Mark Templeton

Mark N. Templeton is a Clinical Professor of Law, Director of the Abrams Environmental Law Clinic, and a Research Affiliate of the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC) at the University of Chicago Law School.  In addition to teaching courses in environmental and energy law, he works with approximately twenty law students each quarter to litigate cases challenging illegal pollution, ineffective enforcement, and inadequate standards and to develop and promote innovative policies to improve the environment, public health, and equity.

Previously, Professor Templeton was a Trustee and Executive Director of the Office of Independent Trustees for the $20 billion Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust. He served as the cabinet-level Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, leading the state’s efforts in energy, environmental protection, state parks, and water resources, while overseeing a staff of approximately 1750 FTEs and a $310 million annual budget. 

From 2005 to 2009, Professor Templeton served as Associate Dean and COO at Yale Law School. From 2001 to 2005, he developed environmental and sustainability strategies at McKinsey & Company, among other projects. Prior to joining McKinsey, Professor Templeton was Special Assistant and Senior Adviser to the US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and an adviser to the US Delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights. He was a Financial Analyst at Goldman Sachs from 1994 to 1996.

Professor Templeton earned an AB, magna cum laude, in Social Studies from Harvard College in 1994 and a JD from Yale Law School in 1999.

Professor Templeton serves as a board member of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Vice Chair of the Conservation and Policy Council of the Cook County Forest Preserves, and a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Environmental Section Council.  In his free time, he regularly trains in Shotokan karate, holding the rank of Shodan.