Granta Nakayama > King & Spalding LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile
King & Spalding LLP Offices

1700 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
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Granta Nakayama

Position
A partner in the 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.
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Environment > Environment: regulatory
(Hall of Fame)King & Spalding LLP ’s team is well-established across a range of matters, including materials compliance, incident response, extended producer responsibility, as well as, renewable fuels. A key example of this is practice-head Ilana Saltzbart from the Washington DC office, who is recommended for her work on renewable fuels-related issues, as well as, new regulations involving battery storage, recycling, and transportation. Leading the government matters and regulation sub-practice from DC, Granta Nakayama has positioned himself as a key advisor across a broad practice covering air, water, waste, toxic chemicals, pesticide enforcement, and compliance work. Karl Heisler of the Chicago office handles a breadth of incident response issues, spanning from fires and explosions, right through to pipeline releases and the abandonment of hazardous waste, while drawing from his chemical engineering background Los Angeles-based Peter Hsiao heads the firm’s West Coast environmental, health & safety practice. The firm has seen an increased caseload on ESG and sustainability claims and on this front, Joseph Eisert is a key contact, while Cynthia Stroman, also based at the DC office, assists on PFAS matters.
United States > Environment > Environment: litigation
(Hall of Fame)King & Spalding LLP has an active environmental law practice, specializing in high-stakes enforcement cases. With a team of former EPA and state enforcement officials, alongside technical experts, it handles complex litigation involving toxic chemicals, climate change, and mobile source emissions. Known for its work on landmark Clean Air Act cases, including the Volkswagen emissions scandal, the firm also excels in managing industrial accidents, providing swift legal support in chemical spills, explosions, and safety protocols, with vastly experience environmental practitioner Granta Nakayama a key name. Ilana Saltzbart co-heads the team, focusing on environmental health & safety issues, advising on enforcement, renewable fuels, and new regulations. Tracie Renfroe , head of the firm’s product liability team in Houston, is an expert in defending energy and industrial clients in environmental and toxic tort cases, with deep expertise in groundwater contamination, international arbitration, and climate change litigation.
United States > Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation
(Hall of Fame)The rail and road offering at King & Spalding LLP is noted for its comprehensive involvement in regulatory and disputes proceedings, advising on product liability, safety regulations, bankrputcy disputes, settlements, and single-plaintiff catastrophic injury cases for automakers. The team is particularly reputed for its expertise in diesel-related issues. Atlanta-based Geoffrey Drake is experienced in representing automakers in mass tort litigation, product liability, and class action cases at the federal and state level. He co-heads the team with Granta Nakayama, who is active in regulatory and enforcment matters with an environmental component, especially diesel-related issues. Susan Clare often represents automakers in mass tort, class action and product liability litigation, while John Hooper is retained for his experience in viral, mass tort and high exposure litigation. Atlanta-based Madison Kitchens and Adam Reinke are both sought after by clients for their class action, mass tort and general product liability capacities, while Livia Kiser highly active in vehicle component disputes. Ilana Saltzbart ‘s practice focuses on environmental regulation and enforcement defence. Susan Vargas is experienced in catastrophic injury and safety litigation.
Lawyer Rankings
- Hall of Fame United States > Environment > Environment: regulatory
- Hall of Fame United States > Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation
- Hall of Fame United States > Environment > Environment: litigation
- Environment: litigation United States > Environment
- Environment: regulatory United States > Environment
- Rail and road: litigation and regulation United States > Transport
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)
- Intellectual property > Copyright
- International trade and national security > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions
- Dispute resolution > E-discovery
- Industry focus > Education
- Energy > Energy litigation: oil and gas
- Intellectual property > Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters)
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious
- Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m)
- International trade and national security > National Security
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: automotive/transport
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco)
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort
- Transport > Rail and road: finance
- Energy > Renewable/alternative power
- Healthcare > Service providers
- International trade and national security > Trade remedies and trade policy
Firm Rankings
- Transport > Aviation and air travel: finance
- Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas
- Environment > Environment: litigation
- Environment > Environment: regulatory
- Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
- Dispute resolution > International litigation
- Healthcare > Life sciences
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Private equity buyouts: middle-market (Up to $500m)
- Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices
- Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Finance > Structured finance: securitization
- Intellectual property > Trademarks: non-contentious (including prosecution, portfolio management and licensing)
- Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)
- Transport > Aviation and air travel: litigation and regulation
- Finance > Commercial lending > Advice to direct lenders/private credit
- Finance > Commercial lending: Advice to bank lenders
- Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
- Energy > Energy regulation: oil and gas
- Environment > Environment: transactional
- Labor and employment > ERISA litigation
- Government > Government relations
- Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious
- Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense
- Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation
- Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission)
- Finance > Project finance
- Real estate > Real estate
- Real estate > Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Government > State attorneys general
- M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies
- Finance > Capital markets: debt offerings
- Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings
- International trade and national security > CFIUS
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation
- Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage)
- Intellectual property > Trademarks: litigation
- Finance > Commercial lending
- Antitrust > Merger control
- Real estate > Real estate finance
- Investment fund formation and management > Private equity funds (including venture capital)
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- Finance > Financial services regulation