E. LYNN GRAYSON, Partner Publications · Professional Activities Chicago Office Office: (312) 923-2756 Fax: (312) 840-7756 Email: lgrayson@jenner.com  Add to Outlook Contacts

E. Lynn Grayson is a partner in Jenner & Block’s Chicago office and a member of the Firm’s Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Law, Climate and Clean Technology Law, Defense & Aerospace, and Environmental Litigation Practices.  Ms. Grayson is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability.  Ms. Grayson has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America, an Illinois Super Lawyer and Lawdragon magazine named Ms. Grayson to its "New Stars, New Worlds" list of 500 attorneys who are "carving the path to the new heights of the legal profession."  Chambers USA and Leading Lawyers Network have recognized Ms. Grayson as one of the country’s leading environmental lawyers as recommended by a peer review process.

Ms. Grayson has an extensive environmental law background including both private practice and government service experience.  Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Grayson was the chief legal counsel for the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency and the State Emergency Response Commission.  She has prosecuted federal and state civil and criminal environmental cases including as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois.  Ms. Grayson’s national environmental practice and experience includes managing complex CERCLA and RCRA matters, advising clients on critical regulatory concerns, performing environmental due diligence for real estate and corporate transactions, defending against natural resource damage claims and conducting environmental audits at manufacturing operations.  She also has significant experience negotiating agreements to redevelop brownfields sites throughout the United States and in handling federal and state release reporting obligations.

Ms. Grayson is the past chairperson for the Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law Committee of the American Bar Association, Business Law Section, the Lake Michigan States Section of the Air and Waste Management Association and the Illinois State Bar Association’s Environmental Council.  She has served as a special liaison from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Environmental Law to the U.S. Department of Defense addressing regulatory reform.  Ms. Grayson is a frequent speaker at environmental conferences.  She has co-authored two books, served as a columnist for Chemical Processing magazine and published over 100 articles concerning environmental law issues as well as the importance of diversity in the legal profession.  Ms. Grayson is Co-Editor of the Firm’s Corporate Environmental Lawyer Blog, which covers breaking environmental and health and safety issues of interest to the corporate counsel community.

Ms. Grayson is on the Board of Directors for the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations and the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law Firms.  She is Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association's Standing Committee on Women and the Law and served as the inaugural Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association's Task Force on Diversity.

She is the Past Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women — a 500+ member organization dedicated to the advancement of women attorneys.  Ms. Grayson is the first recipient of the Chicago Bar Association's Alta May Hulett Award for her contributions to the advancement of women, and in 2009 was a recipient of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois' Women with Vision Award.

She is Past Chair of the Firm’s Women’s Forum, an organization dedicated to fostering professional, social and personal growth opportunities for all women attorneys.  She also chairs the Firm’s Ombud’s Program and is a member of the Diversity, Pro Bono, and the Marketing and Business Development Committees.

Ms. Grayson is a member of the bar of the United States Supreme Court, the Illinois bar and the bars of the United States District Courts for the Central and Northern Districts in Illinois as well as several state and federal courts on a pro hac vice basis.  She received her J.D., with distinction, from Indiana University School of Law and her undergraduate degree, with high honors, from Franklin College.

Ms. Grayson's recent environmental law representations include:

• Served as lead environmental counsel for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products in its 2008 acquisition of AxleTech International, a global manufacturer of axles, independent suspensions, brakes and aftermarket parts for military vehicles and commercial specialty trucks with operations in the U.S., E.U. and South America, from the Carlyle Group.
  
  
• Represented General Motors Corporation as lead environmental counsel in its 2007 $5.6B sale of the Allison Transmission commercial and military business with sales and manufacturing operations worldwide to the Carlyle Group and Onex Corporation.
  
  
• Successfully defended Envirosafe Services of Ohio, Inc. against the United States Environmental Protection Agency before the Environmental Appeal Board over the Agency's authority to extend the scope of a RCRA corrective action and the Agency's ability to expand the scope of the RCRA order.
  
  
• Led environmental representation of General Dynamics Corporation in the company's 2008 $lB public offering of 5.25% Notes due 2014. 
  
  
• Conducted environmental negotiations for and provided environmental representation of General Dynamics in connection with its 2007 acquisition of Canada's largest defense contractor, SNC Technologies, Inc. and Expro Technologies, from SNC Lavalin, Inc., an entity with key operations throughout Canada and U.S.
  

