Jonathan Kroft, K.C.

Jonathan has appeared before courts at all levels in Manitoba, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Ontario Court, General Division, the Ontario Provincial Court, the Saskatchewan Court or King’s Bench, the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. In the administrative law field, he has been involved in matters before a number of professional governing bodies, the Manitoba Securities Commission, the Mutual Fund Dealer’s Association, the Insurance Council of Manitoba and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

Between 2006 and 2011, Jonathan served as Chief Legal Counsel and Executive Vice President of Risk Management at Wellington West Holdings Inc. In a senior management capacity, he dealt with commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, employment issues and dispute/risk management.

Past Positions

• Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson: Partner (2011-2016, 1991-2006), Associate (1984-1989), Articling Student (1983-1984)
• Wellington West Holdings Inc: Executive Vice President Risk Management and Chief Legal Officer, (2006-2011)
• Arent, Fox, Kitner, Plotkin & Khan: Summer Associate (Washington, DC, 1990)

• Chair, Simkin Centre
• Vice Chair, Simkin Centre
• Past Chair, Simkin Centre
• Board Member, Simkin Centre
• Director and Secretary, Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice
• President, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg
• President and Executive Member, Ad IDEM/Canadian Media Lawyers Association
• Board Member, United Israel Appeal/Federations Canada
• Table Officer, Vice Chair Community Relations, Canadian Jewish Congress
• Regional National Convention Returning Officer, Liberal Party of Manitoba (2005)
• Vice President, Anita Neville Constituency Association (2002-2005)
• Board Member, Jewish Heritage Centre (1998-1999)
• Board Member, Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (1995-2001)
• Race Relations Committee, City of Winnipeg (1992)
• Chairman, Canada Israel Committee (Manitoba, 1991)
• Co-chair, Canada Israel Committee (Manitoba, 1988-1989)
• Chair, Campaign Committee, Fort Rouge Constituency (1988)
• Board Member, Jewish Child and Family Service (1988-1989)
• “Big Brother,” Jewish Child and Family Service (1986-1987)
• United Way Agency Relations Panel (1983-1984)
• Representative, National Youth Commission, Liberal Party National Reform Commission (1983-1984)
• Vice President, Manitoba Law Students Association (1982)
• President, Manitoba Liberal Youth Commission

Attended:

• Privilege – Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (March 2011)
• Law Society of Manitoba Presentation on New Code of Ethics (March 2011)
• Ad IDEM/Canadian Media Lawyers Conference (November 2010)
• Securities Litigation, Canadian Institute (November 2010)
• Update on Solicitor Client Privilege (November 30, 2010)
• Pitblado Lectures, Remedies (November 2010)
• Optimizing Organization Wide Risk Management (June 2010)
• Ad IDEM/Canadian Media Lawyers Conference (November 2009)
• Securities Litigation, Canadian Institute (April 2009)
• Investments as Security, Law Society of Manitoba (December 2008)
• Ad IDEM/Canadian Media Lawyers Conference (November 2008)
• Securities Super-conference, Canadian Institute (February 2008)
• Securities Litigation, Canadian Institute (November 28-29, 2007)
• Ad IDEM/Canadian Media Lawyers Conference (November 2006)
• Superior Court of Justice, Fall Education Seminar (Ontario, November 2006)
• Securities Litigation, Canadian Institute (November 14-15, 2005)
• Media Law Conference (November 2005)
• Storms Across the Border (media law) (May 2005)
• Securities Litigation, Manitoba Bar Association (January 2005)
• Securities Litigation, Canadian Institute (November 2004)
• Media Law Conference (November 2004)
• Media and the Courts Seminar (April 2004)
• Medical/Legal Forum (January 2004)
• Media Law Conference (November 2003)
• Symposium on Western Economic Development (March 2003)
• Pitblado Lectures (2002)
• Securities Litigation, Canadian Institute (November 2002)
• Construction Law Symposium (November 2002)
• Media Law Conference (November 2002)
• Securities Litigation, Canadian Institute (November 2001)
• Media Law Conference (November 2001)

