Michael Thorburn

Michael H.F. Thorburn, a doctoral candidate at Stanford Law School, conducts interdisciplinary research that engages with labour law, environmental sustainability, machine learning, and organizational behaviour. Specifically, Michael examines the dynamics of collective bargaining in addressing environmental matters, assessing the role of ‘green’ clauses in advancing workplace climate change mitigation and sustainability goals.

Before Stanford, Michael worked as a union-side labour lawyer in Toronto, serving a diverse client base including hotel staff, truckers, journalists, and teachers. His legal expertise spanned litigating workplace conflicts, negotiating contracts, and providing representation in regulatory matters, informing his exploration of broader policy issues in the labour sector.

Aligned with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s values, Michael is committed to collaborating with diverse individuals to address pressing policy issues in Canada. He seeks to enhance his leadership skills, prioritizing community-centred, impact-oriented solutions.

Michael holds a Juris Doctorate from Osgoode Hall Law School, a Master of Management Science from Tsinghua University, and a Master of the Science of Law from Stanford University. Outside academia, he enjoys running, cycling, and serves on the executive of the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers’ Climate & Labour Committee, seeking to promote climate-conscious legal practices across Canada.

Michael hails from Coquitlam, British Columbia.