Hiring News: Mochamad Kasmali, 2009 LLM Graduate, Rejoins Indonesian Firm Soemadipradja & Taher as Senior Associate

Mochamad Kasmali, an Indonesian lawyer and 2009 LLM graduate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, has rejoined the Jakarta, Indonesia-based firm of Soemadipradja & Taher as a senior associate.

Kasmali originally joined Soemadipradja & Taher (S&T) in 1996 and was with the firm for four years before joining Newmont Indonesian subsidiary companies in 2000.

In mid 2010, after spending almost 10 years with Newmont Indonesian subsidiary companies and a short internship with one of the leading environmental law firms in Colorado, Temkin Wielga Hardt & Longenecker LLP, Kasmali returned to once again join S&T.

Kasmali’s main areas of practice include energy and natural resources, the environment and general corporate. Kasmali is currently advising clients on a wide range of energy and resources and corporate matters.

Kasmali obtained his Sarjana Hukum (Bachelor of Laws) degree in 1995 from Airlangga University, Surabaya, majoring in Civil Law and his LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy degree from the College of Law.

He is a licensed Advocate and a member of the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi) as well as the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and the Australian Mining Petroleum Law Association.

Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law (ENRL) program in which Kasmali studied, said, "Kasmali was a wonderful student and a great person who made many friends while studying in Denver. He was always willing to share his expertise in Indonesian law with students from other parts of the world."

Lucy Daberkow, Assistant Director of the ENRL graduate program, noted that Kasmali "is a talented lawyer who learned a great deal in our program. All of us in Denver wish him continued success in a career that will be highlighted by his contributions to Indonesian law and beyond."

Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, Headquartered at College of Law, Begins Blogging on "Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit"

The Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute (RMLUI), which is affiliated with the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, has begun authoring a special section for the Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit blog. The special section can be accessed by clicking here.

The Triple Pundit blog describes itself as "an innovative new-media company for the business community that cultivates awareness and understanding of the triple bottom line" by providing "expert editorial coverage and group discussions on sustainable business in the 21st century."

In announcing that the RMLUI would join the Triple Pundit, William Shutkin, RMLUI director said, "Here, University of Denver Sturm College of Law students will report on emerging, novel and contested land use and development issues from a sustainability perspective. We believe the development of the American West, and indeed the entire planet, necessitates a closer and more responsible look at not only how we use natural resources but how we build our communities and economies. We invite you to comment and engage with us over issues of interest to you. And we invite you to suggest topics for us to research and report on from our unique perspective as law students. But most of all, we invite you to take these ideas and share them within your friends and colleagues so we can all be involved in a more informed and forward-thinking discussion about our future.

Allison Alturas, a law student, will edit the blog. Regular blog contributors include the following students: John Bartholomew, Chris Boeckx, Matt Brodahl, Dave DeNovellis, Stephen Gruber, Tripp Hall, and Lauren Suerth. To read more about the contributors click here.

Among the recent blog postings:

• "Colorado Awarded Partnership for Sustainable Communities Grant," by Dave DeNovellis, a College of Law Masters in Resource Law Studies student.
• "Microfinance Participants Refuse to Pay Following a Series of Suicides," by Andrew Moore, a College of Law JD student.
• "Small Businesses Will Help U.S. Keep Pace with Asia's Clean Tech," by Steven Gruber, College of Law JD student.

New Streaming Video Highlights Sturm College of Law Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program, "One of the Best in the World"

The Environmental and Natural Resources Law (ENRL) program at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law is featured in a new streaming video, which can be accessed by clicking here.

The video features interviews with various individuals who are involved with the program including Don C. Smith, ENRL director, Howard Kenison, a 1972 JD alum and nationally recognized environmental and energy law attorney who practices at Lindquist and Vennum, and Professor George (Rock) Pring, an internationally known environmental and resource law professor.

Students featured in the video are Kristi Disney, who will earn her JD and LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law degrees in 2011, and Matthew Wagner, who earned his Masters in Resource Law Studies degree in 2010.

Among other topics, the video points to the excellent externship program, headed by Professor Ann Vessels, which provides students a wide range of opportunities to work for federal, state, private, and non-profit institutions. Many consider the environmental and natural resources law externships available at the College of Law "second to none" in the United States.

Steve Bain and Bob Bassett, Two Leading International Natural Resources Attorneys, Compare International Mining and Oil and Gas Work With DU Students

Two of America's leading natural resources lawyers, Steve Bain and Bob Bassett, spoke recently about the differences and similarities in the fields of international mining law and international oil and gas law to a large group of University of Denver Sturm College of Law students in the Environmental and Natural Resources Law program.

The event, which was sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF) and organized by law student Carrie Golden, attracted a group of DU law students from the U.S. as well as Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Nigeria, and Peru, thus reflecting the widely diverse nature of the ENRL student body.

Mr. Bain, a shareholder at Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, teaches International and Comparative Petroleum Law & Policy. He noted that mining law is in many respects "more regulated" than oil and gas law largely because mining has been going on for hundreds of years while the exploration for and extraction of oil and gas is a much more recent development. On the other hand he noted that oil and gas development takes place worldwide while mining development generally happens in more confined regions of the world.