 Teaching:

• Guest Lecturer, “Corporate Law” (Manitoba)
• Presenter, “Freedom of Expression,” Rotary Club Winnipeg West (September 2012)
• Presenter, “Defamation,” Fall Seminar, Superior Court of Justice (Ontario, November 2006)
• Presenter, “Defending Stock Brokers,” Manitoba Bar Association (January 2005)
• Presenter, “Lawyers and the Media,” Mid-Winter Meeting, Manitoba Bar Association (2003)
• Presenter, “Constitutional Law,” Pitblado Lectures (2002)
• Seminar Leader, “Defamation and the Law,” Shaarey Zedek Synagogue (2002; 2003)
• “Commercial Arbitration Lecture,” In-house Counsel Subsection, Manitoba Bar Association (2002)
• Lecturer, Access to Information Symposium (Winnipeg, 2002)
• Lecturer, “Administrative Law,” Evidence in Administrative Hearings, CIAJ (2001)
• Presenter, “Publication of Court Proceedings,” Media Law Subsection, Manitoba Bar Association
• Lecturer, “Publication of Court Proceedings,” Crown Counsel Seminar (2001)
• Presenter, “Tax Litigation,” Law Society of Manitoba (1999)
• Lecturer, “Ethics,” Bar Admission Course, Law Society of Manitoba (1998-1999)
• Lecturer, Manitoba Association of Farm Writers and Broadcasters (1998)
• Presenter, “Media Law,” Canadian Bar Association Conference (1997)
• Lecturer, “Agriculture and the Law,” Faculty of Agriculture (Manitoba, 1997)
• Occasional Lecturer on Law, Faculty of Arts (Winnipeg)
• Judge and Evaluator, Civil Litigation Course (Manitoba)
• Sponsor for First Year Law Student, Faculty of Law (Manitoba, 1988-1989)

Writing:

• “Canadian Defamation Law – Changing World, Changing Rules,” Annual Review of Civil Litigation (2012)
• “Can They Say That? Qualified Privilege and the Press,” Annual Review of Civil Litigation (2005)
• “Defending Stock Brokers,” Mid-Winter Meeting, Manitoba Bar Association (January 2005)
• “Freedom of Expression and the Courts,” Pitblado Lectures (2002)
• “Publication Ban Procedure,” Ad Idem (2001)
• “Free Press, Fair Trial,” Canadian Bar Association (1997)
• Member, Manitoba Law Journal Staff (1982)
• Legal Research and Writing Manual, Faculty of Law (Manitoba)
• Various Articles on Media Law, Winnipeg Free Press
• “Civil Litigation,” Annual Review, Aikins Lawyers (November 2012)

• Recognized as a Top Lawyer, Litigation: General Commercial, Chambers Canada (2023-present)
• Recognized as a Top Lawyer, Administrative and Public Law, Best Lawyers (2006-present)
• Recognized as a Top Lawyer, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers (2006-present)
• Recognized as a Top Lawyer, Defamation and Media Law, Best Lawyers (2006-present)
• Named a Leading Practitioner, Corporate Commercial Litigation, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
• Named One of Canada’s Litigation Stars, General Commercial, Benchmark Canada
• Named One of Canada’s Litigation Stars, Labour and Employment, Benchmark Canada
• Sol Kanee Distinguished Community Service Medal
• United Israel Appeal Federations Canada Leadership Award (2000)
• Harry Silverberg Leadership Award, Winnipeg Jewish Federation
• Montague Israels, Q.C. Prize (1984)
• University Gold Medal for highest standing in three years of law
• Second Law Society Prize (1983)
• Alexander Morris Exhibition Prize (1983)
• Pauline & Samuel Zinman Prize (1983)
• Scholarship for highest standing in first and second year law (1982)
• Scholarship for high standing, Wills and Trusts (1982)
• Finallist, Solomon Greenberg Moot Court Competition (1982)
• Scholarship for highest standing in first year law (1981)
• Scholarship for highest standing, Contracts and Legal Research and Writing (1981)