She has been general counsel to University of Regina for over 25 years
McDougall Gauley LLP has announced the appointment of Erin Kleisinger – former president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and the Law Society of Saskatchewan – as the firm’s managing partner, effective January 1, 2026.
In its news release, the Saskatchewan-based firm – which Canadian Lawyer named one of its Top Western Law Firms for 2025–26 – noted that Kleisinger has been a member of the firm for over three decades.
In her new role, she will oversee the firm’s strategic direction, operations, and growth, while striving to maintain its core values of legal excellence, integrity, leadership in the legal profession, and commitment to the community.
“We are confident that Erin’s leadership will further strengthen our firm and position us for continued success,” said Michael Milani, the firm’s chair, in the news release.
According to McDougall Gauley, throughout her career, Kleisinger has shown outstanding leadership, a dedication to client service, and a clear strategic vision that accords with the firm’s long-term objectives.
“Erin’s leadership experience, her professional accomplishments and the relationships she has within the firm, the legal profession and the community made her an ideal choice for this position,” Milani said in the firm’s news release.
Currently, Kleisinger sits on the boards of the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED), the Canadian Lawyers’ Insurance Association (CLIA), and the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan. She also co-chairs the Federation / Canadian Council of Law Deans Joint Working Group on Legal Education and Entry to Practice.
She served as a council member of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and as its president from 2023–24, as well as a bencher of the Law Society of Saskatchewan and its president in 2017. She was also president of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors from 2017–18 and of the Saskatchewan Legal Education Society Inc. from 2008–10.
Beyond the law, Kleisinger has served on the board of directors of Group Medical Services and GMS Insurance Inc. for more than two decades, including two terms as chair.
More on Kleisinger
According to her biography on the firm’s website, Kleisinger focuses her work on post-secondary institutions. In particular, she has advised and served as general counsel to the University of Regina for more than 25 years.
Her clients have also included Crown corporations, financial institutions, manufacturers, and regulators.
She has handled litigation and commercial matters involving labour and employment, privacy and data security, human rights complaints, contractual disputes, contract and policy drafting, governance training, transactional matters, secured lending, and insolvency and reorganization.
Kleisinger joined the Saskatchewan bar in 1993, per her firm bio. From Queen’s University, she obtained her LLB with honours in 1992 and her BA in philosophy with first-class honours in 1989.
