It's the province's first time in almost 70 years to receive this designation
Fourteen Saskatchewan lawyers have been honoured with a King’s Counsel (K.C.) designation for their service and contribution to the legal profession.
“This is the first time in almost 70 years that King’s Counsel, rather than Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.), designations have been awarded in Saskatchewan,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre. “These lawyers, who are from diverse backgrounds and work in a broad range of practice areas across the province, have demonstrated notable dedication to their profession and to serving their communities.”
This terminology change in the Canadian legal system followed after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. Meanwhile, there is no need to reappoint those given Q.C. designations, as they will automatically become K.C.
To be selected for a designation, lawyers must live in Saskatchewan and have practiced law for at least 10 years in the superior courts of any province or territory of Canada, the United Kingdom or Ireland.
For this batch, the appointees come from various law firms and organizations across Saskatchewan, some of who have been admitted to the bar as far back as 1986 and as early as 2009.
The 2022 King’s Counsel appointments are the following:
- Kim Marie Armstrong, Saskatchewan Legal Aid, Saskatoon.
- Roger Vincent DeCorby, director of the High Risk Violent Offender Unit, Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Regina.
- Megan Denise Dolo, VP Law, Farm Credit Canada Regina.
- Richard James Fyfe, constitutional branch, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Regina.
- Caroline Marie Katherine Gorsalitz, Legal VP, Cameco, Saskatoon.
- Kathy Lee Hodgson-Smith, Hodgson-Smith Law, Saskatoon and Meadow Lake.
- Leanne Mae Lang, Civil Law Division, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Regina.
- Jana Marie Linner, MLT Aikins LLP, Regina.
- Scott Robert Moffat, Moffat & Company, Weyburn.
- Jason Wayne Mohrbutter, MLT Aikins LLP, Regina.
- Curtis John Onishenko, McKercher LLP, Saskatoon.
- Brian Roderick Pfefferle, Pfefferle Law, Saskatoon.
- Roger Kevin Sobotkiewicz, Chief Executive Officer, Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority, Regina.
- Ian Allerdyce Sutherland, McDougall Gauley LLP, Saskatoon.
King’s Counsel appointments are based on recommendations from a selection committee consisting 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 King’s Bench, and past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and Law Society of Saskatchewan.
