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Jonathan Black-Branch, the former dean at the University of Manitoba’s law school who was disbarred in both Canada and England due to professional misconduct and fraud involving more than $600,000, has been arrested in France. Winnipeg police confirmed that an arrest warrant was issued for him on March 30, 2026, and he is now facing extradition back to Canada to face charges of fraud over $5,000.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jonathan Black-Branch, a disbarred former dean at the University of Manitoba's law school, was arrested in France and is facing extradition to Canada. Winnipeg police confirmed that an arrest warrant for fraud exists across Canada and the matter is currently before French courts. The precise timing of his arrest remains undisclosed. Black-Branch left his position abruptly in 2020 without explanation, following allegations from a whistleblower complaint about misuse of university funds by a senior employee. In December 2023, a hearing by the Law Society of Manitoba concluded that Black-Branch had misspent over $600,000, leading to his disbarment for professional misconduct. Should the extradition proceedings succeed and he be returned to Winnipeg, further details will be released by police.
Written for “Extradition Request For Former Dean A…” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Former U of Manitoba law dean arrested in France, faces extradition to Canada: police
asserted
dean → arrest → Canada
Jonathan Black-Branch facing Canada-wide arrest warrant for fraud
Jonathan Black-Branch, the disbarred former dean at the University of Manitoba's law school, has been arrested in Europe and is facing extradition back to Canada.
asserted
Branch → face → Canada
Winnipeg police spokesperson Const. Stephen Spencer confirmed Wednesday the arrest happened in France and the matter is currently before the French court system.
asserted
matter → confirm → system
Police can't say more while the matter is before the courts, he said in an email, but "further information will be provided should the extradition application be successful" and Black-Branch is returned to Winnipeg.
asserted
Branch → say → Winnipeg
He could not confirm when Black-Branch was arrested.
uncertain
Branch → confirm → ?
Black-Branch, who was hired as U of M's law dean in 2016, left his post suddenly in 2020 with no formal explanation given.
asserted
explanation → hire → 2020
Around the same time, an internal investigation by the university, based on a whistleblower complaint, found a senior university employee misspent university funds.
asserted
employee → base → funds
In 2023, a months-long law hearing by the Law Society of Manitoba found Black-Branch had committed professional misconduct and misspent more than $600,000.
asserted
Branch → find → 600,000
He spent U of M endowment funds on expensive meals at the members-only Manitoba Club, personal education at Ivy League schools, accommodation, travel and other expenses while he was dean of the U of M's law school, according to the society's decision.
uncertain
he → spend → decision
The U of M then asked Winnipeg police to investigate for possible criminal charges.
asserted
U → ask → charges
The law society disbarred Black-Branch in 2024, removed his name from its rolls of barristers and solicitors, and fined him $36,000.
asserted
society → disbar → 36,000
While overseas in August 2020, the University of Southampton, in the U.K., announced Black-Branch as the new head of its law school.
asserted
University → announce → school
Days later, the university changed course and announced it would no longer be hiring him.
asserted
it → change → him
Earlier this year, Black-Branch was disbarred for a second time.
asserted
Branch → disbar → time
The Bar Standards Board for England and Wales barred him from practising law, citing his actions in Manitoba as "blatant and sustained dishonesty," according to the disciplinary decision by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service.
uncertain
Board → bar → Tribunals
The Canada-wide arrest warrant was issued for Black-Branch on March 30, 2026, on a charge of fraud over $5,000.
asserted
warrant → issue → 5,000
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