About the Environmental and Energy Law Program
The Environmental and Energy Law Program combines the Law School’s long and rich tradition in environmental and natural resources law with active engagement in contemporary energy law and policy concerns, establishing Michigan Law as one of the top environmental and energy law programs in the country.
Taught by leading experts, the rigorous academic program features one of the most extensive environmental, natural resources, and energy law curricula among top law schools in the United States, outstanding interdisciplinary and dual degree opportunities, and a distinguished and innovative environment law clinic in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation. Our program for students complements acclaimed public environmental and energy conferences and lectures, featuring leading voices from academia, government, environmental groups, and industry.
Who We Are
EELP Lecture Series
The Environmental and Energy Law Program Lecture Series features speakers from a wide range of backgrounds in government, academia, public interest groups, industry, and private practice.
The public lecture series offers the Michigan Law students the opportunity to learn from leaders of environmental advocacy, government, and industry, builds relationships between the Law School and the environmental community and contributes to debates over the environmental and energy challenges facing our nation and the world. Students often meet privately with speakers during their visits to Michigan Law. All lectures are free and open to the public, and are well-attended by students and faculty throughout the University of Michigan and the broader community.
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2025-2026 Academic Year
September 17, 2025
- Margot Pollans, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
- “Inundations: Permeable Bodies and the Law”
October 8, 2025
- Dave Turk, Former Deputy Secretary, US Department of Energy; Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy (Columbia University)
- “Making Progress on Global Climate Change in the Age of Trump”
November 5, 2025
- Sara Peterson, Attorney, Parkway Law
- “The Environmental Lawyer’s Role in Complex Site Cleanup Projects”
February 11, 2026
- David Adelman, Harry M. Reasoner Regents Chair in Law, University of Texas at Austin School of Law
- “Overcoming The Economic and Legal Barriers to Local Acceptance of Renewable Energy Projects”
March 16, 2026
- Nancy Stoner, Senior Attorney, Environmental Law & Policy Center
- “Making Durable Environmental Progress”
April 22, 2026
- Erin Ryan, Associate Dean for Environmental Programs and Elizabeth C. & Clyde W. Atkinson Professor, Florida State University College of Law
- “The Regulatory, Property, and Human Rights-Based Strategies for Protecting American Waterways”
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2024-2025 Academic Year
September 4, 2024
- David Spence, University of Texas School of Law
- “Climate of Contempt: How to Rescue the U.S. Energy Transition from Voter Partisanship”
October 23, 2024
- Sheila Foster, Columbia Climate School
- “The State and Local Law Landscape for Climate Justice”
November 20, 2024
- Michael Drysdale, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
- “The Supreme Court’s Last Term: Why You Should Care about the Four Horsemen of the Administrative Law Apocalypse”
February 5, 2025
- Shalanda Baker, Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action, University of Michigan
- “Equitable Implementation of Federal Climate Policies and Investments”
February 26, 2025
- Riyaz Kanji, Founder and Directing Attorney at Kanji & Katzen
- “Pursuing Tribal Environmental Justice in the Line 5 Oil Pipeline Dispute”
March 17, 2025
- Patrice Simms, Vice President for Health Communities at Earthjustice
- “What Does the Future Hold for Title VI and Environmental Justice?”
March 21, 2025
- Debbie Chizewer, Managing Attorney at Earthjustice
- Alexandra Klass, James G. Degnan Professor of Law and Co-director of the Environmental and Energy Law Program
- Jonathan Martel, Partner and Co-chair of the Environmental Practice Group at Arnold & Porter
- “Trump 2.0: Environment and Energy Policy Developments”
April 9, 2025
- Alyssa Johl, Vice President and General Counsel at the Center for Climate Integrity
- Naomi Spoelman, Staff Attorney at the Center for Climate Integrity
- “Past, Present, and Future of Climate Accountability: Finding Liability for Big Oil’s Climate Deception”
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2023-2024 Academic Year
April 8, 2024
- Kirti Datla, Director of Strategic Legal Advocacy, Earthjustice
- “Environmental Litigation, the Supreme Court’s New Statutory Interpretation Rules, and the Chevron Doctrine”
March 6, 2024
- Kate Konschnik, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, US Department of Justice
- “The Role of Enforcement in Tackling Climate Change and Advancing Environmental Justice”
February 14, 2024
- Lisa Benjamin, Lewis & Clark Law School
- “The SEC and Climate Disclosure”
January 22, 2024
- Gabriel Chan, University of Minnesota
- “Energy Justice in State Utility Regulation”
November 1, 2023
- Narayan Subramanian, US Department of Energy
- “An Agency Forged from Crises: The Department of Energy and its Role in Addressing the Climate Crisis Today”
October 11, 2023
- Heather Tanana, UCI Law
- “Securing Tribal Water Rights after Arizona v. Navajo Nation”
September 19, 2023
- Ricky Revesz, New York University School of Law
- “Modernizing Regulatory Review”
