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

King & Spalding LLP handles a broad range of transactional matters in the private equity, project finance, energy and infrastructure sectors, with a focus on M&A, restructurings and financings. With regards to the environmental aspects of transactions, the practice is well versed in perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) issues, sustainability and ESG, and energy transition matters. The team is led by Granta Nakayama, who is a key name for energy and environmental issues, such as regulatory and enforcement matters. Cynthia Stroman is recommended for energy and renewables transactions and is well versed in compliance and land use issues. Joseph Eisert handles transactions, enforcement and incident response, while Chicago’s Karl Heisler deals with workplace safety incidents and government investigations. Marcella Burke left in 2022. Attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

King & Spalding LLP offers clients ‘subject matter experts who have keen insights on the issues, can apply past learning to current risks and use those insights to identify emerging trends’. With teams on both coasts, the firm is well placed to handle regulatory matters across the US, under the leadership of Washington DC’s Granta Nakayama. It is particularly strong in enforcement defense matters and negotiations with regulators, such as the EPA; mobile source emissions; compliance in highly regulated sectors; and issues around toxic chemicals, such as PFAS. Nakayama is a key name for compliance and enforcement matters, while in Los Angeles, Peter Hsiao, a former DOJ environmental attorney, is recommended for natural resources and toxic tort law. Ilana Saltzbart, also in DC, is an EPA alumna with considerable experience of the CAA. Chicago’s Karl Heisler is noted for incident response and workplace health and safety work. Marcella Burke left in July 2022. Adam Sowatzka has also left the firm.

The trial and global disputes; government matters team at King & Spalding LLP offers coast-to-coast expertise and is led by Washington DC’s Granta Nakayama, New York’s Kristen Fournier, San Francisco’s Matt Blaschke and Tracie Renfroe in Houston. The firm fields multidisciplinary groups to advise on litigation and emerging issues, such as forever chemicals, climate change, environmental justice, renewable fuels and ESG matters. Renfroe acts for energy and industrial clients on contamination, toxic tort and product liability cases, and is experienced in international arbitration. Atlanta’s Douglas Henderson is notable for his experience in toxic and mass torts litigation and property rights disputes, while Peter Hsiao in Los Angeles has 34 years’ trial experience, with a focus on environmental and natural resources cases. Recently, Shannon Kasley and Jeremiah Anderson left the firm, as did Megan Nishikawa.

King & Spalding LLP‘s recent track record includes advice on significant automotive industry diesel issues, as well as regulatory, enforcement and policy work. The firm also houses experts in transportation-related high-stakes disputes, government investigations, and corporate and finance work. On the litigation side, the group’s prowess covers both single-plaintiff catastrophic injury cases and multi-district litigation and class actions. As a former assistant administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance, Washington DC-based Granta Nakayama is go-to practitioner for automakers facing diesel-related issues, and Livia Kiser in Chicago represents automotive manufacturers, automotive technology companies, and distributors and suppliers in matters involving vehicle components. Other names to note are Los Angeles-based Alexander Calfo and Susan Vargas, whose product liability practices cover the automotive sector; DC-based environmental law specialist Ilana Saltzbart; and New York-based automotive industry expert Jacquie Seidel. Also in New York, John Hooper chairs the firm’s automotive and transportation litigation practice, which is co-chaired by Susan Clare in Atlanta, where class action and product liability litigator and newly promoted partner Adam Reinke is located.