interior About Us banner image

About Us

Advocates for environmental law and process for a better environmental future

The American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL) is a professional association of distinguished lawyers who practice in the field of environmental law. Membership is by invitation and members are recognized by their peers as preeminent in their field.

ACOEL members are dedicated to maintaining and improving the ethical practice of environmental law, the administration of justice, and the development of environmental law through rigorous focus, outreach and education in all forums — federal, state, municipal, tribal and international.

ACOEL members value collegiality, balanced and objective perspective, integrity and rigor in expertise, and making unique ACOEL contributions through their engagement and educational efforts.

ACOEL Officers

Array
Kenneth Warren

Immediate Past President
Kenneth J. Warren, founding member of Warren Environmental Counsel LLC, practices environmental law with a concentration in water law including water quality, water resources, and interstate commissions. He served as Chair of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources in Bar Year 2003-2004 and as an industry representative on EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council from 2000-2006. His practice involves representing private and government clients in regulatory and litigation matters pertaining to water, waste, air, environmental cleanups and sustainability. Ken can be reached at kwarren@warrenenvcounsel.com.
Array
Kevin Murray

President
Kevin Murray is a partner at Holland & Hart’s Salt Lake City office. His practice focuses on managing environmental liabilities, repurposing real estate assets, and creating value through property remediation and planning. He is known for his strategic approach to crafting innovative solutions that deliver maximum value for clients ranging from the largest international corporations to individual landowners. He brings innovative and unique resolutions to complex contamination issues, especially involving multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency matters (particularly EPA and NRC), in the real estate, mining, energy, petroleum, nuclear, and manufacturing industries. Kevin can be reached at KRMurray@hollandhart.com.
Array
Molly Cagle

Treasurer
Ms. Cagle, now Senior Counsel with Baker Botts, has practiced environmental law for more than 40 years, and over that period, counseled clients on virtually every kind of environmental matter, representing them before various federal and state agencies and in federal and state courts. Molly also has testified before committees of both the United States Congress and the Texas Legislature. In the last decade, she focused on counseling and litigation related to water, such as water rights disputes, endangered species matters, NPDES permits, and OPA and CERCLA Natural Resource Damage claims and penalties. Molly can be reached atmolly.cagle@bakerbotts.com.
Array
Robin Craig

Secretary
ROBIN KUNDIS CRAIG is the Robert C. Packard Trustee Chair in Law at the USC Gould School of Law, where she teaches Environmental Law, Water Law, Ocean and Coastal Law, Toxic Torts, Civil Procedure, and Administrative Law. Craig specializes in all things water, including climate change adaptation in the water sector; the food-water-energy nexus; water quality and water allocation law; marine protected areas and marine spatial planning; and the intersection of freshwater and ocean and coastal law. She is the author, co-author, or editor of 12 books—including textbooks on Environmental Law, Water Law, and Toxic Torts—and over 100 law or science journal articles and book chapters. She can be reached at robinkcraig@gmail.com.
Array
Michael Hockley

Fellow
Michael Hockley is President of Montrose Chemical Corporation of California. Before retiring in 2023 from the practice of law, he was a partner in the Environmental and Energy Law practice of Spencer Fane LLP for 34 years. Mike's practice concentrated on litigation, environmental law, and renewable energy, with an emphasis on environmental litigation, permitting, and enforcement proceedings. In addition to representing individual clients in hazardous waste, Clean Air Act, and multi-media enforcement and permitting proceedings, he has chaired and served as group counsel for Superfund site steering committees and served as a mediator in complex multi-party litigation. Mike also serves as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Kansas (East). He can be reached at mdhockleygmail.com.

Past ACOEL Officers

Message from the President

ACOEL Board of Regents

Bylaws of the College