Close

People

Granta Nakayama specializes in energy and environmental issues. A partner in our Environmental practice with a focus on energy, Granta represents companies in a range of regulatory and enforcement matters.

With training as a nuclear engineer and more than a decade of experience as a practicing engineer and technical manager, Granta represents clients with products or services regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), along with state government agencies such as the California Air Resources Board. He defends companies in enforcement actions and litigation involving regulations and rate proceedings, and represents their interests in agency rulemakings and Congressional matters.

From 2005 to 2009, Granta served as Assistant Administrator for the EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. In that role, he led 3,400 employees in a national enforcement and compliance program covering air, water, waste, toxic chemicals and pesticides. During his tenure, EPA achieved record annual pollutant reductions (more than 3 billion pounds) and injunctive relief (over $11 billion).

The National Law Journal has recognized Granta as a 2016 "Energy and Environmental Trailblazer." He has been listed by The Legal 500 every year since 2010, and was recognized as a "Hall of Famer" in both the environmental litigation and regulatory and the rail and road litigation and regulatory sections in 2020. He has also been ranked in each edition of Chambers USA since 2010.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., George Mason University School of Law

S.B. Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

S.M. Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

District of Columbia

Virginia

"Granta has literally saved us from possibly dire consequences with his good judgment and sound advice."


Chambers USA (2022)

Band 3, Transportation: Road (Automotive)


Chambers USA, Nationwide (2020-2022)

Band 1, Environment


Chambers USA, District of Columbia (2010-2022)

Named Hall of Famer in Environment: Regulatory, Environment: Litigation and Rail & Road - Litigation and Regulation


Legal 500 USA, 2020

Close

Recognition

"Granta has literally saved us from possibly dire consequences with his good judgment and sound advice."


Chambers USA (2022)

Band 3, Transportation: Road (Automotive)


Chambers USA, Nationwide (2020-2022)

Band 1, Environment


Chambers USA, District of Columbia (2010-2022)

Named Hall of Famer in Environment: Regulatory, Environment: Litigation and Rail & Road - Litigation and Regulation


Legal 500 USA, 2020

Credentials

J.D., George Mason University School of Law

S.B. Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

S.M. Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

District of Columbia

Virginia

"Granta has literally saved us from possibly dire consequences with his good judgment and sound advice."


Chambers USA (2022)

Band 3, Transportation: Road (Automotive)


Chambers USA, Nationwide (2020-2022)

Band 1, Environment


Chambers USA, District of Columbia (2010-2022)

Named Hall of Famer in Environment: Regulatory, Environment: Litigation and Rail & Road - Litigation and Regulation


Legal 500 USA, 2020

Close

Recognition

"Granta has literally saved us from possibly dire consequences with his good judgment and sound advice."


Chambers USA (2022)

Band 3, Transportation: Road (Automotive)


Chambers USA, Nationwide (2020-2022)

Band 1, Environment


Chambers USA, District of Columbia (2010-2022)

Named Hall of Famer in Environment: Regulatory, Environment: Litigation and Rail & Road - Litigation and Regulation


Legal 500 USA, 2020