November 13, 2024
For Immediate Release
Contact: admin@acoel.org
(Washington, DC) The American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL or College) is proud to announce its newly elected Officers and Regents. The College is a professional association of distinguished lawyers who practice in the field of environmental law. Membership is by invitation & 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 at both the state and federal level. The new Officers’ and Regents’ terms began on November 7, 2024, at the College’s Annual Meeting held in Houston, TX.
The new Officers for 2024-2025 are:
Tracy Hester, professor of law and Co-Director of the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resource Law Center at the University of Houston Law Center, was elected President. His legal research focuses on the innovative application of environmental laws to emerging technologies and unanticipated risks, including climate engineering, deep decarbonization (particularly in energy production), nanotechnologies, artificial intelligence, and advanced wind, solar, and other renewable power systems. Prior to joining the University of Houston Law Center, Prof. Hester served as a partner in Bracewell LLP for sixteen years and led that firm’s Houston environmental group.
Alexandra Dunn, President and CEO of CropLife America, was elected the College’s President-Elect. She has over 30 years of experience teaching and writing in environmental law, sustainability, and environmental justice. At CropLife America, she leads the U.S. pesticide industry in advocating for sound and science-based policies, laws, and regulations that allow innovative tools to reach American farmers and advance productive crops and abundant food supply for the U.S. and other nations. Prior to joining CropLife America in March 2024, Ms. Dunn served as a Partner in the Environment, Safety, and Incident Response group at the international law firm of Baker Botts from 2021 to 2024, and as the unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate official responsible for chemical and pesticide regulation from 2019-2021.
Robin Kundis Craig, the Robert A. Schroeder Distinguished Professor and Professor of Law at the University of Kansas School of Law, was elected Secretary. Ms. Craig teaches Environmental Law, Water Law, Ocean and Coastal Law, Toxic Torts, and Civil Procedure. 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 13 books, including Re-Envisioning the Anthropocene Ocean (2023), The End of Sustainability (2017), and textbooks on Environmental Law, Water Law, and Toxic Torts. She has also written or co-written over 100 law or science journal articles and book chapters.
Jessica Merrigan, a partner at Spencer Fane in Kansas City, was elected Treasurer. Jessie serves as Co-Chair of the Environment and Energy Practice Group. She counsels clients on environmental matters regarding regulatory requirements including permitting, compliance audits and enforcement response. She represents parties in negotiation, management and resolution of Superfund liability, including serving as common counsel for PRP groups. She also assists clients in evaluation of environmental liabilities associated with real estate and corporate transactions.
Kevin R. Murray, a partner at Holland and Hart in Salt Lake City, UT, becomes Immediate Past President. He has expertise on complex contamination issues, especially those involving multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency matters in the real estate, mining, energy, petroleum, nuclear, and manufacturing industries. His practice focuses on managing environmental liabilities, repurposing real estate assets, and creating value through property remediation and planning. Murray led a number of dynamic initiatives for the College during his tenure, including initiating the College’s first mid-year meeting, initiating the application process for the College to become an observer organization at the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP), and supporting formation of an ACOEL Honors Intern Program for second year law students interested in pursuing careers in environmental law by underwriting their unpaid summer internships at nonprofits and governmental organizations.
The newly elected Regents are:
Ron Tenpas, Vinson & Elkins, LLP, Washington, D.C.
Jeff Porter, Mintz, Boston, MA
Michael Burger, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, New York, NY
Dan Whittle, Environmental Defense Fund, Carrboro, NC
Ed Tormey, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, IA
Jim Spaanstra, Holland & Hart, Denver, CO
All Officers and Regents assume their posts on a voluntary basis and donate their time to ensure that the College operates efficiently.