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (W.A.G.) Foundation Inc., chair of the W.A.G.’s Inuit Art Centre Legacy Campaign, incoming chair of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, member of the board of directors of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and national board member of the Canadian Friends of the Israel Museum. He is a senior sessional instructor in negotiations at the University of Manitoba faculty of law.