Associate Faculty Specialist David M. Forman ’93 and Associate Professor Shalanda H. Baker have stepped into new leadership roles in the Environmental Law Program (ELP) at the William S. Richardson School of Law. Together they will guide an award-winning UH Law School program that explores the intersection of law and environmental needs in a state known for its unique but fragile ecosystem.
Baker’s appointment as ELP’s new Faculty Advisor began August 1, 2014, and she joins Richardson after two years on the University of San Francisco School of Law faculty, two years as a William H. Hastie Fellow at the University of Wisconsin School of Law, and work as corporate and project finance associate at the international law firm, Bingham McCutchen, in Boston, and Japan. Following her law school graduation, she clerked for Justice Roderick Ireland of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
Forman’s appointment as ELP Director began last March, after he served for almost four 
years as a full-time faculty specialist including nearly three years as ELP’s Interim Director. His diverse legal experience includes a stint in Washington, D.C. as a fellow with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration as well as work in the Environmental and Cultural Resources Practice Group at one of Hawai‘i’s largest law firms, Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing, and six years as an Enforcement Attorney with the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission. Following his law school graduation, he clerked for Justice Robert Klein of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.
As she joins Richardson, Baker will focus on creating an energy law program in addition to teaching courses in energy and international environmental law.
“I’m thrilled to join the ELP as a member of the core faculty, and as Faculty Advisor to the program, in addition to creating a new energy law project at the Law School,” she said. “This is such an exciting time to be in Hawai‘i, which is leading the way to solve complex problems related to energy and the environment.”
Forman said that with the additional strength Baker brings to an already outstanding program, he expects even more students to focus on environmental law and to seek ELP certificates. At this point 195 Richardson students have graduated with certificates in Environmental Law.
“Professor Baker provides an essential boost to the capacity of our program,” Forman added. “Beyond her substantive expertise, I am grateful for Professor Baker’s assistance with demanding administrative responsibilities so that I will have the opportunity to devote additional time to my own academic interests.”
Forman graduated from Harvard College in 1988, before he attended Richardson Law School, graduating in 1993. Baker is a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a 2005 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law. In 2012 she earned an LLM from the University of Wisconsin School of Law.
Associate Dean Denise Antolini, an early architect of environmental law at Richardson, along with program founder Casey (Jarman) Leigh, said she is gratified to watch the program expand with this exceptional leadership team that diversifies faculty strength and supports the growing number of students graduating with certificates in Environmental Law.
“Professors Shalanda Baker and David Forman have tremendous expertise in local, national, and international issues,” noted Antolini. “From teaching innovative classes to publishing cutting-edge scholarship, and through their roles as coaches for our two environmental law moot court teams, they will continue to improve ELP’s ability to serve the bench, bar, and community as the centerpiece of environmental law and policy in Hawai‘i and beyond.
“This addition of Shalanda Baker on the core ELP faculty, and David Forman’s role as the ELP Director gives our already nationally prominent program an exciting boost in stature and capacity.”
Law Dean Avi Soifer echoed Antolini’s remarks.
“We are proud to build on our rich legacy of excellence in environmental law at Richardson,” said Soifer. “Led by David and Shalanda, Richardson will play a key role as a world-class program that embraces a sustainable energy future - not only for Hawai‘i, but for the Pacific Rim, and far beyond.”