Lawyer Profile
Bernice R. Bowley
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Overview
Nationally recognized as a leading litigator, Bernice maintains a comprehensive commercial insurance litigation practice which includes general insurance defence, professional errors and omissions, product liability, construction, subrogation and coverage. She also practises in the areas of class actions, administrative law and municipal liability.
Bernice's clients include the Municipal General Insurance Program maintained by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and the Liability Insurance Program handled by the Manitoba School Boards Association. She is the Manitoba lawyer for a number of healthcare professional liability programs. Her clients include a variety of other Canadian, American and international insurance companies.
Bernice has appeared before all levels of court in Manitoba, the Federal Court of Canada and various tribunals. Although Bernice excels in court, she is equally proficient in guiding clients through alternative dispute resolution and mediation proceedings to achieve resolution.
She has received multiple distinctions for her work as a commercial litigation, professional liability and municipal practitioner. Bernice became a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America, in 2020.
As chair of the litigation practice, Bernice leads a team of high-performing lawyers in the firm’s market-leading litigation practice.
### Recognition
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- Benchmark Litigation's Top 100 Women in Litigation in Canada, 2022-2023
- Benchmark Litigation’s Top 50 Women in Litigation in Canada, 2017–2021
- Benchmark Litigation , Commercial; Insurance — Litigation Star
- Best Lawyers in Canada , Insurance Law; Municipal Law
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory , Litigation — Commercial Insurance; Litigation — Corporate Commercial; Litigation — Professional Liability
- Chambers Canada, Litigation: General Commercial (Manitoba) — Leading Practitioner
### Select Experience
- Fontaine et al. v. The Government of Manitoba et al. , 2023 MBKB 84 (CanLII) Bernice is defending the Government of Manitoba in this proposed class action relating to child and family and essential services. There is a related and proposed class action entitled Heidi Cook v. Government of Manitoba et al , in which Bernice and her team are also representing the Government of Manitoba. Canada is a defendant in both actions. Certification motions are scheduled but yet to be heard.
- Sul v. The Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, Manitoba et al. 2021 MBQB 152 (CanLII) :
By Notice of Application for judicial review, the Mayor of the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, Joy Sul, challenged an amended Procedures By-Law and two resolutions that had the effect of allowing a majority vote so that any member of council
could carry out the duties of chair of council meetings and spokesperson for the municipality. The Mayor’s application was dismissed with costs awarded against her.
- McLeod Est
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 1994 (MB)