Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia Law School
Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Affiliated with: Undergraduate Special Concentration and Major in Sustainable Development
Columbia Law School Jerome Greene Hall 437 West 116th Street New York, NY 10027
BIOGRAPHY: Michael B. Gerrard, Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Law School, teaches courses on environmental law, climate change law, and energy regulation, and founded and directs the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. He also chaired the faculty of Columbia University’s Earth Institute from 2015 to 2018. From 1979 through 2008, he practiced environmental law in New York, most recently as partner in charge of the New York office of Arnold & Porter. Upon joining the Law School faculty in 2009, he became the senior counsel to the firm. His practice involved trying numerous cases and arguing many appeals in federal and state courts and administrative tribunals; handling the environmental aspects of numerous transactions and development projects; and providing regulatory compliance advice to a wide variety of clients in the private and public sectors. Gerrard was the 2004-2005 chair of the American Bar Association’s 10,000-member section of environment, energy, and resources. He also chaired the New York City Bar Association’s executive committee and the New York State Bar Association’s environmental law section. He has served on the executive committees of the boards of the Environmental Law Institute and the American College of Environmental Lawyers. Several independent rating services ranked Gerrard as the leading environmental lawyer in New York and one of the leading environmental lawyers in the world.
Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization in the United States (co-editor with John Dernbach), Environmental Law Institute (2019)
The Law of Climate Engineering: Governance and Liability for Solar Radiation Management and Carbon Dioxide Removal (co-editor with Tracy Hester), Cambridge University Press (2018)
Global Climate Change and U.S. Law (co-editor with Jody Freeman), American Bar Association (2d edition 2014) (first edition published in 2007)
Threatened Island Nations: Legal Implications of Rising Seas and a Changing Climate (co-editor with Gregory E. Wannier), Cambridge University Press (2013)
The Law of Adaptation to Climate Change: U.S. and International Aspects (co-editor with Katrina F. Kuh), American Bar Association (2012)
The Law of Clean Energy: Efficiency and Renewables (Editor), American Bar Association (2011)
The Law of Green Buildings: Regulatory and Legal Issues in Design, Construction, Operations, and Financing (Co-Editor, with J. Cullen Howe), American Bar Association and Environmental Law Institute (2010)
The Law of Environmental Justice: Theories and Procedures to Address Disproportionate Risks (Editor), American Bar Association (Second Edition, 2008, with Sheila Foster)
Amending CERCLA: The Post-SARA Amendments to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (with Joel M. Gross), American Bar Association (2006)
Brownfields Law and Practice: The Cleanup and Redevelopment of Contaminated Land (General Editor), Matthew Bender & Co., four volumes, 1998, supplemented twice a year (named best law book of 1998 by Association of American Publishers)
Whose Backyard, Whose Risk: Fear and Fairness in Toxic and Nuclear Waste Siting, M.I.T. Press, 1994 (paperback edition published in 1996)
Environmental Law Practice Guide: State and Federal Law (General Editor), Matthew Bender & Co., 1992, twelve volumes; supplemented three times per year (named best law book of 1992 by Association of American Publishers)
Environmental Impact Review in New York (with Daniel A. Ruzow and Philip Weinberg), Matthew Bender & Co., two volumes, 1990; supplemented annually
CONTACT
mbg2@columbia.edu
212-854-3287
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NETWORK AFFILIATION(S)
EXPERTISE
FIELDS OF INTEREST
climate change law, environmental law, energy regulation
EDUCATION J.D. New York University School of Law (1978) B.A. Columbia College (1972)
HONORS & AWARDS Association of American Publishers: Best Law Book of 1992 (for Environmental Law Practice Guide) Best Law Book of 1998 (for Brownfields Law and Practice) Thought Leader for Environment, Who’s Who Legal (2018) Institutional Award, International Association for Impact Assessment (for Sabin Center for Climate Change Law) (2018) Defender of Science Award, Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (2017) Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy Award, American Bar Association (to Sabin Center for Climate Change Law) (2017) Leadership in Action Award, New York City Environmental Law Leadership Institute (2017) Lloyd K. Garrison Award in Environmental Law, Pace Law School (2016) South Fork Natural History Museum, Honoree (2014) Environmental Advocates of New York, Advocate Award (2007) St. Johns Law School, Environmental Law Society, Annual Award (2007) Friends of the High School for Environmental Studies, Award for Environmental Service (2006) Burton Award for Achievement in Legal Writing (2000) Environmental Action Coalition, Green Star Award (1995) Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship in Environmental Affairs (for research into economic impact of pollution control) (1978 - 1980) Received the most nominations worldwide in Legal Media Group, Guide to the World’s Leading Environmental Lawyers, 2005 through 2008 Ranked number one Thought Leader in North America in Environmental Law, Who’s Who Legal, 2017 Named the leading environmental lawyer in New York, or tied for first, by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business; Who’s Who Legal; Best Lawyers in America; and PLC Cross-border Handbooks Recognized as a leading environmental lawyer in Corporate Board Member Magazine and The Legal 500 US Rated as one of the top 100 lawyers in New York by New York SuperLawyers (2007, 2008) Rated as one of the top 500 lawyers in the United States by Law Dragon Magazine New York Area Lawyer of the Year (Environmental Litigation), Best Lawyers (2010 and 2018)