May 27, 2025 —
The third annual Art Braid Business Law Case Competition took place on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS)’s offices. This year’s case challenged students to review and analyze a services agreement on behalf of a client and present their recommendations. Congratulations to winners Jordan Wagner (3L), Eric Wagner (1L), and William Ho (1L), and to runners-up: Eric Martin (1L), Tyler Rubigny (1L), Thomas James-Davies (1L), and Alessandro Imbrogno (1L). The Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law generously funded the competition.
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Edwin Arthur Braid, C.M., Q.C. (1934 – 2020), also known as ‘Art’, was a beloved former Dean and Professor at Robson Hall, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law. He was also a graduate of the UM Faculty of Law, class of 1960. Art was widely respected for his kindness, intellectual rigor, and dedication to teaching, but above all, he was deeply passionate about business law. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of law students, particularly through the Art Braid Business Law Case Competition.
Robson Hall’s Business Law Group, organizers of the 2025 Art Braid Business Law Case Competition.
The Business Law Group (BLG), a student group focused on corporate and commercial law at Robson Hall, first introduced the competition two years ago as a way to offer students a practical learning experience in transactional practice. The event, which continues to be a resounding success, has led to a continued partnership with the Marcel A. Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law, allowing the BLG to run the competition for its third consecutive year.
The competition was a valuable opportunity to engage students in the process of legal reasoning, a central value for Art Braid. Teams of two to four students were given a hypothetical contract and asked to identify any red flags, legal issues that could potentially render the contract void, and propose any creative or necessary changes. Students presented their solutions to a panel of judges made up of experienced lawyers from the Manitoba Bar.
Following the presentations, attendees gathered in the Northern Lights Lounge at TDS for refreshments and remarks, culminating in the announcement of the winning team.
Professor Darcy MacPherson gives a moving tribute to Art Braid.
Darcy MacPherson, a Professor at Robson Hall and Research Director at the Desautels Centre, shared heartfelt comments about Art Braid’s lasting impact on the law community. Professor MacPherson emphasized Art’s passion for corporate and commercial law and his unwavering belief in preparing students for the business world. He also highlighted Art’s commitment to pro bono work and his philosophy of giving back: “There’s something special about using your legal skills to help those in need. That was the essence of Art Braid – he freely gave his time and expertise to help others.”
The judges noted that this year’s competition was exceptionally close, with all teams displaying outstanding reasoning and presentation skills. Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Art Braid Business Law Case Competition: Jordan Wagner (3L), Eric Wagner (1L), and William Ho (1L), who triumphed over the finalists: Eric Martin (1L), Tyler Rubigny (1L), Thomas James-Davies (1L), and Alessandro Imbrogno (1L).
Jordan Wagner (3L) presents his team’s case to judges at the 3rd annual Art Braid Cup.
Feedback from the student participants was overwhelmingly positive, and the BLG is excited to continue refining the competition in the years ahead.
The BLG extends its deepest gratitude to the family and friends of Art Braid, whose ongoing support helps sustain his legacy. We also offer sincere thanks to the Marcel A. Desautels Centre for its generous funding, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman for hosting the event, Professor Darcy MacPherson for his moving tribute to Art, Dr. Laura Reimer, Program Director of the Desautels Centre, Dr. Richard Jochelson, Dean of Law, and the Faculty of Law for their unwavering support. Additionally, we would like to thank the competition judges – Steven Dressler [JD/21] (MLT Aikins), Celyna Yu [JD/22] (TDS), Don MacDonald [LLB/83] (Pitblado), and Caroline Christie [BA/12 (UM), JD/16 (UND)] (Pitblado) – for their time and expertise. Finally, our appreciation goes to the entire BLG Executive team and all the students who participated, making this year’s competition a continued success.
Without the ongoing support of these individuals and organizations, the Art Braid Business Law Case Competition would not have grown into what it has become in these three short years.
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