The legal career of Jonathan Black-Branch, the former dean of the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law, has reached a definitive end. Following his 2024 disbarment in Canada, a U.K. tribunal has now officially stripped him of his right to practice law in England and Wales, citing a “blatant and sustained” pattern of dishonesty.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A “Pervasive Scheme” of Fraud
Key violations include:
- Unauthorized Education: He funneled approximately $472,000 in university funds to pay for his own professional development at prestigious Ivy League institutions, including Harvard and Yale, without obtaining proper authorization.
- The “Manitoba Club” Expenses: Black-Branch submitted claims for more than 200 meals at the private Manitoba Club. While he claimed these were business meetings, investigations revealed he often dined alone or listed guests who later confirmed they were never present.
- Charitable Self-Dealing: He directed a $75,000 university donation to the International Society of Law and Nuclear Disarmament, an organization he personally founded and chaired.
Legal Repercussions (2024–2026)
| Authority | Outcome | Penalty/Order |
| Law Society of Manitoba | Disbarred (2024) | $36,000 fine and permanent loss of license. |
| U.K. Bar Standards Board | Disbarred (2026) | Stated his actions were “wholly incompatible” with the Bar. |
| Manitoba Civil Court | Restitution Order | Ordered to pay back $682,000 to the University of Manitoba. |
The Current Situation
Despite the mounting legal and financial judgments against him, Black-Branch’s whereabouts remain a mystery. While he holds property in the United Kingdom, he has not returned to Canada to face the music.
A Canada-wide warrant for his arrest remains active as of April 2026. Meanwhile, the University of Manitoba has implemented strict new “one-over-one” financial protocols to ensure that no future dean or executive can ever approve their own expenses again.
