Throughout the presentation, Ly and Wagner shared their expertise, drawing from their hands-on experience assisting clients through the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic. They walked the audience through the type of work the clinic is involved with and how a file progresses throughout the semester. Beyond their academic responsibilities, Ly and Wagner shared their experience participating in a variety of events such as the CAN-TECH Law Conference in Toronto, the Manitoba Arts Network Showcase in Brandon, the Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) Awards at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, and presenting public education webinars in partnership with the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship, to name a few.

Strong Synergy Between IP and Business Law

IP and business law form a foundation for transforming creative ideas into tangible, protected assets. During their presentation, Ly and Wagner covered key IP concepts, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, and industrial designs. These elements were illustrated through practical examples, highlighting how understanding IP principles will become increasingly relevant to lawyers and business people alike as technology continues to become a larger part of our everyday lives. 

The importance of IP law for businesses was emphasized by addressing the potential consequences of neglecting it. IP law is something that should always be considered by businesses as it has the ability to become one of their most valuable assets. 

“Students from the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic have become very knowledgeable about the ways IP connects with business law,” noted Katie McKenzie (2L) [BA 2023], Communications and Marketing Director of the Business Law Group. “I never realized how business law and IP law work hand in hand to turn creative ideas into valuable assets.”

Katie McKenzie, Communications and Marketing Director of the Business Law Group 

Impactful Learning for Students

The seminar was particularly meaningful for first-year law students exploring the practical applications of IP law.

“Learning how Business and IP Law overlap in practice was inspiring to me as a 1L. The presentation complemented and went beyond what most first-year students have been exposed to,” said Daniela Auriti (1L) [BComm(Hons)/2023], one of the first-year representatives for the Business Law Group.

“I’m excited that as students, we’ll have the opportunity to support clients through the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic, making it a meaningful component of our JD program,” Auriti added.

Daniela Auriti, First-year representative of the Business Law Group

Another first-year representative, Cole Hutchison (1L) [BComm(Hons)/2023], shared how the event resonated with his interests. “As a 1L student, I enjoyed attending the collaborative event from the Business Law Group and the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Group to learn about areas of law new to me and how they relate to topics I’m interested in.”

“Hearing from students of the law clinic showed the value of experiential learning opportunities available during my studies at Robson Hall,” Hutchison continued.

Cole Hutchison, First-year representative of the Business Law Group

Bridging Legal Education and Entrepreneurial Impact

Ly and Wagner’s presentation echoed the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic’s mission of delivering free legal support to those unable to afford legal services while equipping law students with invaluable hands-on experience. They underscored the pivotal role of IP in safeguarding innovations and driving business success.

The event was a collaboration between the Faculty of Law’s students and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem at the University, held as part of the University of Manitoba’s Entrepreneurship and Innovative Thinking Month. This partnership emphasized the importance of legal considerations for entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators, ensuring that law students are well-prepared to navigate the intricate world of business law while making a significant impact on the entrepreneurial community.

This year, the Desautels Centre’s work had impact from Vancouver to Geneva. Centre faculty and staff worked hard to support students and research – in that order. A highlight of the year was supporting the 2024 Art Braid Business Law Case Competition and the student-run Business Law Group at Robson Hall.

The Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law (The Desautels Centre) is housed in the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba. Officially launched in 2006, it is committed to developing a multifaceted and clinical approach to understanding private businesses. By fostering clinical work for law students, financial assistance for conference attendance for business law students, and research in private enterprise and the law by legal and business scholars, the Centre facilitates and supports the intellectual and academic infrastructure necessary to support private enterprise and family-owned businesses in Manitoba.

The Business Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Law oversees The Desautels Centre’s activities and operations and provide careful scrutiny to ensure spending aligns with budget and the mandate of the Centre. The Advisory Committee is Chaired by the Director of Program Development of the Faculty of Law and consists of faculty members from the Faculty of Law at Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Laura Reimer currently holds the position of Director of Program Development, and Professor Darcy MacPherson is the Desautels Centre’s Research Director. The rest of the Business Advisory Committee consists of four other senior professors and a Clinical Instructor, all of whom are experienced in business, contracts, labour and employment law. Currently, these include Dr. Bruce Curran, Dr. Michelle Gallant, Dr. Bryan Schwartz, K.C., Dr. Katie Szilagyi, and Clinical Instructor Yvan Guy Larocque.

“As we reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and look forward to the future, I extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed to the success of the Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law,” said Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of the Faculty of Law, upon the publication of the Impact Report. “Your dedication and support are invaluable in advancing our mission and strengthening our impact within the legal community and beyond.”

“The 2023 – 2024 academic year represents impact and energy from the Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law at the University of Manitoba,” said Reimer. “We continue to fulfill our mission to integrate the disciplines of business, law and the humanities as they apply to family controlled and other private enterprises, while igniting the minds of law students, faculty, and our community partners to explore the expanding edges of private enterprise and the law.

“The research side of the Desautels Centre has had a productive year of publication, conference sponsorship, and conference attendance,” said MacPherson. “Our funded research has been presented by academics and students of the Faculty of Law quite literally around the world.”

The Desautels Centre grew out of the legacy of Dr. Marcel Andre Desautels, C.M., O.Ont., LL.D., O.M., who was a visionary philanthropist who transformed business education with his game-changing gifts to Canadian Universities. Although he passed away on January 31, 2023 at the age of 88, his legacy to the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law continues to inspire us and create opportunities for students and faculty to strengthen research and practice at the intersection of private enterprise and the law.

The Desautels Centre 2024 Impact Report can be read in full on the Desautels Centre website.

