Alumni Profile: JD and LLM Graduate David Makongo, A Leader in Africa-U.S. Natural Resources Business Relations

Dr. David Makongo PhD., a Denver Law '06 JD graduate as well as an '05 LLM graduate, has established Makongo & African Partners LLC (MAP LLC), a firm with expertise in African mining and oil and gas issues.

Addressing the "big business gap"as he describes it between Africa and foreign investors, he has global responsibility for due diligence investigations, negotiation of natural resources agreements, corporate social responsibility, FCPA compliance, permitting, government relations, local community and local partner(s) relations, business risk analysis and mitigation.

Dr. Makongo has extensive international experience, expertise, and success in Africa-North America business transactions. He founded MAP LLC for the purpose of "ensuring the success of North American businesses in Africa through negotiation of natural resources agreements, contract drafting, and acquisition of various mining and oil and gas properties and maintenance of good relationships between investor companies and host African nations."

Prior to founding MAP LLC, he was Director for African Affairs for Electrum USA Ltd. (Global Gold Group) based in Denver. While with Electrum he worked on projects in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, and Rwanda.

Before joining Electrum, Dr. Makongo was a consultant with Cougar Gold and a contracts officer for the International Royality Corporation. He has also worked with SCDP – Cameroon National Petroleum Depot.

In addition to his DU Law degrees Dr. Makongo holds the Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in Humanities from the United Graduate College and Seminary and an LLB Degree from the University of Buea Cameroon.

Fluent in both English and French languages and knowledgeable in common law and civil law principles and practices, Dr. Makongo is a member of the American Bar Association, the International Bar Association (IBA), and the IBA's Mining Committee and the Anti-corruption Committee.

Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law and Policy Program, said, "David Makongo is in the process of establishing himself as an expert in identifying and negotiating important natural resources agreements across the whole of the African continent. David is an individual who has successfully combined legal knowledge with a keen eye for business opportunities.”

Denver Law Graduate Sheila Slocum Hollis Recognized with Prestigious Platts "Lifetime Achievement Award" for Contributions to the Energy Sector

Sheila Slocum Hollis, a Denver Law graduate, was recognized last week with the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 13th Annual Platts Global Energy Awards ceremony in New York.

According to Platts, one of the world's premier energy information providers, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes members of "our industry who [have] made an outstanding contribution to the development and future of the energy industry in the course of his or her career. The winner's achievements are the product of a long and varied career of service, creativity, and insight and this individual will have won widespread recognition and respect on the global stage."

Ms. Hollis, who is the chair of the Washington, D.C., office of Duane Morris, practices energy transactional and regulatory law both domestically and internationally. In 2010, she received the Paul Nordstorm Service Award for her contributions to the legal profession and the community from the Energy Bar Association and the Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association. Recently she was named one of the 50 Key Women in Energy worldwide.

She began her energy law career as a trial lawyer at the Federal Power Commission from 1974 to 1975. She was the first director of the Office of Enforcement of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, establishing the office and its policies and procedures from 1977 to 1980. Those policies and procedures remain in place today. Over the course of her career, she has played a key role in the formation and implementation of energy law and policy.

When asked several years ago about her fondest DU memory, she said it was the first day of law school. "It was so exciting and thrilling to be at a school I admired," she said.

And speaking of being thrilled, we at Denver Law generally and the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program more specifically are thrilled for her and appreciative of her many contributions to us as well as the energy sector nationally and internationally. Leaders such as Sheila Slocum Hollis inspire all of us to be the best professionals we possibly can be.

Don C. Smith
Director
Environmental and Natural Resources Law

Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute to Hold 21st Annual Land Use Conference at Denver Law March 1-2, 2012

The Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute (RMLUI) will hold its 21st annual land use conference March 1 & 2, 2012, at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Next year's conference will focus on "The Wilderness City: Nature Culture and Economy in the Next West."

In announcing the next conference, the RMLUI said, "Wilderness cities attempt to blend the wild and the urban seamlessly, to bring nature back into our communities. RMLUI's 2012 conference presents an opportunity to explore approaches to development that not only make Western communities vibrant economic centers, but also strengthen their connections to the land."

For more information about the conference, please click here. To register, please click here.

Japan's 2011 National Day Reception Hosted in Denver by Consulate General Ikuhiko Ono

The important relationship between Japan and the Rocky Mountain Region was recognized recently when the Consulate General of Japan in Denver hosted the 2011 National Day Reception, which commemorates the Emperor of Japan's birthday.