Environmental Publications:

• “Water Scarcity: A Critical Climate Change Challenge for Business,” Emerging Issues Commentary, LexisNexis, August 2009
• "U.S. Coast Guard Final Rule on OPA 90," The Environmental Counselor, Thomson West, Issue No. 238, June 2008.
• "Climate Change: Why It Matters for Your Business," Law Journal Newsletters: Corporate Counselor, Vol. 21, No. 12, May 2007.
• "New EPA Online Environmental Violation Reporting: It's a Good Thing?" ABA Environmental and Energy Business Law Reporter, June 2006.
• "EPA Online Reports: A Good Thing?" Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 1, 2006.
• "NJDEP's Initiative to Recover Natural Resource Damages," Lake Michigan States Section, Air & Waste Management Association Newsletter, December 2003, Vol. 43, No. 4.
• "EPA Extends Deadline For New Rule On Oil Spills," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 24, 2003.
• Co-Author, "The Business Dilemma:  21st Century Natural Resource Damage Liabilities for 20th Century Industrial Progress," The Environmental Law Reporter, November, 2001.
• "EPCRA -- Basics, Dos and Don'ts," The Natural Resources and Environmental Journal, ABA Section of Environmental Energy and Natural Resources, Summer, 2001.
• "Top Ten List of EPCRA Compliance Errors," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, August, 2001.
• "EPCRA: Top Compliance Concerns," Air & Waste Management Newsletter, September, 2001.
• "Good News: 2000 Brownfields Review," The Environmental Counselor, January 2001.
• "Good News: Illinois Brownfields Update," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, September 2000.
• "Good News: A Year 2000 Update on Brownfields Redevelopment," Environmental Compliance and Litigation Strategy, September 2000.
• "Hot Topics in Region V," Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals Newsletter, May 2000.
• "Hot Regulatory Topics in Region V," Air & Waste Management Newsletter, April 2000.
• "Multi-Media Inspections: What Every Business Needs to Know," Environmental Protection Magazine, February 2000.
• "U.S. EPA’s Y2K Enforcement Policy," Corporate Counsel’s Quarterly, October 1999.
• "EPA’s Y2K Enforcement Policy: What Businesses Need to Know," The Network -- IAEP Newsletter, July 1999.
• "The RCRA Mixed-Sewage Exclusion," Environmental Protection, July 1999.
• "RCRA Mixed-Sewage Exclusion Provides Compliance Option," Environmental Compliance and Litigation Strategy, June 1999.
• "Adding the RCRA Mixed-Sewage Exclusion to Your Compliance Arsenal," The Environmental Law Reporter, April 1999.
• "EPA to Waive Penalties If Y2K Testing Goes Haywire," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 1999.
• "Understanding Release Reporting Obligations in Commercial/Industrial Real Estate Transactions," The Environmental Counselor, January 1999.
• "EPA’s New Shotgun Approach," Environmental Protection Magazine, January 1999.
• "Brownfields Barriers," Planning Commissioners Journal, Fall 1998.
• "An Alliance of Necessity: Enviro Justice and Brownfields," Environmental Compliance and Litigation Strategy, November 1998.
• "Risk Based Corrective Action: Lessons for Brownfields From Illinois Rulemaking," Air & Waste Management Association’s EM Magazine, November 1998.
• "Chemical Release Reporting - What Illinois Practitioners Need to Know," Chicago Bar Association’s CBA Record, April 1998.
• "Reality Check. Enforcement Still Main EPA Tool for Meeting Goals," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, April 1998.
• "Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act," Chapter Six in "Essentials in Environmental Law," 2nd Edition, February 1998.
• "Maximizing the Value of Real Estate By Minimizing Environmental Liabilities," Leading American Attorneys Article Digest, January 1998.
• "Historical Overview of Brownfields," Chapter 1 and "Environmental Justice Concerns" Chapter 7, in The Brownfields Book, November 1997.
• "An Evaluation of Release Reporting Issues in Commercial/Industrial Real Estate Transactions," North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, July 1997.
• "EPA’s Audit Policy and State Audit Privilege Laws: Moving Beyond Command and Control?," The Environmental Law Reporter, May 1997.
• "Release Reporting Issues in Commercial/Industrial Real Estate Transactions," Bureau of National Affairs Due Diligence Guide, January 1997.
• "Realizing the Maximum Value in Real Estate Transactions by Minimizing Environmental Liabilities," Chicago Bar Association Record, December 1996.
• "EPA's New Audit Policy," Lake Michigan States Section of the Air & Waste Management Newsletter, May 1996.
• "New Concerns Over Environmental Audits," East/West Corridor Newsletter, Spring 1996.
• "Final EPA Policy on Voluntary Audits," ISBA Environmental Law Section Council Newsletter, March 1996.
• "Are Brownfields and Environmental Justice Initiatives in Conflict?" ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Affordable Dirt Newsletter, Winter 1996.
• "Brownfields vs. Environmental Justice: Conflict or Consensus?" ABA SONREEL Newsletter, January 1996.
• "The Brownfields Phenomenon: An Analysis of Environmental, Economic, and Community Concerns," Environmental Law Institute - Environmental Law Reporter, July 1995.
• "Compliance Without Fear: Illinois' Amnesty Program Promises to Ease Regulatory Burden on Small Business," Great Lakes Environmental Report, May 1995.
