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."

Hiring News: Alison Eastley, DU JD Graduate and December LLM Graduate, Will Begin Work in January as Water and Land Use Attorney for Holland and Hart

Alison Eastley, a recent University of Denver Sturm College of Law JD graduate who will also earn an LLM in December from College of Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law (ENRL) program, has been hired by one of the west's top law firms Holland & Hart.

While enrolled in the ENRL program, Ms. Eastley interned with the Rocky Mountain Institute and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Both internships gave her the opportunity "to learn from great minds and influential professionals in Colorado's environmental fields," she said.

Between her internships and LLM classes, Ms. Eastley gained practical experience and deepened her understanding of water law and land use.

Ms. Eastley said that she is "thrilled to have found a job in my field where I will be working as a water law and land use attorney with Holland & Hart beginning in January 2011."

Graduate News: Jill Weitz, 2010 Masters in Resource Law Studies Graduate, Hired by Alaska Department of Environment Conservation

Jill Weitz, a 2010 Masters in Resource Law Studies graduate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, reports from Alaska, also known as America's Last Frontier, about her new position in the state's Department of Environmental Conservation.

The department is responsible for conserving, improving, and protecting Alaska's natural resources and environment to enhance the health, safety, economic and social well-being of Alaskans.

"In September of 2010, I was hired as the Environmental Program Specialist II for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water in Juneau. In this position I am charged with many responsibilities, including identifying, analyzing, and making recommendations to resolve recurring wastewater problems and situations covered by established precedents and procedures to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

"Within the Division of Water, I specifically work for the onsite wastewater program, assisting an environmental engineer in planning for disposal systems. Alternative on-site disposal systems such as secondary treatment plants or package plants are extremely common in southeast Alaska, where poor soil or high groundwater conditions do not allow installation of conventional septic systems. These systems must be designed by an engineer and plans must be reviewed and approved by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation prior to construction.

"I also serve as the technical writer for a guidance document that will be made available to individuals within the state of Alaska who are writing permits for mixing zones (mixing zones are where wastewater and saltwater/freshwater meet). I am collaboratively writing regulations to comply with EPA’s Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990). Additionally, I am developing a community outreach program that will provide smaller southeast Alaskan communities and villages with resources for operating and the maintenance of current/new/upgraded onsite wastewater systems."

Hiring News: LLM Graduate Andy Lubner Begins Work for the U.S. National Park Service

Andy Lubner, 2009 DU LLM graduate, is employed as a junior contract specialist with the U.S. National Park Service. Here's a recent note from Andy: "I am currently in the Utilities Division working with renewable energy. The National Park Service has a plethora of distributed generation solar projects going on and I am working to execute net metering/interconnection agreements between the NPS and the utilities."

He goes to to describe the projects as "very cool" and notes that what he learned at DU "has been really useful with constant application of my specialized knowledge." Andy is based in Lakewood, Colorado.

Best wishes from all of us at DU to Andy, one of our proud graduates and an individual who will without question make significant contributions in his chosen field.

Hiring News: MRLS Graduate Curt Robinson Joins Navarro Research & Engineering

Curt Robinson, a 2009 MRLS graduate, has joined Navarro Research and Engineering as a Program Specialist II. Navarro, a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Offices in Golden, Colorado, provides energy, environmental, and program management services.

Curt will be involved with the Office of Commercialization and Project Management regarding Green Power and Air Quality initiatives. This includes outreach and policy work, coordination with other governmental agencies, and project monitoring responsibilities.

All of us in the graduate program wish Curt well in his important new role helping make the new energy economy a reality for everyone.

Hiring News: LLM Graduate Kevin VanDyke Begins Work at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

Kevin VanDyke (LLM graduate May 2008) has started work as an attorney advisor for two administrative law judges at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission in Denver.

The Commission is an independent adjudicative agency that hears cases under the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The cases are primarily between the operators of mines and the U.S. Department of Labor via the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Among his responsibilities are to draft decisions, research and write memoranda on issues that will be coming before the Commission's administrative law judges in future hearings, and analyze post-hearing briefs.

Kevin took a special interest in mining law while he was in the program, and during his studies at DU was a legal intern for Paul Schlauch and Bob Bassett -- who are adjunct professors teaching International Mining Law in the graduate program -- at Holland & Hart in Denver. I am certain that Kevin's experience working with Mr. Schlauch and Mr. Bassett, two internationally respected mining lawyers, will serve him well in his new position.

And by the way, Kevin, a native of Kansas City, Mo., is an expert on all things related to Notre Dame athletics (and pretty close to an expert on all things related to the University of Kansas!). For the record, Kevin is a graduate of Notre Dame, but had many friends who attended Kansas.