UND SCHOOL OF LAW
Introducing Professor Tade Oyewunmi
Interviewed by Julia Ernst
How did you develop your interest in researching and teaching courses about energy , mining , and oil and gas law ?
I became interested in energy law as a student in Nigeria , one of the world ’ s largest oil and gas producers . After law school in 2005 , I practiced in the areas of dispute resolution , commercial transactions , and oil and gas law with a mid-size law firm . I also served as a legal aide to a national oil and gas sector reform committee in 2007-2008 . These experiences inspired my interest in laws and policies governing energy and natural resources , including international economic law . I consequently obtained my LL . M . at the University of Aberdeen , Scotland , specializing in oil and gas law . While working in the Energy and Project Finance Group of a leading commercial law firm in Nigeria , I started my Doctor of Laws ( LL . D .) research project at the University of Eastern Finland ( UEF ), Joensuu , Finland . Between 2013-2017 , the project focused on examining the regulation of natural gas to power markets in Nigeria and the European Union ( E . U .) At the time , E . U . member states and countries , such as Nigeria , were implementing gas market reforms and liberalization policies like in the U . S . and the U . K .
During my LL . D ., I presented aspects of research at conferences in Houston , Norman , Okla ., New York , Pittsburg , Italy , etc . I was also a visiting scholar at the University of Houston Law Center for six months . At the UEF , I taught International Oil and Gas Transactions as part of the international energy and resources law program . I started my postdoc at Tulane in 2018 , exploring legal and policy issues facing countries reliant on hydrocarbons when they implement decarbonization and options to resolve those issues . At Tulane , I taught a seminar on cross-border energy projects and published a book on the energy industry and decarbonization . I then taught energy law at Vermont Law School from 2019-2021 and led several energy research projects . Finally , I had a visiting professorship in Oregon from 2021- 2022 before starting at the University of North Dakota ( UND ) School of Law .
Why are you excited about joining UND School of Law ?
UND School of Law offers an outstanding opportunity to teach and conduct research on Professor Tade Oyewunmi energy law . North Dakota is one of the leading energy producers in the country and globally , and I am especially interested in North Dakota ’ s role in U . S . and international energy development . When I visited UND , I noted the excellent energy-related scholarly opportunities , including the oil and gas industry , mining , and energy and petroleum engineering . I toured UND ’ s College of Engineering and Mines , the Energy and Environmental Research Center , and the law school . I am excited about the prospects for interdisciplinary collaboration across UND , as well as the energy industry and policymakers in North Dakota .
I am pleased to serve as the director of UND ’ s Energy , Environmental and Natural Resources Law Certificate Program , and I look forward to building this program . Serving as the law school ’ s trustee to the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law ( formerly the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation ) expectedly means several opportunities for students interested in energy and natural resources law to participate in conferences , scholarships , and networking programs hosted by the foundation ’ s network of lawyers and industry professionals .
Moreover , Grand Forks is a college town with an emphasis on the importance of family , and I feel my family will fit well into this community . There are also many similarities with Finland , where my son , Philip , was born .
What did you learn about North Dakota during the UND Bus Tour in August ?
Oyewunmi visiting UND ' s Space Studies Program .
I observed great potential for energy development facilitating economic growth in our state . When we visited the Bobcat Manufacturing Plant in Gwinner , I asked how they get their energy to power the machinery at the facility . They initially used propane , but they recently installed a gas line to provide natural gas from the
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