Estey Chair in Business Law

University of Saskatchewan

The Estey Chair in Business Law was established in 2014 through the generosity of the Estey Family as well as through the support of alumni and friends of the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan. The Chair was created to honour the late Supreme Court of Canada Justice Willard “Bud” Estey, a proud alumnus of the College. The Chair has previously been held by Rod Wood, Cally Jordan, Anna Lund, Virginia Torrie and is currently held by Michael Milani for a second term.

We invite applications from outstanding scholars and practitioners in the field of business law, defined broadly as including domestic and international business law (including regulation, dispute resolution or institutions), governance, transactions, finance, securities, competition, taxation, insolvency and related areas.

The College is seeking candidates in two categories:

1. Those with a strong academic background and demonstrated academic leadership and teaching skills; OR
2. Senior and highly experienced legal professionals.

In either category, the role of the Chair is to engage with faculty colleagues, students and members of the local legal profession and generate enthusiasm about the College’s business law programming. The College of Law provides a stimulating, supportive and highly collegial environment in which the Chair can deploy their knowledge and skills to explore new areas of research and to engage with students, experienced academics and senior practitioners.

Term length will normally be for one year, but the College will consider terms of less than one year, particularly in the case of senior legal professionals who wish to spend a shorter time with the College. In the academic category, the successful candidate will be an academic with an established reputation and record of scholarly achievement. The Chair will be in residence at the College of Law and is expected to enrich and enhance the intellectual life of the College and its business law reputation by pursuing a research program, teaching one course or seminar, delivering a public lecture and planning and hosting a conference or focused scholarly workshop. In the senior legal professional category, the successful candidate for the Chair will be a senior and highly experienced professional with a national and/or international reputation in their chosen area of practice. The Chair is also expected to engage in outreach activities with the bar, judiciary and the wider community during their tenure. Appropriate administrative and financial supports will be provided, particularly with regard to the research and outreach obligations of the Chair.

This position includes a comprehensive benefits package which includes a dental, health and extended vision care plan; pension plan, life insurance (compulsory and voluntary), sick leave, travel insurance, death benefits, an employee assistance program, a professional expense allowance, and a flexible health and wellness spending program. Salary will be commensurate with the experience and standing of the holder, but it is anticipated that the Chair will be appointed at the level of Associate or Full Professor ranks. In the case of an appointment at the rank of Associate Professor, the successful candidate will be an emerging scholar with a growing reputation whose career trajectory would be enhanced by holding an endowed Chair appointment. The salary range at the Associate Professor rank is $135,535 to $157,543; Professor $157,543 to $183,219, with a higher starting salary in rare and exceptional circumstances pursuant to Article 18.2.6.12 of the 2023-2027 USFA Collective Agreement (https://careers.usask.ca/agreements/usfa/usfa-table-of-contents.php).

The College will consider applications from suitably qualified candidates who wish to occupy the Chair in the 2026-27 academic year. While the date for appointment is flexible, the contemplated start date is July 1, 2026. The College will begin reviewing applications in December 2025.

The College of Law is the oldest law school in western Canada, and has provided public service, innovative legal education and high-quality legal scholarship to the Province, Canada and beyond since 1912. We graduate leaders in a host of different areas with alumni holding judicial, political, academic, private and public sector positions at the highest levels in a number of different regions within the country and beyond. The law school is committed to providing its students with rich experiential learning opportunities. Our faculty members are award-winning teachers, recognized for their teaching innovation and effectiveness. The College has embraced the interdisciplinary opportunities presented by being part of a major research-intensive university. This fact is reflected in the value the law school attributes to the creation and dissemination of diverse forms of knowledge and the use of that knowledge to better the human condition.

Inquiries as well as letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae, an outline of the research plans of the candidate, and the names and contact information for at least three professional references should be directed to:

Martin Phillipson, Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6
Telephone: (306) 966-5910
Email: law.search@usask.ca

The University of Saskatchewan is strongly committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that empowers all employees to reach their full potential. All members of the university community share a responsibility for developing and maintaining an environment in which differences are valued and inclusiveness is practiced. The university welcomes applications from those who will contribute to the diversity of our community. In consideration of the University’s strategic directions and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion priorities, the University relies on section 56 of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code to give preference in employment to Indigenous applicants. Applicants who self-declare Indigenous identity, are expected to provide supporting evidence of their Indigenous identity and community relationships. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.