Program Chair

Michael J. Steel focuses on federal, state

and local regulatory compliance issues, crisis

management, dispute resolution and litigation.

He is a co-leader of his firm’s Environmental

Litigation practice team. He represents industrial

companies as well as individuals.

Featured Speakers

Julio S. Friedmann leads research into carbon

capture, carbon storage, and underground coal

gasification. He was invited to join M.I.T.’s team

on the Future of Coal Energy Report and is the

senior science coordinator for the Teapot Dome

National Carbon Storage Test Center.

Susan Mac Cormac serves as co-chair of the

Venture Capital/Emerging Companies Group and

the Cleantech Group for her firm. She represents

sustainable and social enterprise companies,

nonprofits and venture funds.

Ellen M. Peter provides legal advice on the

development and implementation of air

pollution control regulations. She previously

served as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General

in the Natural Resources Section.

V. John White has been a writer, commentator,

advocate, and leader of the clean energy

movement in California for 35 years. He was

chief consultant to the California Assembly

Subcommittee on Air Quality for over 10 years.

Faculty Members

Matthew Adams practices environmental,

Indian, and climate change law, as well as

business regulation. He advises clients on

compliance under NEPA, CEQA, and NHPA,

among others.

Stephen D. Burns has direct responsibility for his

company’s interests in California politics and he

supervises a team of legislative and regulatory

advocates. He advises his company’s senior

leadership on compliance options for AB 32.

Susan Durbin has been with her office for 24

years. She specializes in air pollution control,

general environmental review under the CEQA

and NEPA, nuclear power and waste issues, and

Proposition 65 warning requirements. She was an

attorney for petitioner on The People of the State

of California v. County of San Bernardino.

Jeri Hansen-Gill manages her organization's public
outreach program. She is the immediate Past Chair of
the Napa Chamber of Commerce and is a member of
the Executive Committee of Sustainable Napa County.

Kevin T. Haroff is a leader of his firm’s

environmental law and litigation practice. He

has been named by Chambers USA as one of the

preeminent environmental lawyers in California.

James A. Holtkamp heads his firm’s Global

Climate Change practice group. He is involved in

avoided deforestation sequestration in Central

America; carbon credit trading in the U.S., Canada,

Latin America and Europe; and corporate climate

change policies in the energy sector.

Thomas C. Jepperson oversees legal compliance,

risk management, and human resources. He

chairs his company’s EH&S Committee, which

reviews corporate policy concerning climate

change.

Laura H. Kosloff oversees more than 20 climate

change and project experts who are involved

in corporate strategic planning, greenhouse

gas market forecasting, project development

for voluntary and Kyoto markets, and the

development of emissions trading programs.

Steven E. Lederer has been with his department

since 2006 and also serves as the Director of

the Napa County Green Business Program.

He previously served as the Deputy Planning

Director in the Conservation, Development, and

Planning Department.

Kurt W. Melchior is a nationally known ethics

expert, and is a member of the California Trial

Lawyer Hall of Fame. He has over 30 years’

experience in complex litigation, and represents

physicians, lawyers and accountants on matters of

professional competence.

David Pettit is the Director of the Southern

California Air Quality Program for his council. He

focuses on litigation and advocacy regarding air

quality and in associated areas such as goods

movement, traffic management and land use. He

previously was a shareholder with Caldwell, Leslie,

Newcombe & Pettit.

Jocelyn Thompson has extensive experience

in environmental permitting, compliance and

auditing, including global climate change.

She previously served as a member of the law

department of Exxon Company.

Nicolas W. “Nico” van Aelstyn has more than

17 years of environmental litigation experience,

which has increasingly involved climate change

issues. He co-chairs his firm’s Climate Change

Section and serves as counsel to the Carbon Offset

Providers Coalition.