Misha Boutilier receives U of T Law alumni award

The University of Toronto Faculty of Law Alumni Awards biennially recognize the exceptional contributions of valued community members.

The Ann Wilson and Robert Prichard Alumni Award for Community and Professional Service honours recent graduates who demonstrate the highest standards of professional integrity, excellence and leadership, and who has made a significant contribution to the legal profession and community.

Past recipients include the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani (LLB 1998); Cornell Wright (JD/MBA 2000), President of Wittington Investments; and Atrisha Lewis (JD 2012), Partner at McCarthys and a recognized advocate for diversity within the legal profession.

Misha Boutilier is Counsel & Advisor to Chief Justice of Ontario Michael Tulloch.

Misha completed his law degree at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2018 and is a recipient of the Angus MacMurchy Gold Medal and the Cecil A. Wright Dean’s Key.

Following graduation, he clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and for Justices Sharpe, Tulloch, and Miller at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. He also worked as a litigation associate with the New York office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP for several years, and served as Commission Counsel with the Public Order Emergency Commission.

Notably, his work as a Litigation Associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP included leading a federal class action lawsuit to address unsafe conditions at a detention facility for asylum seekers and successfully challenging restrictive U.S. Department of Homeland Security rules in the landmark case AsylumWorks v. Mayorkas. Underscoring his commitment to justice and human rights, Misha’s pro bono work on this case earned him the Rising Star Award from the National Immigrant Justice Center in 2022.

In addition to his professional achievements, Misha is a published scholar, his writings addressing contemporary challenges in public law, access to justice, and human rights. His publications are included in leading journals such as the Alberta Law Review and the Canadian Bar Review, reflecting his intellectual depth and commitment to addressing pressing legal issues.

In addition to his professional and academic achievements, Misha is a dedicated volunteer in the U of T Law community, serving as a coach for the University of Toronto’s Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot team. Under his guidance, the team has achieved remarkable success, including victory in the Canadian rounds and high placements internationally.

This past Fall, Misha also returned to the faculty as an Adjunct Professor co-teaching a seminar on civil justice reform and comparative U.S.-Canada civil procedure.

The U of T Law alumni awardees will be recognized during U of T Alumni Reunion on May 29, 2025. Alumni and colleagues are welcome to attend, and to join us in congratulating the 2024 recipients.

For nomination details or more information, please contact alumni.law@utoronto.ca.