James J. Dragna

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.

• Coordinating counsel for Sempra Energy and Southern California Gas Company in all litigation and regulatory matters involving the Aliso Canyon gas leak in Porter Ranch, California
• National coordinating counsel for the non-operating minority investors in the Macondo well associated with the explosion and release of hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Mexico
• Representation of Anadarko and Kerr-McGee in the largest environmental bankruptcy in the United States
• Common counsel in four major multiparty Superfund actions
• Involved in over 50 Superfund actions nationwide
• Special counsel on wastewater issues to the cities of Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Diego, Oakland, San Luis Obispo and county of Orange
• National or regional environmental counsel for several multinational oil, chemical, fertilizer and packaging companies on air, water and waste matters
• Counsel for one of California’s largest water purveyors in native American water rights case and in litigation involving the development of water rates in Southern California
• Group counsel for a consortium of Southern California Water purveyors, including the Metropolitan Water District, in successful litigation against a coalition of Northern California Water purveyors involving the proceeds of the sale of hydroelectric power generated by the State Water Project

Representative Clients

• Allegheny Technologies Incorporated
• Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
• BKK Joint Defense Group
• Casmalia Steering Committee
• Celanese Corporation
• Chevron Corporation
• City and County of Denver
• City and County of Honolulu
• City of Los Angeles
• Port of Los Angeles
• City of Newport Beach
• City of San Diego
• ExxonMobil Corporation
• Maersk Drilling
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
• Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.) Inc.
• Pima County
• County of Orange
• Sempra Energy 
• Solvay USA, Inc.
• Shell Oil Company
• Southern California Edison Company
• Southern California Gas Company 
• StatOil
• Tesoro Corporation
• Teledyne Technologies, Inc.