• "1994 Annual Report of the Special Committee for State/Regional Cooperation," ABA Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, 1994 Year in Review, March 1995.
• "Clean Air Act Enforcement/Initiatives," Lake Michigan States Section of the Air and Waste Management Newsletter, February 1995.
• "Clean Air Act Changes Cause Concern," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 1995.
• "Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act," Chapter Six in Essentials of Environmental Law, June 1994.
• "The Environmental Equity Phenomenon," Merrill's Illinois Legal Times, April 1994.
• "Risk Plan Program Poses Liability Concerns," BNA's Environmental Compliance Bulletin, March 1994.
• "CAA Chemical Accident Prevention Initiatives," Lake Michigan States Section Air and Waste Management Association Newsletter, March 1994.
• "CAA Risk Management Program Poses Compliance and Liability Concerns for Businesses," BNA Right-to-Know Planning Guide, March 24, 1994.
• "Environmental Concerns for Small Business Owners and Operators," ISBA Environmental Control Law Newsletter, December 1993.
• "Environmental Media Front Event Proves Successful," Lake Michigan States Section Air and Waste Management Association Newsletter, November 1993.
• "Environmental Law Section Council Update," ISBA Environmental Control Law Newsletter, September 1993.
• "New Lead-Related RQ Adjustments," Lake Michigan States Section Air and Waste Management Association Newsletter, September 1993.
• "Pollution Prevention: Benefits for Illinois Industry," ISBA Environmental Control Law Newsletter, June 1993.
• "Pollution Prevention - The Prescription for Businesses," HMCRI Hazardous Materials Control, May/June 1993.
• "Illinois Industry Benefits from Pollution Prevention," Merrill's Illinois Legal Times, April 1993.
• "Green Guidance: An Environmental Primer for the Business Lawyer," ABA Business Law Today, September/October 1992.
• "Pollution Prevention Proves Costly for Business," ECON, September 1992.
• "New D.O.T. Regulation Aims at Hazardous Waste Haulers," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, September 11, 1992.
• "Reporting Companies Face Compliance Uncertainties," Air & Waste Management Association, Lake Michigan States Section Newsletter, Summer 1992.
• "Companies File Revised Form R at Own Risk, Still Vulnerable to Citizens' Lawsuits," Environmental Protection News, June 22, 1992.
• "Deadline Dilemma: Tardy EPA Forms Put Industry in a Bind," Industry Week, June 15, 1992.
• "The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990: Emergence of a New Environmental Policy," Environmental Law Reporter, June 1992.
• "Compliance Woes Threaten Pollution Prevention Goals," Hazmat World, June 1992.
• "EPA Prevails Over OMB in Dispute Over New Form R for TRI Reports," Air/Water Pollution Report, May 25, 1992.
• "Legal Concerns Warrant Consideration in TRI Reporting Dilemma," BNA Right-to-Know Planning Guide, May 21, 1992.
• "Uncertainty Over Toxics Reporting Hampers Compliance," Review and Commentary in BNA Right-to-Know Planning Guide by Carole F. Macko, Editor (Re:  Section 313 Regulated Communities Face an Uncertain Future), April 1992.
• "Pollution Reports to Put Industry in Quagmire," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, April 24, 1992.
• "Bankruptcy Law v. Environmental Liability," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, April 27, 1992.
• "Uncertainty Over Toxics Reporting Hampers Compliance," BNA National Environmental Watch, April 6, 1992.
• "Bankruptcy Courts May Address Environmental Liabilities," ISBA Environmental Control Newsletter, March 1992.
• "Title III and the Community's Right-to-Know," The First Annual Emergency Response Conference Manual, April 1991.
• "New Regulations Adopted for Nonhazardous Waste Landfills," ISBA Environmental Control Newsletter, March 1991.
• "Title III and the Community's Right-to-Know," ISBA Law Ed Series Manual, December 1990.
• "Earth Day 1990 - Our Commitment to the Future," ISBA Law-Related Education Newsletter, April 1990.
• "The OSHA/USEPA Final Rules: An Employer's Guide to Understanding New Worker Protection Standards for Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response Operations," The Environmental Law Reporter, April 1990.
• "Title III Enforcement: Basic Investigation Training Handbook," Publication of the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency in Cooperation with the Illinois State Police-Environmental Investigation Unit, February 1990.
• "OSHA/USEPA Alliance Strengthens Worker Protection Rules," Hazard Monthly, February 1990.
• "Implementing the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act:  State and Federal Enforcement Activities," National Governors' Association - National Conference Manual, December 1989.
• "Creative Title III Enforcement Can Overcome Obstacles," Review and Commentary in BNA Right-to-Know Planning Guide by Carole F. Macko, Editor (Re:  Title III Enforcement:  One State's Perspective), November 1989.
• "OSHA Issues Final Worker Protection Rule for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response," ISBA Environmental Control Newsletter, October 1989.
• "Title III Enforcement:  One State's Perspective," National Environmental Enforcement Journal, September 1989.