Edwin Arthur Braid, Q.C. (1934 – 2020), or ‘Art’, the beloved former Dean and Professor at Robson Hall, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law, had many passions. He was well known for his kindness, his commitment to intellectual discourse, and his precision and clarity as a teacher, among other things. In addition to the multitude of positive attributes associated with him, Art Braid was known for his affinity for business law.

Don MacDonald [LLB/1983](Pitblado) shares remarks with participants of the 2024 Art Braid Business Law Case Competition. Photo by 47 Filmworks.

The second annual Art Braid Business Law Case Competition took place on Friday, March 22, 2024. The competition was hosted at Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP’s downtown offices in True North Square. This year’s case was about raising funds for a company’s expansion plan.

Finalist team of Nico Nudler (3L), Justin Papoff (3L), and Matthew London (3L) prepare their case for presentation. Photo by 47 Filmworks.

At the conclusion of the case competition presentations, law students, lawyers, and articling students gathered in TDS’ Northern Lights Lounge for refreshments and the announcement of the winning team.

Dr. Laura Reimer, Program Director of the Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law, with Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law. Photo by 47 Filmworks.

The BLG would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the family and friends of Art Braid and those who continue to support his legacy through which this competition would not otherwise be possible. Sincere thanks also are extended to presenting sponsor, Marcel A. Desautels Centre, for its generous funding, to TDS for being an excellent host, to Don MacDonald for sharing stories about Art Braid whom he knew personally, to Dr. Laura Reimer, Program Director of the Desautels Centre for her thoughtful remarks, to Dean Jochelson and the Faculty of Law for their support, to our judges: Steven Dressler, Alan Lempart, Leah Suderman, Nikhilesh Verma, Don MacDonald, and Caroline Christie, for the time they took to make this competition a possibility, to the entire BLG Executive team, especially Kirsten Nynych (2L), Event Coordinator, who dedicated significant effort to making this event a possibility, and to all the students who competed and made this competition another success. Without the continuing support of these individuals and organizations, the Art Braid Business Law Case Competition could not have grown into what it has become in these short two years!

The Business Law Group (“BLG”), a student group focused on corporate/commercial law at Robson Hall, had long been exploring the idea of offering a practical learning opportunity for students interested in a transactional practice. The stars aligned when the BLG learned about generous funding made available for a private law competition through the Professor E. Arthur Braid Q.C. Fund.

The inaugural Art Braid Business Law Case Competition took place on Friday, March 17, 2023. The competition was hosted at Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP’s downtown offices in True North Square. This year’s case focused on raising funds for an early-stage, private Manitoba technology company.

The three competition winners in the first photo are (left to right): Kirsten Nynych (1L), Alli Knox (1L), and Zeynep Fattah (1L).

The case competition was an excellent opportunity to introduce students to the process of legal reasoning, something of particular importance to Art. Teams, made up of 2-4 students, were provided with several suggestions for raising funds, such as issuing new shares, debt financing, property sale, venture capital, and crowdfunding. Students were required to review the case instructions, analyse each suggestion, and provide a recommendation based on their legal analysis, as if they were counsel for the company. Students presented their recommendation to judges, comprised of lawyers from the Manitoba Bar, acting as a “Board of Directors.”

At the conclusion of the case competition presentations, about 50 law students, lawyers, and articling students gathered in TDS’ Northern Lights Lounge for refreshments, remarks, and the announcement of the winning team.

Everyone in attendance was fortunate to hear remarks from John Stefaniuk, K.C., a partner at TDS, who spoke in a profound and eloquent manner about Art: who he was, how he lived his life, and what he meant to the Manitoba legal community. This was an excellent opportunity for students, most of whom were in their first-year at Robson Hall, to learn more about Art’s legacy. John shared some of Art’s passionate quotes, accounts of the genuine interest Art took in each and every student he encountered, and the resulting fondness that those who knew him experienced.

The competition’s judges made particular note that the level of expertise and presentation ability among the student competitors was demonstrably high. Congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Art Braid Business Law Case Competition: Alli Knox (1L), Zeynep Fattah (1L), and Kirsten Nynych (1L). Runners-up included: Ashveer Sohi (1L), Jaspreet Brar (1L), Eric Moon (1L), and Daniel Rosenthal (1L).

Student feedback from the event has been positive, and the BLG is excited by the opportunity to continue developing this event in the years to come. In addition to the funding provided for a private law competition by the Professor E. Arthur Braid Q.C. Fund, Thomson Reuters, the event’s presenting sponsor, generously assisted with significant funding contributions.

John Stefaniuk, K.C.

The BLG would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the family and friends of Art Braid and those who continue to support his legacy through donations in his name, to Thomson Reuters, presenting sponsor, for its generous funding, to TDS for being an excellent host, to John Stefaniuk, K.C. for his thoughtful remarks, to Dean Jochelson and the Faculty of Law for their support, to our judges: Don MacDonald, Kyle Mirecki, Amy Gelhorn, Katie Leung, and Paolo Aquila for the time they took to make this competition a possibility, to the entire BLG Executive team, especially Rebecca Penner (2L), Event Coordinator, who dedicated significant effort to making this event a possibility, and to all the students who competed and brought this competition to life. Without these individuals and organisations, the Art Braid Business Law Case Competition would still only be an idea.

Historically, the BLG has organized events where lawyers, articling students, and instructors have been invited to speak on subjects such as mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy and insolvency, Indigenous business, real estate, in-house practice, and more. It is the BLG’s goal to facilitate education and professional development opportunities for the Robson Hall student community on matters related to corporate/commercial law.