Dr. Alexandra Klass

Biography

Alexandra B. Klass is the James G. Degnan Professor at the University of Michigan Law School and co-director of the Environmental Energy Law Program. She specializes in energy law, environmental law, natural resources law, tort law, and property law. Klass served as deputy general counsel for energy efficiency and clean energy demonstrations at the Department of Energy during the Biden-Harris administration. Her scholarly work addresses regulatory challenges in integrating renewable energy into the nation’s electric transmission grid and eminent domain issues related to interstate electric transmission lines and oil and gas pipelines. She has authored and co-authored several notable books in the field, including 'Energy Law: Concepts and Insights' and 'Natural Resources Law: Place-Based Book Problems and Cases.' Prior to joining Michigan Law, she was a Distinguished McKnight University Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, where she was recognized as the Stanley V. Kinyon Teacher of the Year in 2010 and 2020. Klass has been a visiting professor at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Law School and Stanford Law School. In addition to her academic contributions, she has extensive experience as a partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP in Minneapolis, focusing on environmental law and land use litigation. Klass has also held leadership positions in state and national bar organizations and served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, where she chaired the legal committee. In 2020, she was appointed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Climate Change, a position she held until 2022. In 2017, she was awarded the Eldon G. Kaul Distinguished Service Award by the Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association for her significant contributions to the field.

Research Interests