Arbitrators

Bob Adkins holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Bachelor of Law Degree, both from the University of Manitoba. He has practiced law as a partner with the law firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP for over 30 years, with an emphasis on commercial real estate, real estate development, commercial leasing, municipal law, zoning, property assessment, administrative law and general commercial litigation. He also has extensive experience in natural resource negotiations and Indigenous law. His practice includes appointments to serve as a mediator and/or arbitrator in labour relation matters, as well as civil and commercial disputes.

Melissa Beaumont holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba. She practiced as a partner of a large law firm and practiced in all areas of labour and employment law. She also practiced as an independent workplace investigator. She is a past President of the Manitoba Bar Association and is a volunteer peer support for Law(yer) Strong. She has been involved in several community non-profit organizations. She was a recipient of the Lexpert Leading Lawyers Under 40 award in 2023.

Adrian Frost holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba. He practices law as a partner in the law firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP with an emphasis on labour relations, employment and human rights law. His practice includes appointments to serve as a mediator and/or arbitrator in labour relations matters.

Kristin L. Gibson was a partner in the Labour and Employment group of MLT Aikins in Winnipeg from 1990 until her retirement at the end of 2025. During her career with MLT Aikins Kristin had a varied practice in a wide range of industries. She was a labour arbitrator and mediator in the public and private sectors. Since her retirement from the partnership Kristin continues to work in alternative dispute resolution, which includes arbitration and mediation, as well as doing workplace investigations.

David Gisser holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University, and received his Master of Laws (LLM), specializing in administrative law, from Osgoode Hall Law School. He served as Crown Counsel and General Counsel with the Legal Services Branch of Manitoba Justice from 1985 until his retirement in late 2023, David also served as Vice- Chairperson of The Municipal Board of Manitoba, Deputy Chief Commissioner of The Residential Tenancies Commission and as a member of the Discipline Committee of The Law Society of Manitoba.

David has taught the Clinical Administrative Law course at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law since 2005, for which he was recognized in 2022 by being named a Jurist of Robson Hall.

David was appointed Queen's (now King's) Counsel by the Province of Manitoba in 2020.

Blair Graham holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Manitoba. Mr. Graham has practiced law for over 40 years, primarily as a partner in the firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP. His preferred areas of practice were civil litigation and administrative law. In 1997 he started to act as an arbitrator in various types of labour relations matters. He was appointed Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) in 1992 and was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2004.

As of July 1, 2021, Mr. Graham began practicing law independently, limiting his practice to arbitration and mediation of labour relations matters and various types of civil and commercial disputes.

Krista Klassen holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg and Juris Doctor from the University of Manitoba. She has practiced labour and employment law in both a large firm setting and as well as in house for Shared Health and Manitoba Hydro, where she currently serves as Senior Legal Counsel. In addition, she also held the role of Chief Human Resources Officer at St. Boniface Hospital and worked as an independent workplace investigator.

Helen Krahn is Deputy Chief Commissioner at the Residential Tenancies Commission. Ms. Krahn's previous appointments and affiliations consist of various representative, barrister, and attorney roles. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba and practices in labour and employment law. She actively volunteers at the United Deportivo Manitoba F.C., and Winnipeg Folklorama.

Keith LaBossiere holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba. He serves as the CEO and Managing Partner of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP. He practices labour and employment law. He has significant experience in the area of police employment law and public sector labour relations.

Janet Mayor holds a Bachelor of Laws degree obtained in 1988 from the University of Manitoba. She practiced labour and employment law and civil litigation for several years, both in private practice and as in-house counsel at Manitoba Hydro. She most recently worked as the Director of Human Resources at the Crown Corporation.

Kathy McIlroy holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba. She received her Call to the Bar in 1992. She has practiced exclusively in Labour and Employment law. She has served on the Pension Commission, the Residential Tenancies Commission and several community Boards. She continues to serve as a labour arbitrator and mediator.

Colin Robinson previously served as the chairperson and full-time vice-chairperson of the Manitoba Labour Board, having been first appointed in 2003. He is currently the Chair of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba and also serves as an arbitrator and mediator. Colin Robinson holds a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree from the University of Manitoba, a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, and was called to the Bar in Manitoba in 1995.

Nicole Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Hons) and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba. She practices law as a partner in the law firm of Pitblado Law with an emphasis on labour relations, employment and human rights law. Her practice also includes conducting independent workplace investigations. She is a Board Member of the Legal Help Centre and has been involved in several community non-profit organizations.

Michael Werier is counsel to the Winnipeg law firm of D'Arcy & Deacon LLP. He carries on a practice as an arbitrator/mediator in Manitoba. He is currently chairperson of the Manitoba labour management review committee, and Chief Adjudicator of the Manitoba Human Rights Adjudication Panel.

Mathieu Lafreniere (bilingual) is an associate lawyer at Smith Neufeld Jodoin LLP, where he carries on a general practice with a focus on civil litigation. He also serves as a Deputy Chief Commissioner at the Residential Tenancies Commission, is a Bencher with the Law Society of Manitoba, serves as the Chairperson of Sara Riel Inc., and serves on multiple other non-profit or charitable boards.

Graham Nattress holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University. He practices law as a partner in the Vancouver law firm of Overholt Law LLP with an emphasis on labour relations, employment and insurance law. Graham practices in both British Columbia and Manitoba and resides in Winnipeg. His practice includes representing employees and employers in employment matters and appointments to serve as a mediator, investigator and/or arbitrator in labour relations matters.