Mark Templeton

Mark N. Templeton is Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Abrams Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School. Immediately prior, Templeton served as Executive Director of the Office of Independent Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust. In this role, Templeton helped to ensure that the $20 billion pledged by BP is available to address the claims of those affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Previously, Templeton served in the cabinet of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon as Director of the Department of Natural Resources, leading the State’s efforts in energy, environmental protection, state parks, and water resources. He managed approximately 1750 FTEs, oversaw a $310 million annual budget, and directed an additional $350 million of one-time American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

From 2005 to 2009, 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, Templeton was special assistant and senior adviser to the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and an adviser to the U.S. Delegation to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. He was a Financial Analyst at Goldman Sachs from 1994 to 1996. Templeton earned a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in social studies from Harvard College in 1994 and a JD from Yale Law School in 1999.