Joel Gross represents and advises clients in litigation and non-litigation matters under federal and state environmental laws, with a special emphasis on compliance and enforcement issues including:
- compliance strategies to minimize the risk of enforcement actions;
- civil and or criminal enforcement investigations and actions under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, CERCLA, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and;
- innovative approaches to resolving remediation and natural resource damages liabilities arising from contaminated sites.
Experience
- Chemours, as environmental counsel, in connection with a range of regulatory, compliance, enforcement and litigation matters stemming from the manufacture of PFAS chemicals.
- BP as environmental counsel in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with lead responsibility for substantial parts of the matter, including components of the United States' multi-billion dollar claims under the Clean Water Act.
- Large manufacturing company as lead defense counsel in connection with the resolution of an EPA-state multifacility national enforcement initiative under RCRA.
- BP in connection with a major Clean Air Act New Source Review enforcement matter involving a large oil refinery.
- Chapter 11 Debtor as special counsel in negotiating a resolution of substantial environmental claims at multiple sites, including at a former asbestos mining facility.
Perspectives
August 15, 2024
Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 91 Arnold & Porter Lawyers, Names Three as "Lawyers of the Year" and 80 as "Ones to Watch"
April 29, 2024
Two New Hazardous Substances: Key Impacts of Listing PFOA and PFOS Under CERCLA
Advisory
April 19, 2024
Superfund Liability for PFAS: EPA Designates Two PFAS Chemicals as Hazardous Substances
Environmental Edge: Climate Change & Regulatory Insights
January 13, 2023
Top Read for 2023: Our Recently Published Clean Water Act Essentials Book
Environmental Edge: Climate Change & Regulatory Insights
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Recognition
Best Lawyers
Environmental Law (Washington, D.C.) (2010-2025)
"Lawyer of the Year" Environmental Law (Washington, D.C.) (2021)
"Lawyer of the Year" Environmental Law (Washington, D.C.) (2021)
Chambers USA
Environment (Washington, D.C.) (2008-2024)
Washington, DC Super Lawyers
Environmental Law (2007-2011, 2013-2020)
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Credentials
Education
- J.D., New York University School of Law, 1977
- M.A., Yeshiva University, 1975
- B.A., Yeshiva University, 1975
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Supreme Court of the United States
Government & Military Service
- Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, U.S. Department of Justice
Activities
- Fellow, American College of Environmental Lawyers
- Leadership Council, Environmental Law Institute