Professor of Practice
- PhD, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
- LLB, University of London
- MS, University of California, Davis
- BS, University of Sussex
Areas of Expertise
International Energy Law, International Investment and Trade, Law of the Sea, Cross Border Pollution, Climate Change Law, Nuclear Energy Law
Professional Experience
Dr. Nilmini Silva-Send is a leading expert in international energy law with over 20 years of professional experience in the field. She teaches upper-level courses in international energy investment and trade, climate change, nuclear energy, law of the sea, cross border pollution and has taught European Union Law and International Law in Germany.
She previously served as the Associate Director and the C. Hugh Friedman Fellow in Energy Law and Policy at the Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC) at USD School of Law. She led the center’s climate action planning, identified and resolved energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) data, worked on regulatory issues and assessment at the project, city, and regional level; developed and analyzed GHG reduction policies for climate action plans, especially for transportation; and developed monitoring metrics for climate mitigation measures. Her research at EPIC included the water-energy nexus in San Diego and California.
Prior to joining USD School of Law, Dr. Silva-Send worked in environmental and regulatory due diligence consulting in California, several European countries and for U.S. Department of Defense facilities in Europe. She has developed and spoken at energy and environmental policy capacity-building workshops in Mexico and in Saudi Arabia.
Honors and Affiliations
Dr. Silva-Send has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Sussex; an M.S. in soil science from the University of California , Davis; an LLB from the University of London, and an LLM and PhD in International law and policy from the University of Kiel.