As published by Reuters
Proponents of fracking tout the practice as creating reservoirs of natural gas that offer a tool in combating climate change. But should these new supplies of gas negate the development of renewable sources of energy? And what are the issues for real estate practitioners and industry professionals who find their clients affected by these developments?
Those questions and more were explored Sept. 29, at “Fracking, Energy Sources, Climate Change and Real Estate,” the 14th Kratovil Conference on Real Estate Law & Practice. The daylong program was hosted by John Marshall’s Center for Real Estate Law.
The conference keynote luncheon featured W. James Hughes, a co-founder of SunStone Technologies, LLC, an Oklahoma-based company that focuses on new technologies for drilling operations.
The Sept. 29 program addressed several concepts, including:
- State and local fracking regulations
- A new mix of energy resources
- Climate and energy implications for the future of economic development and commercial real estate
The Conference featured the following speakers:
- David L. Callies, Benjamin A. Kudo Professor of Law, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law
- Jennifer Cassel, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Chicago
- David A. Dana, Kirkland & Ellis Professor of Law, Northwestern University School of Law
- Lincoln L. Davies, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
- John C. Dernbach, Distinguished Professor of Law and Director, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
- J. Wylie Donald, McCarter & English, Washington, D.C.
- Joshua Fershee, Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development and Professor of Law, West Virginia University College of Law
- Meleah Geertsma, Natural Resources Defense Council, Midwest Office
- Celeste M. Hammond, Professor of Law, Director, Center for Real Estate Law, The John Marshall Law School
- Bruce Kramer, McGinnis Lochridge – Houston, Texas & Retired Maddox Professor, Texas Tech University School of Law
- Stephen Marshak, Professor of Geology, Director, School of Earth, Society, & Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Eve Moran, Eimer Stahl, Chicago
- Raghav Murali, Schiff Hardin – Chicago
- Richard J. Roddewig, Clarion Associates, Inc., Chicago
- Rachael Salcido, Professor of Law and Director, Environmental Concentration, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
The annual Kratovil Conference on Real Estate Law & Practice is held in honor of the late Robert Kratovil. Remembered as the dean of Chicago’s real estate attorneys, Kratovil served as Chicago Title Insurance Company’s chief underwriter before joining the John Marshall faculty.
Since its inception in 1994, the Kratovil Conference has been an important function of the Center’s mission to support research and scholarship in real estate law. These events have provided academics, practicing attorneys, and real estate industry professionals with the opportunity to gather and consider timely topics.
