William (Bill) J. Snape, III is a fellow and practitioner-in-residence at American University, Washington College of Law, as well as the Assistant Dean of Adjunct Faculty Affairs. Snape is also senior counsel with the Center for Biological Diversity, where he works on endangered species, public lands and energy issues. He is co-producer of “Hot Air,” a radio podcast show on global warming policy and regulation. Previously, Snape was vice president and chief counsel at Defenders of Wildlife for over a decade.

Snape has litigated a number of environmental and related cases in federal court, and argued Center for Biological Diversity v. Interior (D.C. Cir. 2009), which rejected the federal government’s plan for oil and gas drilling off the coast of Alaska in part because of climate change concerns. Snape is the author of numerous articles on natural resource issues, including the book Biodiversity and the Law published by Island Press. He is currently chairman of the board for the Endangered Species Coalition, and general counsel of the United States Climate Action Network.

He is a magna cum laude graduate of the Honors College at the University of California, Los Angeles, and received his law degree from George Washington University. Snape is a masters’ swimmer and water polo player, has coached at both the Division I and Division III levels of college swimming, and was named the 2011 world swim coach of the year by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. He continues to advise both United States Deaf Swimming and Gallaudet University on various matters relating to deaf athletics.