Paul Dickerson, a recognized leader and sought-after speaker on issues of clean tech and energy efficiency, launched Haynes and Boone's Clean Tech practice group in 2008. Paul, a partner who offices in the firm's Houston and D.C. offices, returned to the firm to launch the group, a new concentration for the firm that builds upon the firm's broad experience in intellectual property, litigation, technology, financing and many other legal issues that companies in the nascent industry must face.

Paul served as Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) from 2006 until his return to Haynes and Boone (where he worked as an associate from 2000 to 2005). He oversaw the EERE's $1.8 billion budget and helped move alternative and renewable energy technologies from the "vision" stage to real-world development.

Paul is knowledgeable on the pressing needs of the global energy market and regularly speaks about the tangible, real-world solutions that can be implemented now, from increasing efficiency, bio-fuels, solar and wind investments, to connecting venture capitalists with the cutting-edge scientific researchers in the field of sustainable energy.

He also served as Chief of Staff for the United States and Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Department of Commerce. While at the Commerce Department, Paul was responsible for day-to-day management of the Commercial Service's worldwide network of 1,700 employees in 260 offices and for directing the implementation of the Commercial Service's worldwide priorities and policies.

Paul has extensive experience with corporate turn-arounds and holds great knowledge about the new wave of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies that will power America and the world in the 21st century. Under his leadership, the Department of Energy changed its direction toward commercialization of technology and quickened the pace of moving these groundbreaking energy solutions from the laboratory to the international marketplace.

He now helps Haynes and Boone clients as they continue to develop products and businesses in the Clean Tech arena, in the U.S. and abroad.

Governor Perry recently appointed Paul to the Texas Bioenergy Policy Council. Paul also serves on the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Houston.

He is a certified public accountant, has published numerous articles, and frequently appears on the media circuit discussing politics, business, taxation, financing and other issues relevant to international trade and business. Through articles, interviews and speeches, he has appeared regularly in the local, statewide, nationwide and international press, including frequent citations in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Houston Chronicle.

