BIOGRAPHY
Jim Roth is a member of the Firm’s Energy & Natural Resources Practice Group and Chair of the Clean Energy Practice Group. He represents individuals and both publicly-owned and private companies in a range of business, energy and environmental issues, as well as a variety of public policy and regulatory matters.
The focus of Jim ’s practice continues to grow in the directions of clean energy and all public policy issues with energy and environmental implications. He often lectures on these related issues and currently serves on the Advisory Board for The Institute for Energy Law, a division of The Center for American and International Law, a Board Member to The American Clean Skies Foundation (a DC-based clean energy effort) and a Board Member for TexCom, a Texas-based environmental services, publicly-traded company. Roth has previously served as Project Director for the Oklahoma Sustainability Network’s Green Building Code grant project. He is also a weekly columnist for Oklahoma’s statewide business newspaper, The Journal Record, where he explores energy and environmental topics.
Hand-selected by Governor Brad Henry to serve as an Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner in 2007, Jim held the office through January 2009 when he joined Phillips Murrah. He was first elected County Commissioner for Oklahoma County in 2002 and, in 2006, was the first re-elected County Commissioner in over a decade. Prior to serving as County Commissioner, he served eight years in local government as a staff attorney and chief deputy for Oklahoma County.
Additionally, on July 1, 2018, Jim began serving as the Dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law, his alma mater. He is thoroughly enjoying bringing leadership and innovation to preparing tomorrow’s lawyers for the legal profession.
A devoted community advocate and public servant, he says, “public service feeds my soul.” Jim is involved with Rotary International Club, the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Mayflower Congregational Church and Allied Arts. He is a board member for Greater Oklahoma City United Way and Leadership Oklahoma City. He is a trustee for the City of Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust Authority.
Born in Prairie Village, Kansas, Jim has called Oklahoma City home since 1991. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys exploring nature, snow and water-skiing, traveling and spending time with family, friends and his golden retrievers.
EDUCATION
- Kansas State University (B.A., 1991)
- Oklahoma City University (J.D., 1994)
- Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (Graduate, 2004)
- United States Air War College’s National Security Forum (Graduate, 2004)
- The Institute of Public Utilities, Michigan State University (Graduate, 2007)
ADMISSIONS
- 1994, Kansas
- 1995, Oklahoma
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Kansas Bar Association
- National Association of Civil County Attorneys (Former President)
- Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development (Appointed Board Member, Green Jobs emphasis)
- Oklahoma Sustainability Network’s “Green” Building Codes Project, “Bring It Home” (Project Director)