William R. Keffer

William R. Keffer is a Professor of Practice at Texas Tech University School of Law, holding the Janet Scivally and David Copeland Endowed Professorship in Energy Law. He serves as Director of the Energy Law Programs and Assistant Director of Bar Preparation Resources. With over 30 years of legal practice experience prior to joining the faculty in 2014, his career spans private practice at Vial, Hamilton, Koch & Knox; in-house counsel roles at ARCO Oil & Gas Company managing 120+ national cases; litigation at Foley Gardere for energy giants like Chevron and ConocoPhillips; representation of landowners in oilfield-pollution cases; and service in the Texas House of Representatives (2003-2007).

Education:

• B.A. in History, Southern Methodist University (1981)
• J.D., University of Texas at Austin (1984)

Professor Keffer's expertise centers on Energy Law with deep specialization in Oil and Gas Law and Environmental Law, particularly oilfield-pollution litigation across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico. His work bridges legislative processes—honed during his Texas House tenure—and arbitration as an American Arbitration Association neutral. He addresses critical regulatory challenges in energy development through practical, jurisdiction-spanning legal frameworks.

Scientific Awards: No specific scientific awards, prizes, or fellowships are documented in the source material.

Advising and Grants: The available text provides no details regarding student advising, thesis supervision, or research grant acquisition.

Labs and Teams: As Director of Energy Law Programs, Keffer leads academic initiatives integrating industry partnerships and practical energy law training. His role as Assistant Director of Bar Preparation Resources involves developing exam readiness systems for law students, leveraging his legislative and litigation background to bridge academic theory with professional practice demands.