James J. Dragna represents energy, aerospace, and manufacturing clients in environmental matters nationwide, including air, water, and wastewater enforcement and litigation. His practice includes the representation of clients in multi-party, multi-claim litigation following environmental crises, infrastructure litigation, hazardous waste proceedings, and municipalities in water treatment, collection, and discharge infrastructure matters. Jim also serves as group or common counsel to several multiparty Superfund groups. Jim serves several major municipalities as special counsel in wastewater litigation and permitting issues.
Jim’s work includes the development of broad-based litigation and settlement strategies in some of the nation’s most complex environmental proceedings. His work includes serving as coordinating or lead counsel in several major environmental proceedings, including the multi-district litigation involving the explosion and release of hydrocarbons from the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig into the Gulf of Mexico, the multi-district proceedings involving the release of methane from the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility in Porter Ranch, California, and the Kerr-McGee bankruptcy proceeding, the largest environmental bankruptcy proceedings involving the legacy environmental obligations of the former Kerr-McGee Corporation. He also represents municipal and water agency clients in major water infrastructure, natural resource, water rights, and revenue litigation. Jim takes great pride in his ability to develop creative resolutions of complex environmental issues and, where collaboration fails, in his ability to litigate these disputes to achieve decisive results.
Prior to entering private practice, Jim served as senior trial counsel at the US Department of Justice, Environmental Enforcement Section in Washington, DC, where he managed the EPA’s environmental enforcement litigation in Regions IX and X. He has been recognized by Chambers USA for the last ten years and sources “have great respect” for him. Before joining Morgan Lewis, Jim was a partner and group leader of the environmental, land use, and natural resources practice of another international law firm.
Representative Clients
Recognized, Leaders in Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation, Lawdragon Green 500 (2023)
Client Service All-Star, BTI Consulting Group (2022)
Recognized, Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyers (2021)
Band 1, Environment, California, Chambers USA (2010–2024)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Environmental, Los Angeles; Water Law, Los Angeles (2010–2025)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation—Environmental (2018)
Trailblazer, Energy & Environmental, The National Law Journal (2018)
Hall of Fame, Industry focus: Environment: regulatory, The Legal 500 US (2020–2024)
Hall of Fame, Industry focus: Environment: litigation, The Legal 500 US (2020–2024)
Leading Lawyer, Industry focus: Environment: regulatory, The Legal 500 US (2007–2019)
Leading Lawyer, Industry focus: Environment: litigation, The Legal 500 US (2007–2018)
Recommended, Industry focus: Energy litigation: electric power, The Legal 500 US (2023, 2024)
Recommended, Industry focus: Energy litigation: oil and gas, The Legal 500 US (2018–2024)
Recommended, Industry focus: Energy litigation: conventional power, The Legal 500 US (2019–2022)
Recommended, Industry focus: Industry focus: Environment: litigation, The Legal 500 US (2019)
MVP, Environmental, Law360 (2017)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Environmental, Law360 (2017, 2019)
Hall of Fame, The Legal 500 US (2017)
Trailblazer, Litigation, The National Law Journal (2016)
Recognized, Who’s Who Legal (2009, 2016)
Recognized, Southern California, Super Lawyers (2004–2013)
Lawyer of the Year, Litigation—Environmental, Los Angeles, The Best Lawyers in America (2012)
Top 100 Leading Attorneys of California, Daily Journal (2010)
Recognized, Top Defense Verdicts, Daily Journal (2009)
Recognized, Lawdragon 3000 (2006)
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association