William D. (Bill) DuFour III is an associate with Foley & Lardner LLP and a member of the firm’s Transactional & Securities and Finance & Financial Institutions Practices and the Energy Industry Team. His areas of practice cover a broad range of business and financial matters, including renewable energy, project finance, mergers and acquisitions (domestic and foreign) and general corporate matters. In particular, Mr. DuFour has extensive experience in wind and solar project development, as well as acquisitions and financings of such projects.
Prior to joining Foley, Mr. DuFour worked at the U.S. Department of Energy in the Office of General Counsel. His experience also includes serving as a judicial intern in the Supreme Court of Virginia. While attending law school, Mr. DuFour was a 2008 summer associate in Foley’s Los Angeles office. Before beginning his legal career, he joined Teach For America and taught math and science for three years at Henry Clay Middle School in South Los Angeles.
Mr. DuFour earned his law degree from The George Washington University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2009), where he was a Thurgood Marshall Scholar. During law school, he was a notes editor of The Public Contract Law Journal and a mock trial board member. Mr. DuFour earned his master’s degree in education from Loyola Marymount University (M.A., summa cum laude, 2005). He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Southern California (B.A., cum laude, 2003).
Mr. DuFour co-teaches a class at Loyola Law School with Foley Partner Jeffery Atkin on alternative energy development and project finance. Mr. DuFour regularly writes for Foley’s monthly energy newsletter and his recent publications and speaking engagements also include:
- “Project Development in the Solar Industry,” CRC Press (2012) (co-author)
- “The Nuts and Bolts of the Section 1603 Cash Grant Application,” Foley’s Energy Briefing Series (August 29, 2012)
- “Focus on RECs Across the West,” Infocast (Conference Workshop) (December 6, 2011)
- "Making Your Construction Documents Financeable," Geothermal Resources Council, 35th Annual Meeting (October 24, 2011)
- "SREC Roundtable: A Comparison of State Policies and a Look Into the Future of SRECs," Infocast (August 17, 2011)
- "Wind Power: From Dirt to Distribution," UCLA (July 23, 2011)
- "MA SRECs: The Massachusetts RPS Solar Carve-Out Program Explained," Foley’s Energy Briefing Series (January 27, 2011)
- "Acquiring U.S. Companies with Foreign Subsidiaries: Relevant Issues," Deal Lawyers (2011)
- "Green Entrepreneur Handbook: The Guide to Building and Growing a Green and Clean Business," CRC Press (2010) (contributor)
Mr. DuFour is a member of the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of Young Professionals in Energy (YPE). Mr. DuFour is also a member of the Los Angeles Office Pro Bono Committee, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in California.