Seema Kakade

Seema Kakade is a Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. She teaches in the areas of clinical education, and environmental and energy law. Her research interests are in the area of clean energy infrastructure, environmental justice, and pollution control.

She has published articles in top legal journals including the Harvard Environmental Law Review, Ecology Law Quarterly, New York University Environmental Law Review, University of Colorado Law Review, and American University Law Review. Professor Kakade has been on the faculty since 2017, and took a two year leave of absence in 2023-2025 to serve in President Biden’s Administration at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Prior to joining the law school, Professor Kakade served as a federal government attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Civil Enforcement, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of General Counsel. At both agencies, she won numerous awards for her work, including several bronze and silver medals for service, and twice received the Administrator’s Award for Excellence. Before her federal government practice, she worked as a research attorney and co-director of the India Program at the Environmental Law Institute. She also spent time as a litigation associate in private practice.

Professor Kakade holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a JD from the George Washington University Law School. She is the recipient of the 2019 Environmental Law Institute’s “Future’s Award” and is a fellow with the American College of Environmental Law.