To our clients, colleagues, and friends,
First and foremost, we hope this finds you, your families, and your colleagues healthy.
Now more than ever we can appreciate just how small the world truly is, and the
importance of coming together to protect our local and global community.
We recognize that the March 19, 2020 Directive and Advisory issued by the Chief Justice
of the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan restricts the ability of Saskatchewan
families to have anything other than urgent matters heard and determined by the Court.
We also recognize that “urgent” has been narrowly defined. The impact COVID-19 has
had to date on how we practice and our ability to have matters heard and determined has
brought about uncertainty. This uncertainty extends to current court orders, applications
which were pending before the Court but are now adjourned, and all other aspects of
family law litigation.
As a result of recent amendments to Saskatchewan legislation, arbitration is now
available for family law clients. McDougall Gauley LLP has three Family Law
Arbitrators, approved by the Saskatchewan Government to conduct arbitrations. These
arbitrators are:
Regina
Lindsay A. Hart
(306) 565-5169
lhart@mcdougallgauley.comOpens in new window
Saskatoon
Sherry L. Fitzsimmons, Q.C.
(306) 665-5421
sfitzsimmons@mcdougallgauley.com Opens in new window
Raymond Wiebe
(306) 665-5421
rwiebe@mcdougallgauley.comOpens in new window
We can effectively tailor the arbitration process to meet the current need for timely access
to dispute resolution. Please call any one of us to explore the possibility of moving
forward with family law arbitration as a process choice to resolve disputes. We are more
than happy to discuss what the process involves, how it can be arranged to address the
current circumstances relating to COVID-19 including the logistics of conducting the
arbitration, and the possibility that the arbitrated award be limited in scope.
McDougall Gauley LLP, through its predecessor firms, has carried on business in
Saskatchewan since 1891. Prior to COVID-19 becoming a reality in Saskatchewan, we
had a robust disaster recovery plan already in place and were able to build on that, very
rapidly. Both our Saskatoon and Regina offices remain fully operational with appropriate
safety measures in place.
