This semester, eight upper level students are participating in the school’s first International Oil and Gas Negotiations course, led by Professor Guillermo J. Garcia Sanchez. The course features an experiential component where students participate in mock negotiations with a parallel class being taught at Southern Methodist University by Executive Professor Harry Sullivan, who teaches at both law schools. In the class, students will learn the basics of international petroleum transactions, as well as how international oil companies draft contractual provisions, negotiate deals with governments, and adopt best practices in their operations. Also, this course provides hands-on, practical negotiation experience through a series of simulated exercises where students role-play as lawyers representing clients on different sides of an acquisition of oil and gas exploration rights in a foreign country.

On September 26^th, the Texas A&M EENRS Law Program hosted Ann Drumm from Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). CLL is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies for addressing climate change.

Professor Thomas Mitchell joined Texas A&M in 2016 as a Professor of Law. He teaches property and land use courses and also serves as co-director of the Real Estate and Community Development program at the Texas A&M School of Law. While Professor Mitchell enjoys teaching, he says he has always enjoyed research, particularly when focused on broader social impacts. The primary focus of his research is real property in rural and economically disadvantaged communities, which began when he was working on his LL.M. degree at the University of Wisconsin.

This past September 17, students, faculty, and local attorneys gathered over hors devours' to network and celebrate the launch of the Energy, Environmental, and Natural Resource Systems (EENRS) Law Program at the Texas A&M School University of Law. The program endeavors to train and offer real world experience to students on law and policy issues related to the use, management, and conservation of the world’s natural resources.  It also seeks to advance research into natural resource areas and issues that connect with other disciplines and with communities globally. Professor of Law and Director of the EENRS Law Program, Gabriel Eckstein, regards the change as “reflecting the strength and breadth of our program and all that it has to offer” and noted that he and the rest of the faculty “really look forward to continue building on the academic and research excellence and career opportunities that we have established here.”