Brad Regehr
Partner
bregehr@mauricelaw.com
204-799-0788
403-266-2701
HEADINGLY OFFICE
Brad is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and a survivor of the Sixties Scoop. Brad joined Maurice Law in 2017 as a partner in the Winnipeg office. Over his twenty-five years of practice, Brad has worked on a wide variety of legal matters, including aboriginal law, corporate/commercial law, civil litigation and administrative law. Brad continues to provide advice to a wide range of clients, including First Nation and corporate clients. He has appeared in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench and Manitoba Court of Appeal, as well as the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Brad was part of the legal team that successfully defended a challenge to a First Nation’s tax laws under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, the first litigation involving that statute. He also acted for a First Nation which became a partner in a major hydro-electric project, advising and acting at all stages of the project as well as appearing before both the Clean Environment Commission and Public Utilities Board during the regulatory processes and continues to be involved in the post-construction stage of the project. Brad has and continues to advise First Nations on land claim matters and has also advised numerous First Nation clients on implementation issues involving both land claim and flooding agreements. He was involved in the litigation and settlement concerning the disposal of the Kapyong Barracks in Winnipeg which has resulted in those lands being set apart as a joint reserve for all seven Treaty 1 First Nations. He has been involved in arbitrations and litigation concerning the Manitoba Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement, Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement and flooding agreements.
In August 2021, Brad completed a one-year term as President of the Canadian Bar Association, the first indigenous lawyer to hold that office. During his tenure as President, Brad made the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action his personal priority. Launched just before he assumed the CBA presidency, the CBA’s continuing professional development program The Path, which focuses on the history of indigenous and Crown history, has become the most successful CBA program in its history. In addition, the CBA launched its Truth and Reconciliation Toolkit for Law Firms during Brad’s presidency. Brad also served a two-year term as President of the Manitoba Bar Association, the first indigenous lawyer to hold that office and the first lawyer since 1946 to hold the office for two years. Brad was also the Chair of the Aboriginal Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association for two years.
In 2021, Brad joined the Indigenous Advisory Group for United College at the University of Waterloo. In 2023 he will become Chair of the Advisory Group.
In November 2021, Brad was presented with the Special Recognition Award by the Canadian Bar Association – British Columbia Branch’s Aboriginal Lawyers Forum.
In January 2022, Brad was appointed King’s Counsel by the Province of Manitoba.
In August 2022, Brad was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 17th Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada 2023 for his work in Aboriginal Law/Indigenous Practice.
In August 2023, Brad was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 18th Edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 for his work in Aboriginal Law/Indigenous Practice.
In September 2022, Brad was selected by his peers for inclusion in Canadian Lawyers Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in the Non-Profit/Associations Category.
In June 2023, Brad joined the Board of the United Way of Winnipeg.
Brad has also been involved in eight productions of The Lawyers Play – a joint fund-raising production between the Manitoba Bar Association and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. He lives in Winnipeg with his partner Nalini and their sons and a cat affectionately known as “Kit-Kat.”
Professional/Community Experience
• President, Canadian Bar Association (2020-2021)
• Vice-President, Canadian Bar Association (2019-2020)
• National Board Member, Canadian Bar Association (2018-2020, 2015-2017)
• Trustee, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (2017-2019)
• President, Manitoba Bar Association (2015-2017)
• Vice-Chair, National Sections Council, Canadian Bar Association (2015-2017)
• Executive Member, National Sections Council, Canadian Bar Association (2011-2015)
• Council Member, Manitoba Bar Association (2006-2012)
• Chair, National Aboriginal Law Section, Canadian Bar Association (2010-2012)