Selected Publications and Interviews

• "President can't put lid on gas prices, experts say," San Francisco Chronicle, March 1, 2012.
• "America's IMBY era for energy," The Hill's Congress Blog, February 28, 2012.
• "China Investments in Alternative Energy," KTBU International Television, September 6, 2011.
• "Obama's $7 Billion Renewable Energy Grants Targeted for Audits," Bloomberg.com, June 28, 2011.
• "Ted Kennedy Beating Cape Cod Wind Farm as U.S. Spurns Loan Aid," BloombergLaw.com, June 17, 2011.
• "The (Too Short) Extension of Section 1603 Renewable Energy Cash Grants," The Electricity Journal, March 2011.
• "US Export Service at Leading Edge of Turmoil From Budget Cuts," Dow Jones Newswires, February 9, 2011.
• "Valero to Invest in Ethanol Plant," The Wall Street Journal, January 12, 2011.
• "Subsidies for Renewable Energy could be on the chopping block," CleanTechLaw, December 15, 2010. 
• "Federal Money for Alternative Energy is Drying Up," The New York Times Dealbook, December 14, 2010.
• "Innovation and the needs of energy entrepreneurs," Interview, The BusinessMakers Radio Show, November 6, 2010.
• "Panelists Talk Alternative Energy at OU Forum," RenewablesBiz, September 26, 2010.
• "What's Driving the Growth of Alternative Energy," Sunday Night with Melinda Talk Show, KSBJ Radio, September 19, 2010.
• "The Clean Energy Race with China," Going Green with Yolanda Green, Houston Channel 39 News, September 15, 2010.
• "The Oil Spill," Going Green with Yolanda Green, Houston Channel 39 News, July 13, 2010.
• "Are Cleantech Firms Ready for the Spotlight?" Renewable Energy World, June 28, 2010. 
• "Cleantech Cooperation," Middle East Utilities (Utilities-me.com), June 4, 2010.
• "The Petroleum Industry is no Robin Hood and to Tax Them is an Error," El Economista (Spain), June 8, 2010.
• "Power pact buoys Cape Wind," Cape Cod Times, May 16, 2010.
• "Safe, secure nuclear energy must be part of climate change solution," The Seattle Times, April 19, 2010.
• "Rising Star: Haynes and Boone's Paul Dickerson," Law360, April 7, 2010.
• "BP, Conoco To Exit US Climate Action Partnership," Dow Jones Newswires, February 16, 2010.
• "Getting a lesson in energy," Houston Chronicle, February 4, 2010.
• "Shell, Other Oil Firms Bolster Biofuels Spending," The Wall Street Journal, December 30, 2009.
• "Algae's Growing Popularity," Oil and Gas Journal, December 18, 2009.
• "Clean-energy guru: Microsofties are 'masters of innovation,'" Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 10, 2009.
• "Don't give away clean tech's future," the San Francisco Chronicle, December 10, 2009.
• "Past Offers Vital Lessons on Future Green Buildings," Eye of Dubai, November 1, 2009.
• "Seeing Green: Algae among new frontiers in renewable energy sources," Houston Business Journal, October 9, 2009.
• "Smart Grid a 'Great Opportunity' for Local Market," Utilities Middle East, September 13, 2009.
• "'Cleantech' and Smart Grid System to Become Part of Energy Future," Houston Business Journal, September 4, 2009.
• "Smart Electic Grids," Going Green with Yolanda Green, Houston Channel 39 News, August 17, 2009.
• "Obama's 'Change' Headed for the Electric Utility Industry," REML Electric Energy, Fall 2009, Issue 2, July 2009.
• Chapter on "Cleantech Financing," Energy Transaction Treatise, Fall 2009.
• "CPS Energy promoting expansion of STP nuclear plant," San Antonio Express-News, July 24, 2009. 
• "Cleantech and Green Jobs Policy and Program Update," Green Economy Now, July 14, 2009.
• "Climate Bill Blasted for Bias Toward Coal," Oil Daily, July 10, 2009.
• "Paul Dickerson: Texas Can Handle the Heat," KRIV FOX 26 Houston, July 9, 2009.
• "Make Partners, not adversaries," San Antonio Express-News, July 8, 2009.
• "T. Boone Pickens fueling dialogue on clean-energy efforts," Dallas Morning News, July 6, 2009.
• "Cleantech Upstarts Team With Big Oil," San Jose Business Journal, June 8, 2009.
• "Obama's Push Toward Green has Some Texans Seeing Red," Dallas Morning News, May 24, 2009.
• "A New Go-To Agency For 'Clean Cash'?" National Law Journal, May 11, 2009.
• "Fuelling the Energy Future: Convergent Technologies in Oil and Gas," Synergies Between Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy, May 7, 2009.
• "The Clear Alternative," The Deal Magazine, May 6, 2009. 
• "The Impact of Government Policy on Cleantech Entrepreneurship," panel discussion hosted by Battery Ventures, Business Wire, April 21, 2009.
• "CoRERE to Help Develop Fuel Cell Technology," Arab News, April 12, 2009.
• "Renewable Energy 'Green Bank' Idea Takes Root," Houston Chronicle, April 11, 2009.
• "US DOE Guarantees First Loan to Solar Energy Firm," Environmental Finance Online News, March 26, 2009.
• "San Diego's Clean-Energy Entrepreneurs," SignOnSanDiego.com by Union-Tribute, March 22, 2009.
• "Cleantech entrepreneurs can't afford to wait for aid," Houston Chronicle, March 13, 2009.
• "Former Bush Aide will Lead Law Firm's Clean Tech Group," Houston Business Journal, March 6, 2009.
• "Maurice Hope Thompson and the Stimulus and Energy Opportunities," KTSU Radio, February 25, 2009.
• "Going Green with Yolanda Green," Houston Channel 39 News, February 22, 2009.
• "The Stimulus Program: the President's efforts to sell it and possible alternatives," KPFT Radio, February 11, 2009.
• "Clean Energy Veteran Paul Dickerson on the Clean Energy Outlook for the US," New Energy World Network, January 27, 2009.
• "Challenges that President Obama will face in his first 100 days," Fox News with Jim Angle, January 23, 2009.
• "Economics of Future Energy," at World Future Energy Summit, CNBC, January 20, 2009.
• "DOE Vet Rejoins Haynes and Boone," Law360, January 8, 2009.

