Profile: John L Howard Jr

Environment

Biography: Environment

John Howard is a partner with V&E's environmental, public policy, and climate change practice groups. John's public and private sector experience gives him a unique and comprehensive perspective in helping clients understand, navigate, develop and implement state and federal environmental, natural resource and energy policy.

He has represented the United States and Texas, led interagency councils, and assisted a diverse set of clients on such wide-ranging policy issues as climate change, sustainable buildings, biofuels, energy efficiency, environmental technology, recycling, water supply and infrastructure, vehicle fuel efficiency, environmental indicators, environmental management systems, recycling, stewardship and sustainability.

In addition to his current representation of clients in Austin and Washington, DC, John chairs the Environmental Protection Agency's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology.

Previously, he served in federal and state government as the federal environmental executive (2002-2004), senior associate director with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (2001-2002), environment and natural resources policy director in the Texas Governor's Policy Office (1996-2000), and an associate at law firms in Austin and Washington, DC.

He has been recognised for his expertise by The Best Lawyers in America for environmental law and government relations law (2007), and by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in environmental law (2005-2006). In 2003, he was named an Outstanding Young Alumnus of Baylor University. He chairs the Texas Water Foundation and is vice president of Keep Texas Beautiful.

John received his law degree from the University of Texas at Austin (Texas Law Review administrative editor), and his bachelor of arts from Baylor University (Phi Beta Kappa).