GW Law is proud to announce the launch of its new Distinguished Scholar Program in Energy Law & Sustainability. The program's mission is to further the reliable, affordable and efficient use of clean and sustainable energy through collaboration among preeminent thinkers, practitioners, faculty, and students. Distinguished Scholars are leaders in their sectors, whose work addresses global energy and sustainability challenges. Through their residency, they will collaborate on high-impact research, enrich the academic community, and mentor the next generation of legal and policy leaders.
The inaugural project, Ethics, Energy & Sustainability, focuses on the complex challenges of creating a sustainable energy future. It examines the ethical dimensions of energy policy, the social and environmental justice implications of infrastructure development, and the role of law and finance in advancing a more equitable transition to clean energy. The program's scholars, with diverse backgrounds in law, policy, business, energy, and international affairs, are uniquely positioned to provide innovative insights and lead this vital discussion.
"We are at a pivotal moment in the global energy transition, and the legal and ethical questions we face are more complex than ever," said Dayna Matthew, Dean of GW Law. "The Distinguished Scholar Program in Energy Law & Sustainability is a testament to our commitment to academic excellence and public service. By bringing thought leaders like Allan Marks and Matthew Brotmann to our campus, we are ensuring that GW Law remains at the forefront of global discourse and solutions."
Our First Distinguished Scholars
Allan T. Marks
Allan T. Marks is a Professorial Lecturer in Law and Distinguished Scholar at GW Law, where he teaches in the Energy Law Program and contributes to the Ethics, Energy & Sustainability project. Mr. Marks is a retired partner at Milbank LLP, where he practiced for over 30 years in the firm’s Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Finance group. He has handled complex transactions around the world valued cumulatively at over $100 billion, with a focus on renewable energy, water, transportation, banking, capital markets, and cross-border investment.
In addition to his role at GW Law, he is a Senior Fellow at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment and teaches law and finance at both the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA, where he is Affiliated Faculty at the Emmett Institute on Climate Change & the Environment. Mr. Marks writes and speaks frequently on energy and infrastructure markets, economic policy, risk management and geopolitics and is a Contributor to Forbes. His most recent scholarly article, “Think Globally and Act Locally: Collaboration Across Borders to Address Climate Change,” was recently published in the Denver Journal of International Law and Policy. He holds a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.A. in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University.
Hon. Matthew E. B. Brotmann
Hon. Matthew E. B. Brotmann is a Professorial Lecturer in Law and a Distinguished Scholar at GW Law, where he works on the Ethics, Energy & Sustainability project. Mr. Brotmann currently serves as Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs and Senior Counsel for Equinor’s renewables portfolio in the Americas. In this role, he leads strategy and policy initiatives supporting the development of Equinor’s multi-billion-dollar portfolio of large-scale infrastructure projects, including offshore wind, bulk energy storage, and emerging renewable technologies. He regularly engages with federal, state, and local officials, as well as industry associations, NGOs, and community stakeholders.
Previously, Mr. Brotmann was Senior Counsel at the New York Power Authority and also served as Assistant General Counsel at the MTA/Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. He began his career as a prosecutor in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, specializing in environmental crimes before moving into narcotics and organized crime prosecutions. An educator as well as a practitioner, he taught International Environmental Law and International Criminal Law at Pace University School of Law, where he founded the International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition. He has served as a Judge for the Town of Pound Ridge, New York, since 2000, presiding over both criminal and civil matters.