Kris M. Saxberg

Mr. Saxberg’s cases are often high-profile. He has been the lead or co-lead counsel on some of the biggest cases in Manitoba history. Mr. Saxberg has practiced civil litigation in Manitoba and elsewhere since 1999. He was formerly a managing partner of D’Arcy & Deacon LLP and he co-founded Cochrane Saxberg LLP (now Cochrane Sinclair). Before law, he worked in broadcasting at CKND-TV and CBC-TV and was a musician. Mr. Saxberg successfully argued a case which struck down provincial legislation which wrongfully claimed Children’s Special Allowance (“CSA”) benefits from indigenous and non-indigenous children apprehended from their parents and living in provincial care. The Court of King’s Bench approved the settlement of three CSA Class Action cases in September of 2024 for $530 million. Manitoba’s media release about the settlement stated that it was historic. Prior to the CSA Class Action, Mr. Saxberg conducted a fourteen-week pension trial in which his clients achieved a judgment of $140 million against MTS (now Bell MTS). This judgment is the largest award of its kind in Manitoba. The case is also an important precedent as it was ultimately decided 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 clients. Mr. Saxberg is well known for being integrally involved in many other high-profile cases such as: the Kapyong Barracks surplus land litigation and settlement, the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry, the Monin Inquiry, the Chommany Inquest, the privatization of MTS, and the sale of Centra Gas to Manitoba Hydro. Mr. Saxberg has acted for many Indigenous organizations, including indigenous CFS Agencies, advocacy groups, and political organizations. Mr. Saxberg is proud to be the long-time labour lawyer for TEAM-IFTPE Local 161. TEAM represents professional employees at Bell Canada in Manitoba. 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.