Kyle W. Danish
Member
Seventh Floor
Washington DC 20007
TEL: 202.298.1876
kwd@vnf.com
Kyle Danish advises a range of clients on environmental matters, with a special focus on corporate climate strategy and emissions trading-related transactions. His current clients include electric generation, oil and gas, and mineral exploration companies, as well as manufacturers and think tanks.
He is a frequent speaker and has published numerous articles on global warming and emissions trading issues. Mr. Danish also has authored several commissioned research papers on climate change and energy policy for think tanks.
For a comprehensive list of Mr. Danish’s presentations and publications, please click here.
Relevant Experience
- Analyzed a multinational energy company’s potential exposure to evolving U.S. climate change laws and policies;
- Counseled on emissions trading transactions in South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa;
- Serves as lead counsel to a carbon fund that invests in forest sequestration projects;
- Assisted a U.S. electric power company in development of a shareholder report on the company’s risks and opportunities from climate change laws and policies;
- Advised a multinational energy company on development of a new corporate position on global warming and on a related outreach and advocacy strategy;
- Counseled a multinational chemical manufacturing company on the company’s potential risks and emissions trading opportunities under the Kyoto Protocol;
- Advised a group of electric power companies on a Clean Air Act rulemaking and represented them in litigation challenging aspects of the rule;
- Participated in an Aspen Institute roundtable on the development of U.S. climate change policies.
Government Service
Special Assistant, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources, 1990-1992
Professional and Civic Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- American Society of International Law
- Professional Lecturer, American University School of Law
- Co-Chair, American Bar Association Committee on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, 2001-2003
Publications
"The International Regime," in Global Climate Change and U.S. Law, American Bar Association (M. Gerrard ed. 2007).
“The Effect of the Kyoto Protocol on U.S. Companies,” Trends, Vol. 63(4) (March/April 2005).
“Greenhouse Gas Issues for Oil and Gas Companies,” 56th Annual Institute on Oil and Gas Law, Publication 640, Release 56 (2005).
“Global Climate Change,” in Clean Air Handbook (D. Novello and R. Martineau, eds.), American Bar Association (2004).
“Designing a Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program for the U.S.,” Pew Center on Global Climate Change (2003) (with R. Nordhaus).
Articles
- An Overview of the International Regime Addressing Climate Change
- Climate Change: The Heat Is On
- Designing a Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program for the U.S.
- Designing a Climate-Friendly Energy Policy
Speaking Engagements
- Carbon Trade and Finance Trends, June 13, 2008
- EMA 12th Annual Spring Conference, April 29, 2008
- Rocky Mountain Mineral Law's Special Institute on Resources and Climate Change, April 10, 2008
- ALI-ABA Global Warming: Climate Change and the Law, April 3, 2008
- Electric Energy: Markets, Regulation and Investment, March 3, 2008
- The Climate of Hydro Annual Conference 2008, February 19, 2008
News
- VNF's Kyle Danish Quoted in ClimateWire Article on Key Provision in Climate Bill
- VNF's Kyle Danish Quoted in Bloomberg Article on Coal Mine Methane
- VNF's Kyle Danish Quoted in Bloomberg on US Carbon Offsets Policy
- Van Ness Feldman Again Ranked as a Top Emissions Trading Law Firm
- Van Ness Feldman Climate Change Practice Ranked in Chambers 2008
- VNF's Kyle Danish is Quoted in Environmental Finance Article on Cap-and-Trade Bill

