Steve Lorteau is a Long-Term Appointment Professor at the University of Ottawa. Professor Lorteau graduated from the University of Ottawa’s Civil Law and National JD programs and then served as a law clerk at the Federal Court. He was called to the Bar of Ontario and completed his LLM at the University of Toronto. He is currently completing his SJD at the University of Toronto. He received SSHRC funding for his Master’s and Doctorate studies. Professor Lorteau joined the Faculty of Law in 2024, where he teaches Environmental Law, Municipal Law, and Property Law. His teaching philosophy seeks to empower students through active discussions and skills-based exercises.
Professor Lorteau’s research interests generally encompass environmental law, zoning law, and legal institutions. His main research projects explore how climate change challenges existing legal institutions, including corporations, environmental litigation, and municipal zoning. Professor Lorteau is also a co-investigator on a series of SSHRC- and CIHR-funded projects concerning the policy implications of eco-anxiety. His research on these themes has been published in Energy Policy, Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, and the McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law.
Professor Lorteau is also interested in the real-world implications of environmental law, having (co)authored five op-ed pieces for The Conversation Canada and served as an expert interviewee for Reuters and The Globe and Mail, among other outlets. He has also advised environmental non-governmental organizations and sitting politicians on matters of climate law.
Professor Lorteau maintains an interest in wine law, holding two certificates from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and a University Diploma from the University of Reims Global Wine Law School. His research on this theme seeks to develop Canada’s unique approach to wine regulation, blending aspects of European and American regulatory frameworks. Since 2022, he has served as the Canadian reporter for Jus Vini annual chronicles.