James L. Barham

Introduction

James L. Barham (Jim Barham) is an American academic, legal expert, and professor focusing on environmental law, sustainable energy policies, and climate change regulations. He is currently a senior partner and head of the Environmental and Climate Change Department at Parker & Winston LLP and an adjunct professor for Stanford Law School. He also serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for the Green Energy Foundation.

Mr. Barham is co-author (with Laura S. Mitchell and Michael R. Harper) of Sustainable Energy Law: Charting the Future of Renewable Resources (Cambridge University Press, Spring 2020), which provides a comprehensive overview of legal considerations in sustainable energy. He has also worked closely (with environmental scientist Dr. Alan Newman) on the text Environmental Law for a Changing World (2016).

Education

Barham obtained his B.A. in Environmental Science and M.A. in Sustainability from the University of Michigan. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School, and subsequently, his Ph.D. in Environmental Policy from Princeton University.

Professional life

Barham has penned numerous academic and industry-specific articles on topics from the legal challenges in offshore wind energy to the regulatory framework for biofuels. He played a pivotal role as a contributing editor for the National Environmental Law Review's special edition on climate change.

His insights have been sought by major publications like The Economist, National Geographic, and Environmental Law Weekly. He has presented at conferences including the International Environmental Law Symposium, Clean Energy Summit, Climate Change Conference, and World Renewable Energy Forum. Additionally, he has been an esteemed speaker on environmental law and policy at institutions like the Harvard Kennedy School, Oxford University, University of California, Berkeley, and more.