Faculty of Law announces 2022 Desautels Centre Research and Academic Directors
The Faculty of Law is pleased to announce the establishment of a team of directors for the Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law (Desautels Centre). Professor Darcy MacPherson will fill the role of Desautels Research Director for a three-year term, and Professor Brandon Trask and Clinical Senior Instructor, Dr. Rebecca Jaremko-Bromwich, will join forces as Academic Co-Directors for a one-year term, all commencing August 1st. Dr. Laura Reimer will join the team to assist with program development and support.
“The Desautels Centre is growing and it will take a village to ensure its success,” said Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law. “Congratulations to all our new appointments in these important roles. We look forward to a bright new future at the Desautels Centre.”
Since its inception in 2007, the Desautels Centre has undergone a number of stages of growth in its progress towards finding a balance between providing effective experiential learning opportunities for students and serving Manitobans needing help with business law matters. Partly through the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Centre for-credit clinical course, the Desautels Centre provides future lawyers and their clients with a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing privately held businesses. The Centre’s areas of strength include Law and Technology, Business Organizations, Business Transactions and Obligations, Financing and Insolvency, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Darcy MacPherson, Professor, Faculty of Law
As the Desautels Centre’s Research Director, Professor MacPherson will serve as Faculty editor of the Desautels Review of Private Enterprise & Law, including its paper competitions and social media activities. He will run the Desautels Research Seed Funds competition, organize regular meetings of the Desautels Research Cluster and develop new initiatives to promote and celebrate private enterprise research. This will include developing and organizing a Desautels Conference, forming strategic partnerships with publishers, publications and scholarly associations to advance the mandate of the Desautels Centre, and building a broad network of Affiliated Researchers.
“To me, the Desautels Centre provides the Faculty of Law with a unique opportunity to do research and other programming that will be of relevance, not only to Manitoba, but also to private enterprises across the country as they develop, grow and prosper,” said MacPherson. “Private enterprise and the law that surrounds it are key economic drivers in Manitoba and in all of Canada.
My goal is that the Centre and its Associates will provide top-flight research for entrepreneurs and others, including our students, who will have a front-row seat and immediate opportunities to learn while they are at Robson Hall, and the ability to use that knowledge for the benefit of their business clients when they leave us.”
Dr. Rebecca Jaremko-Bromwich
As Academic Co-Directors, Professor Trask and Dr. Jaremko-Bromwich will run the Desautels Centre Blog, Case Reporter and social media, plan and organize several Desautels lectures per year, and develop and administer new student prizes and awards related to private enterprise. They will also oversee curriculum development including a forthcoming Private Enterprise Concentration and the development of new courses related to private enterprise. Finally, the newest and most exciting development for which they will be responsible, will be bringing to fruition a new joint JD/MBA program in collaboration with the Asper Chair in International Business and Trade Law.
“I am tremendously excited about what we can build together here with the Desautels Centre and L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic, collaboratively providing a hub for business excellence in Manitoba by serving access to Justice, and leading research and education,” said Jaremko-Bromwich.
Brandon Trask, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law. Photo Credit: Dr. Amar Khoday.
“I’m honoured to have the opportunity to help the Desautels Centre at this exciting stage in its development, said Trask. “In addition to assisting with the growth of the academic program, I look forward to helping to foster partnerships and build important connections across disciplines, institutions, and organizations. It’s vital to recognize that it is possible—and indeed essential—to have success in private enterprise connected to prosperity for society as a whole.”
MacPherson has numerous private law publications and practice expertise having been an associate lawyer at what was then known as Tory, Tory, DesLauriers and Binnington (now Torys LLP). A Cambridge graduate, he has expertise in Corporate Law, Agency and Partnerships, Commercial Law, Contracts, Advanced Corporations, and has, over a number of years, been instrumental in coaching the Corporate/Securities Law Moot. He has also become an expert on corporate criminal liability and brings experience as a co-managing editor of the Manitoba Law Journal to the portfolio.
Trask completed graduate work at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Professor Michael Trebilcock, specializing in the area of law and economics. He also has research expertise in political economy, economic regulation, hydro-electric regulation and labour negotiations. Trask also dealt with white collar crime files during his extensive practice career with the Crown.
In addition to her doctoral studies, Jaremko-Bromwich has an MBA and mediation training from Harvard. She has years of experience with Gowling WLG and was involved in ensuring big firm corporate and commercial practice was apprised of EDI fundamentals. She has taught at the Sprott School of Business and has also been a successful business person, running a multi-million dollar business. YWCA Woman of Distinction Award Winner. Both of the Academic Co-Directors have extensive publication output.
Dr. Laura Reimer, who currently serves as Master of Human Rights Practicum Program Coordinator, will assist the Desautels Centre with program development in the JD/MBA and related areas and provide program development support for the Directors in running the blogs, case reporter, guest speaker events, conferences and the Desautels Review. Reimer, in addition to her doctoral training, has multiple credentials in mediation, extensive experience in program development and also brings business expertise from time working in Human Resources with The Bay, Steinbach Credit Union, Mordyck Auctions, Momentum Software, Online Business Systems and in providing training in workplace conflict. She has an extensive publication record and related expertise in Indigenous education policy, and is currently involved in other program development responsibilities at the Faculty of Law.