Mr. Bassett, manager of the Minerals Practice Group at Holland & Hart, teaches International Mining Law & Policy. Before beginning his presentation, Mr. Bassett encouraged students to become familiar with the RMMLF. "The Foundation is widely recognized as the source for lawyers to learn from scholarly works written by practicing lawyers. The Foundation is an invaluable resource." He also noted that individuals involved with the Foundation "build relationships with others. Knowing other practitioners is very important."

Mr. Bassett said that mining dates back to the Roman Empire and Greece. "Many of the concepts first established by the Greeks are still used today," he said. He also noted the capital intensive nature of building mines and the relatively small profit margin that exists in many mining projects.

The two men also made other key observations on various related topics:

• Sustainable Development: Mr. Bassett said the first time he heard about the concept of "sustainable development" was in the context of mining. Now he said an important issue for mining companies is "how can a mining project be designed to be 'sustainable' from an economic perspective. In other words, how can a local community's economy be made to continue on after a mining project is closed." Mr. Bassett noted that mining projects can, and have in many instances (e.g., in Australia, Canada, and the U.S.) provided revenues for government that can then be invested in other sectors, such as education.
• The "Impact" of Development: Mr. Bain noted that mining projects are much more visible to people, and thus often attract more opposition than oil and gas projects. He also pointed out that the "return on investment" for oil and gas projects tends to be considerably higher than for mining projects as a result of the considerable capital investments that must be made in the development stage of mining.

Don C. Smith, director of the ENRL program, said, "Adjunct Professors Bain and Bassett provided a fascinating look at the issues that are uppermost in the minds of oil and gas and mining developers. Everyone attending the event as well as all the students who have studied under these gentlemen has benefited enormously from their insight and experience. The College of Law is privileged to have a strong relationship with both Mr. Bain and Mr. Bassett."

Mr. Smith also noted the longtime relationship between the College of Law and the RMMLF. "The College of Law was one of the founding members of the RMMLF and remains active in the Foundation today. Professor Jan Laitos is the College of Law's trustee to the Foundation and Professor and Academic Dean Fred Cheever is a trustee at large," he said.

Editor's Note: Steve Bain is shown alongside student Alphonsus Ihuoma in the top photo; Bob Bassett is shown in the second photo.

"Smart Growth and Sustainability: Principles and Practices" to be Offered in Spring 2011 and Taught by Professor William Shutkin

A new course that addresses smart growth and sustainability has been added to the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Spring 2011 curriculum. "Smart Growth and Sustainability: Principles and Practices" will be taught by William Shutkin, director of the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute that is affiliated with the College of Law.

According to Professor Shutkin:

"To be successful and to ensure a resilient, prosperous America in the twenty-first century, sustainable development professionals will need to understand the many forces driving our land use and development patterns, forces that cut across geography, disciplines, fields and sectors – from global warming to globalization, housing to transportation, energy to economic development, public policy to politics. They will need to be prepared to work in and among many different contexts – urban and rural, commercial and residential, agricultural and recreational – and social groups – affluent and low-income, from an increasingly rich mix of ethnic and racial backgrounds. And most importantly, emerging sustainable development professionals will need a new mind- and skill-set capable of integrating the economic, social and environmental goals that define sustainability. Like never before, they will be called upon to design new business models, policies and strategies, to join profitability, community and ecology in a bold development vision tailored to the needs of a radically changing region in a radically changing world.

"This course is designed to help equip next-generation sustainable development professionals with the foundational knowledge and tools they’ll need to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity disguised as a singular challenge. It will introduce them to the companion concepts of smart growth and sustainability, nested frameworks for physical and economic development born of a desire to redress the perceived past failures of markets and public policies while providing an affirmative alternative for the future. It explores the policies, processes, techniques and capabilities required to effectively and creatively manage growth and land use change in the light of the dramatic shifts beginning to transform the way we approach and even conceive land use and development.

"With an emphasis on practical knowledge, the course will examine the history and fundamentals of the land use planning and regulation and growth management systems, covering a range of cultural, legal and ecological issues in the process. By way of case studies and best practices, we will focus on new, “sustainable” approaches at the intersection of real estate development, land use planning, economic and community development and environmental law and policy, and will try to anticipate innovations in practice, policy and technology on both the near and far horizons. We will also pay attention to the different scales – individual, corporate, community, region, state, nation and beyond – at which sustainability methods are applied and consider the many legal, political as well as cognitive/behavioral forces that influence land use and development patterns and practices."

The course works products and performance evaluation include:

• Preparation for and participation in each class session (15 percent): In advance of each class session, Professor Shutkin will randomly select up to 4 students to be discussion leaders for that session. The selected students will be required to carefully read the assigned materials, synthesize them and, with the session’s core questions (listed in the syllabus) as a guide, help lead the class. In addition, discussion leaders and class members as a whole should review periodicals (e.g., major newspapers or trade journals) and websites on a weekly basis so as to be able to introduce each week timely, late-breaking events or information bearing on the session’s subject matter.
• Personal/career vision statement (10 percent)
• Smart growth/sustainable development policy memorandum (25 percent)
• Innovation report and presentation (team) (50 percent)

The course will meet from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 12, 2011.