Girard Miller is Co-Chair of the Firm’s global Alternative Energy Practice Group, and is a partner in Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.'s Minneapolis location. He has over 25 years of experience in private practice and regularly advises public and private corporations, private equity and hedge funds, investment banks and businesses on a variety of matters. His experience includes:  mergers and acquisitions, project finance transactions, corporate finance transactions, business formation, securities offerings and corporate governance.

Girard has represented clients in the development and financing of alternative energy projects since the early 1990’s. He has represented developers, landowners, turbine manufacturers, investment banks, lenders and utilities in the wind industry. He has represented developers, landowners, lenders and investment banks in the biofuels industry.  He has also represented clients in connection with the acquisition of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) as applicable to utilities in connection with satisfying state renewable portfolio standards and clients in connection with LEED certification.  Girard’s practice includes both domestic and international matters.

• American Bar Association, Vice Chair, Programs - Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources 
  Renewable Energy Resources Committee (2008 - Present)
• Energy Bar Association
• Energy Alley, Advisory Board (2003 - 2005)
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Co-Chair, Securities Law Section
  (2001 - 2004)
• Advisory Committee to the Minnesota Commerce Department
• National Association of Corporate Directors
• SEC Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation
  (1995 - 2001, 2003 - 2006)

• Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics (2001 - 2008)
• Leading Minnesota Attorney in Securities and Venture Finance Law
  (American Research Corporation)

• "Developers See Green and Neighbors See Red: A Survey of Incentives and Mandates for the Development of Alternative Energy and the Unfolding Challenges," Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law, Volume 3, Number 2, 2008
• Co-Author, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Alternative Energy Glossary and Reference Guide, 2008
• Co-Author, “Alternative Energy: Challenges At The Local, State And Federal Levels,” Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Trends in Energy Litigation,  2007
• Contributing Editor, "VC Experts, Encyclopedia of Private Equity & Venture Capital," 2001 - 2005

• "Finding Liquidity in an Illiquid Market," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. web seminar, October 2008
• "The Municipal Role in Financing Renewable Energy Projects," The Bond Buyer's 18th Annual California Public Finance Conference, San Francisco, September 2008
• "Corporate Governance: In the Trenches," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. web seminar, August 2008
• "Capital Structures and Financing Your Business with Equity and Debt," The Collaborative Seminar, June 2008
• "Facing the Transmission Challenges: Wind, Solar, Geothermal and New Generation," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. web seminar, May 2008
• "Developing Wind and Ethanol Projects," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Embassy Row 2008 Series, May 2008
• "India: The New Frontier," a seminar on India's current business and legal climate, sponsored by Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. and the University of Minnesota India Center, May 2008
• "Renewable Project Tax Structuring and Planning for Developers and Practitioners," covering Revenue Procedure 2007-65, speakers including William Bowers, Senior Counsel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy, American Bar Association/American Counsel On Renewable Energy Web Seminar, December 2007
• "Emerging Technology Startup Companies - Storm Clouds & Silver Linings," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. web seminar, November 2007
• "Current Trends in Alternative Energy," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. seminar with Alexander Karsner, Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy, Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy and Warren Belmar, Deputy General Counsel, Energy Policy, U.S. Department of Energy, New York, September 2007
• "International Biofuels Opportunities," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Embassy Row Series 2007, Washington, D.C., July 2007
• “An Overview of Biofuels Developments in the Americas,” Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. seminars on “Biodiesel and Ethanol Projects in Latin America: A Case Study on the Brazilian Experience,” New York June 22, 2007; Houston, Texas, June 26, 2007
• “Current Trends in Developing and Financing Wind Energy Projects,” Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. web seminar, May 2007
• “Emerging Trends in Alternative Energy Litigation,” University of Texas School of Law Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Symposium, Legal Education Seminar, Austin, Texas, February 2007
• “Minority Shareholder Rights,” Hennepin County Bar Association Legal Education Seminar, January 2007
• “Exit Strategies: Liquidity for You and Your Investors,” The Collaborative Seminar, October 2006
• “The Private Equity Continuum,” The Collaborative Seminar, October 2005
• “Going Public: A Higher Hurdle and An Improving Market,” The Collaborative Seminar, May 2005
• “Equity Incentive Compensation: Developments and Trends in Stock and Options,” The Collaborative Seminar, October 2003
• “Expansion and Exit Strategies: The Elements of a Successful M&A Transaction,” The Collaborative Seminar, May 2003
• “Exit Strategies For You and Your Investors,” The Collaborative Seminar, October 2002
• “Energy Alley's 2002 Marketplace Conference,” Minnesota Environmental Initiative, August 2002
• “GreenChip 2001 - New Economy, New Opportunities: Accessing Capital From Business Plans,” “Organizational Structures and Making the Pitch,” Minnesota Environmental Initiative Energy Alley, November 2001
• “Choice of Business Entity in Minnesota:  How To Do It Right,” National Business Institute Legal Education Seminar, May 2001
• “Positioning The Company For Financing: Pervasive Legal and Structural Issues,” The Collaborative Seminar, October 2000
• “Aircraft Carrier and Takeover Proposals,” Minnesota State Bar Association Legal Education Seminar, February 1999
• “Business Financing: Securities Laws Developments,” Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Legal Education Seminar, May 1999
• “Going Public: Getting Your House in Order,” The Collaborative Seminar, October 1999

1979 - LL.M. in Taxation, New York University School of Law
1977 - J.D., cum laude, Seattle University School of Law
1973 - B.A., Creighton University

Girard is admitted to practice in Minnesota. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Shiro Kashiwa of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Washington, D.C., from 1979 - 1981.

• Children's Cancer Research Fund, Director
  • Executive Committee, Secretary
• The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities
  • Executive Committee, Trustee and former Secretary
• The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities Foundation
  • Director and Secretary
• Home of the Good Shepherd
  • Planned Giving Committee, former Director
• CitySongs, Inc.
  • Former Director