Selected Speeches

• Perspective,"Energy and Industry in the New Energy Scenario-Orkestra-Basque Institute of Competitiveness, Bilbao, Spain, November 10, 2011.
• Panelist, "Alternative Energy, Technology and the Federal Government," Sustainability Summit, New York, October 18, 2011.
• Panelist, "Green Construction," Texas Minority Counsel Program Conference, Austin, September 8, 2011.
• Moderator, "Technology and Policy of Climate Change," TechConnect World Clean Technology 2011, Boston, June 15, 2011.
• Moderator, "Cleantech Investments in a Traditional Energy Environment," KPMG Global Energy Conference, Houston, May 26, 2011.
• Panelist, "Foreign Unrest: How the events in the Middle East are impacting the oil and chemical industries in Houston," East End Roundtable, Houston, May 13, 2011.
• Panelist, "Product Innovation Panel," OPEN Houston - Innovation in Energy and Technology Conference, May 7, 2011.
• Moderator, "Export Opportunities for Clean and Renewable Energy," Access 2011 Houston, April 27, 2011.
• Keynote Speech: "Honoring Energy Leaders from Around the World," Young Professionals in Energy International Summit, Las Vegas, April 9, 2011.
• "Building a Competitive Clean Technology Market in the U.S.," Jefferies 2011 Global Clean Technology Conference, New York, February 23, 2011.
• "The Global Race for Clean Energy Technologies - Fact vs. Fiction," Women Energy Corridor Network, Houston, February 22, 2011.
• "The Policies Behind China's Early Lead in the Clean Energy Race," IEL Oil & Gas Conference, Houston, February 18, 2011.
• "Conversation with Houston," NDU International Fellows, World Affairs Council of Houston, January 13, 2011.
• "Energy After the Gulf Spill: The Fallout for the Oil Industry and Other Sectors," Wall Street Journal Panel Discussion, Houston, November 16, 2010.
• "Global Race for CleanTech: Fact vs. Fiction," Warburg Pincus Fourteenth Annual Energy Day Conference, Houston, November 10, 2010.
• "The Future Energy Challenge: The Argument for Energy Diversification," ADIPEC CEO Summit, Abu Dhabi, October 31, 2010.
• "Igniting a New Era of Collaboration," energy panel, Texas China Business Summit, Houston, October 26, 2010.
• "Clean/Green Tech: Where are the Opportunities," TechLaw Conference, Dallas, October 8, 2010.
• "The Future of Energy," keynote speech, Border Energy Forum, Chihuahua, Mexico, October 1, 2010.
• Panelist, Alternative Energy Forum, University of Oklahoma Price College of Business, September 26, 2010.
• "Dynamics of Foreign Direct Investment and attracting companies and research institutions," 2010 City Leader Program, Guanghua Leadership Institute in Collaboration with Cisco, Boston, September 13, 2010.
• "Going Green," Houston Association of Realtors, September 8, 2010.
• "Interview Skills Program," South Texas College of Law, August 24, 2010.
• The Seoul Forum, "Climate Change and Clean Technology Business," Seoul, Korea, July 8, 2010.
• Clean Technology 2010 Conference, "Technology and Finance for the Smart Grid," Anaheim, June 23, 2010.
• KPMG Lunch and Learn, Houston, "Energy Efficiency and Opportunities in the Field of Renewable Energy," June 11, 2010. 
• Tech-Comm from Lab to Market, "Funding the Future of New Technologies," Anaheim, May 26, 2010. 
• Lugar Center Renewable Energy Forum, "What the Latest Trends and Developments out of Washington Portend for Bioenergy Companies," Indianapolis, May 7, 2010. 
• Texas Economic Development Council 2010 Spring Conference, "Clean Technology and Energy Efficiency," Arlington, April 23, 2010.
• Young Professionals in Energy, "Bringing America's Energy Expertise to Bear in the 21st Century," Houston, April 13, 2010.