The National Day Reception was hosted by Consul General and Mrs. Ikuhiko Ono. Consul General Ono's office, which was established in 1999, is responsible for the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. There are approximately 10,000 Japanese citizens who live in the four state area as well as upwards of 100 Japanese companies.

Japan is the world's third largest economy and a major economic power in both Asia and globally.

Denver Law's Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Program has welcomed a number of Japanese students. Our hope at Denver Law is to recruit more students from Japan, and thus it was a great honor to be invited to the National Day Reception and meet various individuals who are involved with maintaining the strong relationship between Japan and the United States.

Don C. Smith & Lucy Daberkow
Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program

Adjunct Professor William J. Brady to Present Paper at Intersol 2012 in Paris on US "Hydraulic Fracking" Regulations

The University of Denver Sturm College of Law is pleased to announce acceptance of a presentation by Adjunct Professor William J. Brady by the Scientific Committee of Intersol 2012.

Intersol, an annual conference on groundwater and soil contamination to be held this year in Paris, France, is one of the premiere European environmental conferences. Very well attended, with 485 scientists, government officials, environmental professionals, engineers, attorneys and academics in attendance last year in Lyon, Intersol expects more than 500 registrants and exhibitors this spring in Paris.

Offering instruction in hazardous waste, toxic torts, environmental insurance and a practitioner's focus on environmental protection at Denver Law, Adjunct Professor Brady has taught each year since 2000. He is also a partner at Grimshaw and Harring, PC, a 17th Street law firm serving the Denver Community for more than 55 years. Mr. Brady has practiced in Denver continuously since 1977.

Alumni profile: Amanda Hasty

Amanda Hasty, who earned a Masters of Resources Law Studies degree in '03 from Denver Law, is a co-founder and co-executive director of Impact Colorado. The organization was created in 2011 by Laura B. Embleton, JD '91, and Ms. Hasty, in response to an identified need to increase the awareness of Coloradoans on issues impacting Colorado residents.

Their vision is to create a non-profit organization to identify issues and develop solutions specific to Colorado’s economy, education, local governance, healthcare, and water. Impact Colorado provides a mobile classroom for participants to learn through exploration of the state. By connecting participants with local and state leaders, participants are provided with the knowledge, skills and techniques to partake in collaborative issue development.

Ms. Hasty is also the owner of BE Accord LLC, a business development company. She is a leadership coach and business consultant and assists companies in developing operational strategies to drive sustainable and community conscious businesses. In addition, she has facilitated growth strategies for not-for-profits in Colorado and New Mexico.

Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver where she teaches at the Women's College. Ms. Hasty volunteers as a mentor for the Greater Good Academy. She serves as an advisory member on the Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee at the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education and is a board member for Healthkind Foundation. HealthKind aspires to implement sustainable, community-based health and wellness programs and services in the developing world.

Ms. Hasty earned an Executive Masters of Business Administration from Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

It is great to see how alumni from Denver Law's graduate programs enjoy successful and fulfilling careers.

Denver Law LLM Graduate Student Sing Fai Hong Passes Chinese Bar Examination

Late last week I learned the wonderful news that one of Denver Law's Chinese students, Sing Fai Hong, has passed the Chinese Bar Examination. This is no small feat when one realizes that as recently as three years ago only 12 percent of those taking the bar exam actually passed.

This was a major accomplishment for Hong and clearly reflected his determination to join the legal profession in his home country. Making this all the more impressive is that he studied for and took the bar examination while he was an LLM student in the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Program at Denver Law.

As it turns out, I know Hong (or Nic as we came to know him) very well. He was in the Comparative Environmental Law course that I taught in the spring semester of 2011. He was attentive, curious, hard-working, respectful, in brief an all around joy to have as a student.

In wishing him well before he left Denver for the final time to return to Beijing, I only half kidded him that I expected to see his name in the Financial Times by next week!

On a more serious note, Nic has a great future ahead. He is destined to be a leader in China and in Asia when it comes to addressing the challenging environmental and natural resources issues that China faces. On the other hand, he is good at identifying opportunities that arise out of challenges. He also exemplifies a philosophy of building bridges, and I am confident that over time he will be an influential attorney in helping develop the increasingly important China-U.S. relationship.

All of us in Denver wish Nic well as he begins his legal career in China. We will miss him to be sure. However, I have a feeling we will be seeing him again.

Don C. Smith
Director
Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program