The new chair was launched with a $2 million-endowment gift from energy industry veteran Jim McCulloch and his wife, Susan. Mr McCulloch is the executive vice president and general counsel for Forum Energy Technologies in Houston. Through the centre, the university aims to leverage its strengths in the fields of maritime, environmental and international law to build a world-leading program in energy law, according to a statement from the school.

Professor of energy law at University of Helsinki

Mr Talus is currently a professor of energy law at the University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland, where he is also a founding co-director of the Centre for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law. In January 2018, he will join Tulane University Law School faculty, serving as the founding director of the new Tulane Center for Energy Law.

'Never more important'

‘Energy law and policy is inherently and increasingly international and has never been more important,’ Tulane University Law School Dean David Meyer said in a statement. ‘Tulane Law School is uniquely positioned to lead in this area, given its location in the heart of America’s energy corridor and its long leadership in the closely allied fields of environmental, international, and maritime law.’

New assistant director

Sirja-Leena Penttinen, a lecturer at the University of Eastern Finland and frequent Talus collaborator, will serve as assistant director of the Tulane Center for Energy Law. ‘We are thrilled to welcome Kim Talus and Sirja-Leena Penttinen to Tulane and excited about what they will help us build here,’ Mr Meyer added.