Professor

Lionel

D.

Smith

Lionel Smith studied law at the University of Western Ontario (LL.B.), Cambridge University (LL.M.), Oxford (D.Phil., M.A.) and the Université de Montréal (LL.B.). He previously taught at the University of Alberta (1991-2; 1994-96), Oxford University (1996-2000), McGill University (2000-2022) and the University of Cambridge (2022-24), where he was Downing Professor of the Laws of England and Director of the Cambridge Private Law Centre. He was appointed to the Professorship of Comparative Law at Oxford University in 2024.

Smith's latest book, The Law of Loyalty, was published by OUP in 2023. He is the author of The Law of Tracing (OUP 1997) and a co-author of Waters’ Law of Trusts in Canada, 5th edn (Carswell 2021). He is also editor or co-editor of many books, and author of over a hundred articles, notes, comments, and reviews. 

Smith is a Titular Member of the International Academy of Comparative Law. He is also a member of the American Law Institute, the European Law Institute, and the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law. He is a non-practising member of the Bar of Alberta and the President of the World Society of Mixed Jurisdiction Jurists.