In memory of Professor Arthur Cockfield

The Queen’s Law community suffered a great loss this year when Arthur Cockfield, Law’93, beloved faculty member and Associate Dean at Queen's Law, passed away suddenly on January 9, 2022, at the age of 54. Art, who also held a BA in business from Western University and JSM and JSD degrees from Stanford University, returned to Queen’s Law as a Queen’s National Scholar in 2001. Here, he was promoted rapidly up the academic ladder, becoming one of the best-known tax law scholars in Canada, and possibly the most cited, with 14 citations in Supreme Court of Canada decisions in 2021 alone. He has written and co-authored leading books in international taxation and legal ethics, published in leading national and international journals, and was frequently sought after to share his expertise at conferences and in the media. The recipient of numerous research grants totaling more than $6 million, his most recent project was on global financial crime. Art was also cherished as a mentor and as a loyal and dedicated teacher who cared deeply for his students.  

More about Art can be found on our website: https://law.queensu.ca/news/Meet-our-faculty-Art-Cockfield. In June, our Queen’s Law alumni also honoured Art with the posthumous receipt of one of our highest awards, the H.R.S. Ryan Alumni Award. To view the video as part of the awards celebration, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwzMfw_29eU 

The Professor Arthur Cockfield Memorial Award in Law

In Art’s memory, colleagues, friends, and family have come together to establish the Professor Arthur Cockfield Memorial Award in Law, which will provide support for law students with demonstrated financial need and academic achievement. If you would like to contribute to this fund in Art’s memory, you can click the Give Now button on this page. The goal is to raise $50,000 in order to permanently endow the award and every gift counts. Your gift will help to ensure the permanency of this fund in memory of a beloved friend and pillar of our community, and help support worthy law students needing financial assistance. Donations can be made with a single payment gift or a multi-year pledge with payments spread over a maximum of 5 years. Contributions of any size are welcome. 

Thank you for supporting students in memory of Art. Your contributions to this meaningful initiative are truly appreciated.

Tributes and remembrance:

Some of Art’s former students have shared their reflections on his enduring influence and legacy

“Professor Cockfield was my tax professor, my ethics professor, my moot coach, my clerkship reference and someone I greatly admire and respect. He truly cared about his students and I'll never forget that he took the time to meet my parents at my graduation. He played such an important part in my legal education and I was lucky to have his unwavering support. I will miss him so much but am proud to consider myself part of his enormous legacy at Queen's.” -Tigra Bailey, Law’17

“Professor Cockfield always went out of his way to help others. He was a kind and caring mentor, and freely offered his time and support to me as a young alumni when I was without a job and desperate for employment. He connected me to lawyers in his network, and helped me get on my feet when I needed it most. Art made tax law interesting, approachable, and fun for generations of law students at Queen’s, and was truly one of a kind. I miss my friend, and heaven is a better place today.” -Kevin Wentzel, Law’12

“Throughout my academic career from grade school to law school, I only developed a lasting friendship with one of my educators and that was the one that i enjoyed with Art. He was kind, brilliant, and cool - a rare combination. Art was a proud and caring dad and an encouraging and supportive professor. He reminded us that no goal was unattainable and that we had better set our sights high and pursue our aims with vigour. Art was a kind and thoughtful gem. I will miss him dearly.” -Robb MacDonald, Law’06

If you have a memory or a story of Professor Cockfield that you would like to share with his family, we would be interested in hearing from you. Share your memories with us here.