Greg A. Christianson’s practice focuses primarily on environmental litigation, including cost recovery matters, federal and state citizen suits, multiparty toxic tort actions, and other complex litigation matters. In addition to his litigation practice, Greg advises clients on effective means of avoiding liability and resolving disputes. Where appropriate, he has pursued cost-effective, cooperative solutions with regulators, property owners, and potentially responsible parties to avoid the need for litigation.
Greg has defended private and public entities at sites throughout the United States, including various federal and state Superfund sites. In his Superfund practice, Greg represents both individual clients and joint defense groups at a wide range of facilities, including mixed-use landfills and other industrial operations. He has also pursued CERCLA, RCRA, and common law claims through litigation and in mediations, obtaining substantial funds for clients’ environmental cleanup work. In many of these cases, Greg has negotiated creative settlements, including multiparty federal and state consent decrees, and has successfully defended settlements against third-party challenges at the trial and appellate court levels, including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Greg has experience working with experts in the technical aspects of litigation, including contaminant fate and transport, identification of potentially responsible parties, and the range of factors affecting multiparty cost allocation.
Greg also defends clients in complex toxic tort litigation, including environmental class actions and mass joinder lawsuits. This work has included defense of personal injury, medical monitoring, and property damage claims based on alleged groundwater contamination, surface water releases, and air emissions.
Note: This list includes engagements completed prior to joining Morgan Lewis.
Defended two multinational corporations in an environmental class action and mass joinder toxic tort lawsuit in Florida
Represented a public entity in pursuing an industrial operator for costs arising from perchlorate contamination
Defended a joint defense group at the former Cal Compact Landfill in California against claims by the site owner and state regulators
Represented oil industry clients pursuing and defending cost recovery claims at numerous sites
Pursued contribution claims against 40 waste generators for cleanup costs at a mixed-use landfill
Represented an industrial company and landowner in connection with sediment contamination at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site in Oregon
Defended an industrial operator against a Clean Air Act citizen suit based on alleged releases from a petroleum coke loading terminal
Advised clients in averting threatened litigation by non-governmental organizations under the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act
BP America Inc.
Cal Compact Defense Group
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Mitsui & Co. Ltd
Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.) Inc.
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Shell Oil Company
Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc.
Valero Energy Corporation
Princeton University, 1989, Bachelor of Arts
Stanford Law School, 1995, Juris Doctor
US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
US District Court for the Central District of California
US District Court for the District of Colorado
US District Court for the Northern District of California
US District Court for the Southern District of California
US Supreme Court
Awards and Affiliations
American Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Best Lawyers, Environmental Law (2014–2015)
Super Lawyers, Northern California (2014)
Super Lawyers, Southern California (2012–2013)
Super Lawyers, Southern California Rising Star (2005–2006)
Daily Princetonian Award for Service to Princeton University (1989)