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Richard Hammond has served as Optimal's General Counsel and Vice President of Projects since July, 2001. Prior to Optimal, he was a Partner at the international corporate law firm of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe in San Francisco, specializing in environmental, regulatory, and transactional law. Previously, Mr. Hammond ran a private law practice that focused on industry government affairs, and was a registered lobbyist in California. His background includes such roles as Special Consultant to the Governor of California in 1981, and Undersecretary for the State of California Resources Agency from 1977-1980. This was preceded by a term as Senior Energy Advisor for the Governor's Office of Planning & Research and earlier as Staff Counsel where he was principal author of the "Energy Element, California Coastal Plan." Mr. Hammond graduated with honours from Harvard University, and holds a Law Degree, J.D., from Columbia University. Mr. Hammond is admitted to practice law in New York and California. | 