WHO’S WHO IN L.A. LAW: JERRY BLOOM

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JERRY BLOOM

, 55

Firm: Winston & Strawn LLP

LAW SCHOOL: University of Miami

CLIENTS: Ausra Inc., California Cogeneration Council, eSolar Inc., NRG Energy Inc., Sun Run Inc., Sun Peak, Countryside Joint Ventures LLC


In order to pay his living expenses while earning a master’s degree in psychology, Jerry Bloom took a job as a legal assistant with Sidley Austin LLP.

But Bloom never sat in the therapist’s chair after graduating from George Washington University.

“I graduated, but was never licensed as a psychologist,” Bloom said. “My stint at the law firm got me hooked.”

Bloom went back to school, received his law degree and started pursuing a career as an energy lawyer after the oil crisis of the 1970s.

“I believed that we should be promoting an alternative energy agenda,” Bloom said.

In 1987, Bloom moved his practice to California because the state was progressive in its environmental and alternative energy policies.

Bloom said he faced obstacles when promoting the use of alternative energy because utility companies were integrated monopolies.

“The battles were difficult,” Bloom said of the opposition brought by special interests.

The challenges haven’t disappeared, and Bloom’s practice has continued to evolve as global warming and climate change issues are the subjects of increased attention by local and federal governments.

Today, Bloom is representing alternative energy companies that are doing business in a growing market of competition for the intellectual property, equipment and hardware needed to develop solar or wind plants.

Bloom is working with Ausra Inc. as the company develops concentrated solar power projects. The Palo Alto-based energy company is building projects throughout California and other states that use thermal technology, which allows solar facilities to be built on a large scale at competitive prices.

Although he chose environmental law, he’s still interested in psychology.

“I use my counseling skills every day in my career,” he said. “I haven’t let go of that part of my life. I was always interested in being in the helping profession and counseling clients.”

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