Michael McSorley, JD 1977

This donor profile is from the Fall-Winter 2012 issue of Nexus

By Karen Gross and Lucianna Ciccocioppo / photography by Nigel Dickson

It’s literally been a long journey for Michael McSorley, since he graduated from law school in 1977. A native of Toronto and Oakville, McSorley worked in the Canadian mining industry for some 30 years—ultimately serving as managing director of Falconbridge International Ltd. He traveled the world from his base in Brussels, negotiating complex contracts with companies and governments in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Along the way, he also became a certified Divemaster.

“While I did not work in law, specifically,” McSorley says, “I had to consider many of the issues we studied in law school in the course of my work. I had to process many materials, and develop strategies to negotiate with parties in different cultures. That involved many of the issues we studied in law school such as international conflict law and arbitration.”

Even though he now lives in England, McSorley had maintained close ties with the law school and feels strongly about the role alumni need to play in its future. Classrooms and meeting rooms must be brought up to current standards in order to keep the school connected with the rest of the world.

“We need to contribute our time and funds,” he says. “Education is one of the most important factors in the success of any society, and a great source of personal success and satisfaction in life.”