Released on December 31, 2008
Fifteen Saskatchewan lawyers were honoured with Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) appointments today.
"A Q.C. designation reflects the esteem in which these lawyers are held by their colleagues," stated Don Morgan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. "The recipients are acknowledged to have contributed greatly to the practice of law, and are held up as examples of dedication and skill."
Queen's Counsel is an honourary designation awarded to those recommended by a selection committee comprised of Saskatchewan's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan or the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench (on an alternating basis), and the past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Saskatchewan.
Appointees must live in Saskatchewan and must have practiced law for at least 10 years in the superior courts of any province or territory of Canada, or the United Kingdom or Ireland.
The practice of Q.C. appointments dates back to 1594 when Queen Elizabeth I appointed Sir Francis Bacon as her exclusive legal advisor and roving representative of the Crown. The first appointment in British North America was in 1815.
The 2008 Queen's Counsel appointments are:
• Susan Barber is a lawyer with the firm of McDougall Gauley in Regina. She was admitted to the bar in 1988. She is a bencher of the Law Society.
• Denise Batters is the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. She was admitted to the bar in 1995.
• Darin Chow is a lawyer with Chow McLeod in Moose Jaw. He was admitted to the bar in 1995.
• Brian Hendrickson is a Senior Crown Prosecutor with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice and Attorney General in Moose Jaw. He was admitted to the bar in 1982.
• Tony Koschinsky is a Senior Crown Counsel with the Civil Law Division of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice and Attorney General. He was admitted to the bar in 1977.
• Richard Mayer is a lawyer with the Regina City Area Office of the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission. He was admitted to the bar in 1976.
• Gary Meschishnick is a lawyer with the firm of Wallace Meschishnick Clackson Zawada in Saskatoon. He was admitted to the bar in 1984.
• Shaunt Parthev is a lawyer with the firm of MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman in Saskatoon. He was admitted to the bar in 1988.
• Bill Preston is a lawyer with the firm of Robertson Stromberg Pedersen in Saskatoon. He was admitted to the Bar in 1966.
• Patrick Reis is a lawyer with the Regina Rural Area Office of the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission. He was admitted to the bar in 1984.
• James Rybchuk is a lawyer with the firm of McDougall Gauley in Regina. He was admitted to the bar in 1995.
• Murray Sawatzky is a lawyer with the firm of McDougall Gauley in Regina. He was admitted to the bar in 1986. He is the President of the Canadian Bar Association, Saskatchewan Branch.
• Barbara Tomkins is the Chair of the Automobile Injury Appeal Commission and the former Ombudsman for Saskatchewan. She was admitted to the bar in 1976.
• Gordon Wyant is a lawyer with the firm of McKercher LLP in Saskatoon. He was admitted to the bar in 1987.
• Lyle Zuk is a lawyer with the firm of Wilcox Zuk Chovin in Prince Albert. He was admitted to the bar in 1981.
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For more information, contact:
Laur'Lei Silzer
Justice and Attorney General
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0775
Email: laurlei.silzer@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-0074