Curtis Unfried

Born and raised in the bustling metropolis of The Pas, Manitoba, Curtis earned his Bachelor of Arts (1995) and Juris Doctor (1998) from the University of Manitoba. He joined MLT Aikins LLP in 1998 (then Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson LLP), and has since built a wide-ranging litigation and regulatory practice. First recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2017, he brings deep legal knowledge, sound judgment, and a results-driven approach to every file.

Curtis acts for clients across Western Canada and Ontario in complex civil, commercial, tax and class action litigation. He regularly advises and defends clients in regulatory and quasi-criminal matters involving legislation such as:

• The Workplace Safety and Health Act (Manitoba) and Occupational Health and Safety Acts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario
• The Pharmaceutical Act, Food and Drugs Act, and Gaming Control Act
• The Criminal Code and Extradition Act
• The Fisheries Act, Forest Act, Metal Mining Effluent Regulations, and Contaminated Sites Remediation Act
• The Motor Vehicle Transport Act and Hours of Service Regulations
• The Crown Lands Act, Liquor Control Act, and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act
• The Defamation Act, Access to Information Act, and Farm Products Marketing Act

Curtis frequently advises high-net-worth individuals, healthcare professionals, and investment advisors on matters involving regulatory compliance, reputational risk, and professional governance. He has particular experience supporting business owners, pharmacists and other regulated professionals through investigations, audits, licensing disputes, and strategic practice management.

Curtis is also widely known for his work defending companies and individuals facing investigations, serious incidents, and prosecutions under occupational health and safety legislation. His practical, strategic advice helps clients navigate regulatory scrutiny and mitigate both legal and reputational exposure.

• Numerous retainers as counsel on workplace accidents, investigations and prosecutions under The Workplace Safety & Health Act (Manitoba) and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario) for various entities ranging from smaller closely held corporations to multinational and publicly traded corporations in the aerospace, oil, chemical manufacturing and energy sectors
• Counsel for numerous International Prescription Service (IPS) pharmacies located in the Province of Manitoba. IPS pharmacies (often referred to as “internet pharmacies”) provide care and pharmacy services to residents outside of Canada, predominantly in the United States
• Canadian counsel for a U.S.-based billionaire involved in pursuing a claim of defamation in the United States and the Bahamas
• Canadian counsel for a former Head of State in the Middle East regarding his Canadian litigation interests
• Canadian counsel for a Las Vegas-based Resort & Casino in pursuit of a fraudster residing in the Province of Manitoba
• Canadian counsel for a high-profile U.K.-based celebrity that had a Canadian-based stalker. Curtis was able to assist the celebrity in obtaining a No Contact Order against the Canadian-based stalker (the stalker was subsequently incarcerated when she breached the No Contact Order)
• Canadian counsel for various individuals and entities facing extradition to the United States for charges of fraud and other financial-related crimes under the Extradition Act (Canada)
• Counsel for various advocacy and trade associations, including those that have sought and been granted standing before the Public Utilities Board of Manitoba
• Counsel for various publicly traded mining companies in prosecutions involving charges laid under the Fisheries Act (Canada) and Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (Canada) relating to the release of “acutely lethal effluent” from mining facilities in Canada
• Numerous retainers as defence counsel to pharmacies and pharmacists relating to investigations and charges under the Pharmaceutical Act (Manitoba) and the Food and Drugs Act (Canada)
• Counsel for individuals and entities that have successfully obtained Anton Piller Orders and Mareva Injunctions (also known as Freezing Orders) for the purposes of protecting their interests pending the outcome of litigation
• Co-counsel to various Boards constituted under the Farm Products Marketing Act (Manitoba)
• Counsel for a publicly traded forestry company in prosecutions under the Forest Act, Forest Use and Management Regulation and Crown Lands Act (Manitoba)
• Counsel for a non-profit entity alleged to have been involved in various wrongdoings under the Competition Act (Canada) and Criminal Code (Canada)
• Numerous retainers as counsel to individuals charged with various offences under the Criminal Code (Canada) including, but not limited to: impaired driving, assault, assault causing bodily harm, possession of marijuana, theft and fraud
• Counsel for various entities and individuals having to navigate through the Contaminated Sites Remediation Act (Manitoba)
• Counsel for physicians being investigated or charged by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba with wrongdoing and/or professional misconduct
• Numerous retainers relating to the issuance and removal of Protection Orders issued under The Domestic Violence and Stalking Act (Manitoba) and/or Criminal Code (Canada), including issues arising from online stalking and/or other forms of abuse and harassment
• Numerous retainers from large multinational and small trucking and waste management companies charged with offences under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act, Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Services Regulations and Highway Traffic Act
• Counsel for individuals being investigated by the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada
• Counsel for a large Canadian-based restaurant chain alleged to have been in violation of the Liquor Control Act
• Counsel for various individuals involved in estate litigation and related disputes
• Numerous retainers relating to advice and direction to individuals, corporations and non-profit entities involved in offering contests to the general public to ensure compliance with The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act and Liquor and Gaming Control Act (Manitoba) and Criminal Code (Canada)
• Counsel for farmers charged with fraud as a result of the alleged wrongful filing of insurance claims with the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC)
• Counsel for individuals and entities involved in “oppression applications” under the Corporations Act (Manitoba)

• Chair, United Way Committee, MLT Aikins (Winnipeg, 2017-2020)
• Assistant Coach, Atom Seals Boys Hockey Team, St. Boniface Minor Hockey Association (Winnipeg, 2020)
• Board of Directors, Norwood Community Club (Winnipeg, 2014-2020)
• Chair, United Way Committee, Aikins, MacAulay and Thorvaldson LLP (Winnipeg, 2014-2016)
• Assistant Coach, Novice Stars Female Hockey Team, St. Boniface Minor Hockey Association (Winnipeg, 2014)
• Assistant Coach, Sanford Sabres, Winnipeg High School Hockey League (Winnipeg, 1999)
• Member, Law Society of Manitoba
• Member, Manitoba Bar Association
• Member, Canadian Bar Association

• Guest Lecturer, University of Manitoba Law School and the Manitoba Law Society’s Bar Admission Course
• Guest speaker at various construction and engineering luncheons on the topic of “Due Diligence” and defending charges under the Workplace Safety & Health Act (Manitoba) and/or the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario)
• Guest Speaker and Panellist at various luncheons and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Seminars held by or on behalf of numerous professional, industry and agricultural-based associations on topics including: Due Diligence, the importance of By-Laws & Corporate Governance, the law of Trespass & Self-Defence in Manitoba
• Guest Speaker, “Prosecuting, Defending and Advising Corporations,” Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar, Manitoba Law Society (provided insight on the issues that arise from defending corporations in Court)
• Contributor, Winnipeg Construction Association, Upword magazine
• Contributor, Manitoba construction industry’s Building Connections magazine
• Contributor, providing clients with information and updates on the various topics within the practice of law, Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson LLP Newsletter (1999-2016)
• Contributor, providing clients with information and updates on the various topics within the practice of law, MLT Aikins LLP Newsletter (2017-present)