Ariel Kapoano

Associate

Ariel Kapoano represents clients in a variety of complex environmental and commercial matters before US federal and state courts, including appellate courts. She has experience representing clients in matters involving cost recovery and contribution under CERCLA and state environmental laws, drinking water contamination, occupational toxic exposure, consumer class actions, business and corporate disputes, state government investigations, and environmental regulatory and enforcement issues. Ariel also advises clients on obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and represents companies during investigations concerning alleged health and safety violations.

Ariel has experience in New Jersey and New York trial courts as well as various US federal courts, including the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She maintains an active pro bono practice, focusing on the representation of unaccompanied immigrant children.

While attending law school, Ariel served as articles editor on the NYU Journal of Legislation and Public Policy. She also served on the boards of NYU Law Women and NYU Law Students for Reproductive Justice.

A current and a former US Department of Energy contractor against occupational toxic exposure claims
A telecommunications company in multiple groundwater contamination litigations involving state and EPA site cleanups as well as state and federal law claims related to alleged 1,4-dioxane contamination in drinking water from historic nuclear production on behalf of the US government
An electronics manufacturer in a claim for cost recovery under Indiana’s Environmental Legal Action Statue stemming from historical manufacturing operations
A national chemical manufacturing company against claims under CERCLA and state environmental laws stemming from WWII-era production on behalf of the US government
A consumer products company with respect to CERCLA liability at a Superfund site in Puerto Rico
An international e-commerce company in multiple Department of Labor investigations concerning alleged health and safety violations in distribution facilities throughout North America
A consumer products company on remedial obligations relating to multiple Superfund sites in New Jersey
A real estate development company in CERCLA cost-recovery litigation against the United States for contamination stemming from WWII-era munitions production for the US military in Cranbury, NJ
An electronics manufacturer in a case asserting multiple state and federal law claims (including claims for cost recovery under CERCLA) related to alleged 1,4-dioxane contamination in drinking water from historical manufacturing operations in the area
A national water purveyor in putative class action in the Southern District of New York alleging violations of New York General Business Law § 349, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, negligence, and fraud
An international ecommerce company in New Jersey commercial dispute alleging breach of contract, breach of implied contract, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

New York University School of Law, 2014, J.D., Robert McKay Scholar
Rutgers University, 2011, B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa

New Jersey
New York
US District Court for the District of New Jersey
US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
US District Court for the Southern District of New York

Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, Princeton (2023–2024)

Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Litigation - Environmental, Princeton (2024, 2025)

Recommended, Industry focus: Environment: litigation, The Legal 500 US (2022, 2023)

Recipient, New Attorney Award, New Jersey State Bar Association’s Pro Bono Awards (2021)

Recipient, Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Kids in Need of Defense (2020)

Member, New Jersey State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division

Member, American Bar Association

Board of Directors, Rutgers Hillel

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here.