Sean B. Hecht

Sean B. Hecht serves as Co-Executive Director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and holds the Evan Frankel Professor of Policy and Practice position at UCLA School of Law. He co-directs the Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic, where he mentors students in environmental advocacy for organizations and government agencies.

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. from Yale University (1988)
• J.D. from the University of Michigan (1995)

Professor Hecht's research centers on legal frameworks for climate resilience, environmental justice, and the intersection of insurance/finance with climate policy. He critically examines environmental impact laws (CEQA/NEPA), public land management, and state-federal regulatory dynamics. His work bridges theoretical scholarship with practical policy applications through collaborations with advocacy groups, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

His 15 most recent publications reveal dominant trends in climate litigation (35%), public land protection (27%), and environmental justice (20%), with significant focus on California-specific regulatory mechanisms. Key thematic clusters include national monument preservation challenges, coastal adaptation strategies, and carbon market design.

His professional recognition includes:

• 2016 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award for environmental law (Center for Biological Diversity v. Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Through the Environmental Law Clinic, Hecht supervises student attorneys in high-impact environmental litigation while maintaining active engagement with the State Bar of California's environmental law section and the Harbor Community Benefit Foundation. His work demonstrates consistent integration of academic scholarship with real-world legal practice and policy development.

He leads the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, which functions as UCLA Law's hub for interdisciplinary climate research, and directs the Environmental Law Clinic that provides critical legal services to underserved environmental organizations while training future environmental lawyers.