Education

Stanford Law School, J.D.
University of California, Santa Cruz, Ph.D., Ocean Sciences
Columbia University, B.A.

Bar Admissions

California

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Michael Wara

Contract Attorney
San Francisco
t: 415-743-6963

Michael Wara works with Holland & Knight's Government Section. His practice focuses on climate change, land use and environmental law. Dr. Wara's climate practice involves risk management, emissions offset transactions in the Clean Development Mechanism, and integration of climate change in CEQA and NEPA documents for large developments. Dr. Wara is an expert and frequent commentator on global carbon markets and has been quoted in the New York Times, the Financial Times, the National Journal, and other news outlets. His land use practice focuses on permitting, compliance and due diligence matters related to natural resources, solid and hazardous waste, and hazardous and toxic materials for power plants, industrial facilities, and development and redevelopment projects.

Dr. Wara has other career experience in climate policy, climate science, and geochemistry. He was a Research Fellow at the Program in Energy and Sustainable Development in Stanford's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies where his research focused on analysis of the emerging global markets for greenhouse gases. He is a recognized expert on the geochemistry of ocean sediments and the climate history of the El Nino/La Nina system. The results of his scientific research have been published in the premier scientific journals, including Science and Nature.

Professional Honors & Awards

  • Stanford Law School Environmental Law Journal, Executive Editor
  • Outstanding Student Research, Geological Society of America
  • Outstanding Student Research, International Ocean Drilling Program
  • Outstanding Student Research, University of California, Santa Cruz

Memberships

  • Stanford Environmental Law Clinic, Law Clerk