Brandon lawyer faces stricter ban on messaging female colleagues

A Brandon lawyer is facing more restrictions on his communications with female colleagues, pending an investigation from the Law Society of Manitoba.

Ryan William Fawcettwas barred in July from contacting any female lawyers in Manitoba for any purpose aside from work-related matters.

In a new undertaking published on the Law Society's website, Fawcettalso cannot communicatewith any woman who is a legal assistant, oremployee of the courts, Manitoba Justice, Justice Canada or Legal Aid Manitoba, for any mattersnot related to his employment.

Law Society of Manitoba chief executive officer Kris Dangerfield said the additional restrictions weredeemed necessary over the course of an investigation intoFawcett'sconduct.

She would not divulge the natureof theinvestigation, which she said is ongoing.

"As aresult of the concerns that have arisen in the context of that investigation, it was determined that it would be in the public interest to impose restrictions upon his practice," Dangerfield said.

If charges are laid against Fawcettfollowing the investigation, it would be publicly disclosed on the law society's website.

Dangerfield wouldn't say what prompted the law society to place these limitations on Fawcett's communications.

Fawcett has been apractising lawyer in Brandon withLegal Aid Manitoba,according to the law society's website. Itsays he was called to the bar in 2001.

The law society's undertaking, which is a formal promise to either do something or refrain from doing something, says Fawcettcan only communicate with the women cited in the undertaking for a non-work-related purpose if he first obtains written permission.

The orderwill remain in effect pending the completion of the society's investigation into Fawcett and any disciplinary proceedings that may follow,or until the restrictions have been changed or he'srelieved of following them.

A message toFawcett's work email Tuesdayreturned a response that he's on a leave of absence.