Steve Lorteau

Steve has a bijural education with degrees in common law and civil law from the University of Ottawa. During his legal studies, Steve participated and later coached in the Jessup International Law Moot Court competition. In 2020, Steve completed a judicial clerkship at the Federal Court under Justice Peter Pamel. Following his clerkship, Steve completed his Master of Laws (LLM) thesis at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Dean Jutta Brunnée.

Steve's research interests are in the areas of administrative law, climate law, institutional analysis, and zoning law. His research centres on the role of courts in climate law. His LLM thesis explored the environmental obligations of state-owned fossil fuel companies under international law. His SJD thesis focuses on political economy issues relating to judicial adjudication of environmental zoning. His research on environmental law has been published in the Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law (RECIEL) and the McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law.

Steve also has an interest in the regulatory aspects of wine law, and a particular interest in Canada’s unique approach to wine regulation. In 2016, Steve graduated with a diploma in wine law from the University of Reims, located in the heart of the Champagne. His research on wine law has been published in the Journal of Wine Research, Jus Vini: Journal of Wine & Spirits Law, and a collective monograph on comparative wine law. Since 2022, he has served as the Canadian reporter for Jus Vini annual chronicles.

In his spare time, Steve enjoys reading, playing board games, watching sports, cooking, and discovering new wines.