• "Crossing the Cleantech Divide," Silicon Valley Bank Cleantech Leadership Summit, Santa Clara, April 9, 2010.
• "Cleantech Innovation in Houston and Abroad," Young Professionals Group of the World Affairs Council, Houston, March 18, 2010.
• "Current Regulatory Landscape for Cleantech Investments," Energy Daily Webinar, March 18, 2010.
• "Opportunities for Incumbent Players in the World's Energy Transformation,” Ireland Third National Summit on Renewable Energy, Dublin, March 4, 2010. 
• "SVB Roundtable for Energy Storage Entrepreneurs," SVB Accelerator, Palo Alto, February 23, 2010.
• "Special Considerations in Texas/Israel Cleantech Investments," Texas-Israel Cleanovation Conference, Austin, February 22, 2010.
• "The Clean Technology Revolution: Developing Solutions for Tomorrow's Legal Challenges," Santa Clara Computer and High Tech Law Journal Symposium, Santa Clara, January 29, 2010.
• Washington Public Utility District Association Annual Meeting, Keynote Address: “The Future of Energy Policy,” December 3, 2009.
• Alter Energy Conference, Dubai, International Keynote Address: "The Next Frontier: Opportunities for Oil & Gas Producers in Alternative Energy Projects," October 27, 2009.
• Environmental Markets Place Conference, Houston: Keynote Speech, October 21, 2009.
• Westar Trade Webinar: "Government's Role in the March Toward a Clean Energy Future," October 15, 2009.
• Clean Energy Venture Summit, Austin: Keynote Speech, October 15, 2009.
• State Bar of Texas, Texas Minority Counsel Program - "Green Energy, the Role of Policy and Markets," September 3, 2009.
• MIT Enterprise Forum Dallas-Fort Worth - "Energy Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Today's Challenges, Tomorrow's Opportunities," August 13, 2009.
• Texas Environmental SuperConference - Austin - "Clean Tech - A Gamble That Could Pay Off," August 7, 2009.
• San Antonio Clean Technology Forum, "Clean Tech's State of Play," July 23, 2009.
• Texas General Counsel Forum, "The Legislative Agenda on Green Initiatives & Current Regulations Impacting In-House Counsel," July 22, 2009.
• Rocky Mountain Gas Conference, "Energy Policy Confronts Political Reality in Rapidly Changing World," July 8, 2009.
• MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge's Energy Special Interest Group Event - "Navigating the Legal and Regulatory Environment: Make Ideas Real," June 19, 2009.
• SJF Summit on the New Green Economy, Durham, NC - "Cleantech and Green Jobs Policy and Program Update," June 2, 2009.
• Post-Stimulus Renewable Finance Summit, New Orleans - "A Look Ahead: What to Expect for Renewables in Future Federal Renewable Initiatives," May 29, 2009.
• 2009 Technology Law Conference - "Venture Capital: Non-Traditional Funding for Start-ups," May 22, 2009.
• UK Trade & Investment, British Consulate - "Synergies between Oil & Gas and Renewable Energy Business," May 7, 2009.
• CTSI Houston Clean Tech 2009 - "Can Uncle Sam Cure What Ails Clean Tech," May 5, 2009.
• International Bar Association Project Finance Conference - "Renewable Energy Financing," April 23, 2009.
• Battery Ventures and Stanford University - "The Impact of Government Policy on Cleantech Entrepreneurship," April 20, 2009.
• Digital Energy 2009 - "Alternative Energy: Industry Entrepreneurs and Visionaries," April 8, 2009.
• 3rd Workshop on Renewable Energy, King Fahd University, Saudi Arabia - "Advances in Fuel Cell Research and Technology," April 5, 2009.
• Energy Daily Webinar - "Energy Spending in the Obama Administration - Clean Tech's State of Play," March 24, 2009.
• Houston Technology Center - "Clean Tech and Commercialization," February 24, 2009.
• Haynes and Boone Webinar, "The Opportunities and Risks of the New Federal Stimulus Bill," February 19, 2009.

Online Publications