William Snape Assistant Dean for Adjunct Faculty Affairs WCL Faculty
- Degrees
- B.A., University of California at Los Angeles 1986 ( magna cum laude)
J.D., George Washington University 1989 - Bio
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Snape has litigated a number of environmental and related cases in federal court, and argued Center for Biological Diversity v. Interior at the DC Circuit, which rejected the federal government’s plan for oil and gas drilling off the coast of Alaska in part because of climate change concerns. Snape is the author of numerous articles on natural resource issues, including the book Biodiversity and the Law published by Island Press. His public interest work currently focuses upon environmental justice advocacy at the state level, serving as board general counsel to the United States Climate Action Network, and litigating an active federal docket under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In Summer 2020, Snape was named director of WCL’s Program on Environmental and Energy Law (PEEL).
He is a magna cum laude graduate of the Honors College at the University of California, Los Angeles, and received his law degree from George Washington University. Snape is a masters’ swimmer and water polo player, has coached at both the Division I and Division III levels of college swimming, and was named the 2011 world swim coach of the year by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. At Gallaudet University, he was four-time conference swim coach of the year. He still advocates on behalf of deaf athletics, including a successful legal petition to the NCAA in 2017 that changed the swimming competition rules to accommodate both visual and audial starting cues.
- Areas of Specialization
- International Environmental Law
- Environmental Law
- Administrative Law
- Non-Profit Law and Philanthropy
- Public Interest Law/Service
- Appellate Advocacy
- Privacy Law
- Law and Government
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call ĢƵ Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
ĢƵ Experts
Area of Expertise
International Environmental Law; Environmental Law; Administrative Law; Non-Profit Law and Philanthropy; Public Interest Law; Appellate Advocacy; Privacy Law; Law and Government
Additional Information
Biography William (Bill) J. Snape, III is a fellow and practitioner-in-residence at ĢƵ, Washington College of Law, as well as the Assistant Dean of Adjunct Faculty Affairs. Snape is also senior counsel with the Center for Biological Diversity, where he works on endangered species, public lands and energy issues. He is co-producer of “Hot Air,” a radio podcast show on global warming policy and regulation. Previously, Snape was vice president and chief counsel at Defenders of Wildlife for over a decade. Snape has litigated a number of environmental and related cases in federal court, and argued Center for Biological Diversity v. Interior (D.C. Cir. 2009), which rejected the federal government’s plan for oil and gas drilling off the coast of Alaska in part because of climate change concerns. Snape is the author of numerous articles on natural resource issues, including the book Biodiversity and the Law published by Island Press. He is currently chairman of the board for the Endangered Species Coalition, and general counsel of the United States Climate Action Network. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the Honors College at the University of California, Los Angeles, and received his law degree from George Washington University. Snape is a masters’ swimmer and water polo player, has coached at both the Division I and Division III levels of college swimming, and was named the 2011 world swim coach of the year by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. He continues to advise both United States Deaf Swimming and Gallaudet University on various matters relating to deaf athletics.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call ĢƵ Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.