Diversity Related Publications:

• "Chair's Column," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, April, 2009, Vol. 14, No. 4.
• "Chair's Column," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, March, 2009, Vol. 14, No. 3.
• "Call to Action on Women in Leadership in the Chicago Legal Community," Alliance News, Winter 2009, Vol. 12, No. 3.
• "Chair's Column," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, December, 2008, Vol. 14, No. 2.
• "Chair's Column," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, October, 2008, Vol. 14, No. 1.
• "The Call to Action: Advancing Women Attorneys in Leadership in Chicago," Diversity
  Matters ISBA Newsletter, June, 2008.
• "ISBA Task Force on Diversity -- Chair's Report," Diversity Matters ISBA Newsletter, June, 2008.
• "National Association of Women Lawyers: 2007 Survey of the Status of Women in Law Firms," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, June, 2008, Vol. 13, No. 4.
• "U.S. Coast Guard Issued Final Rule on OPA 90," Jenner & Block Client Advisory, March 4, 2008.
• "Representing Unmarried Couples: The Need for Illinois Legislative Action," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, March, 2008, Vol. 13, No. 3.
• "2007 World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, January, 2008, Vol. 13, No. 2.
• "ISBA Task Force On Diversity," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, January, 2008, Vol. 13, No. 2.
• "Flexible Hours Policies: A Business Imperative For Law Firms," National Conference of Women's Bar Association Newsletter, Vol. 24, No. 1, Winter 2007.
• “ISBA Task Force on Diversity” The Challenge Newsletter ISBA’s Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation, Vol. 18, No. 2, December 2007.
• "Flexible Hours Policies: A Business Imperative For Law Firms," National Conference of Women's Bar Association Newsletter, Vol. 24, No. 1, Winter 2007.
• "Middle East Partnership Initiative," The Catalyst ISBA Newsletter, November, 2007, Vol. 13, No. 1.
• "Calls for Increased TCE regulation," Jenner & Block Client Advisory, October 16, 2007.
• "Recent SEC Enforcement of Environmental Financial Disclosure," Jenner & Block Client Advisory, July 26, 2007.
• "The Chicago Call to Action for Women Attorneys: The Right Thing to do for Law Firms," Diversity Matters ISBA Newsletter, June, 2007.
• "A Call to Action Outreach Continues With a 2007 Kick Off," Alliance News, Vol. 11, No. 2, Spring 2007.
• "Flexible Hours Policies: Success Strategies For You and Your Law Firm," The Catalyst, Vol. 12, No. 1, October 2006.
• "Putting Out the Call to Action," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, September 26, 2005.
• "The Chicago Call to Action for Women Attorneys," Women Lawyers Journal, Winter 2005.
• "The National Women's Health Information Center," The Catalyst, Vol. 10, No. 3, May 2005.
• "Women's History Month 2005," The Catalyst, Vol. 10, No. 3, May 2005.
• "The Chicago Bar Association/Alliance for Women:  Call to Action for Women Attorneys," The Catalyst, Vol. 10, No. 2, February 2005.
• Co-Author, "The Alliance for Women Welcomes a New Executive Committee and Launches Plans for the Coming Year," CBA Alliance for Women, Vol. 9, No. 1, Fall 2004.
• "OAI, Inc. Opens 'A Place for Change,'" The Catalyst, Vol. 10, No. 1, October 2004.
• "Wildman Harrold Hosts 'Dismantling the Glass Ceiling' Luncheon," The Catalyst -- The Newsletter of the ISBA's Standing Committee on Women & The Law, Vol. 9, No. 4, June 2004.
• "Senior ISBA Women Lawyers Share Law Practice Insights, Wisdom and Humor," The Catalyst, February 2004, Vol. 9,  No. 3, Page 2-3.
• "The Remarkable Life and Times of Alta May Hulett," The Catalyst, February 2004, Vol. 9, No. 3, Page 4.
• "Five Things Every Lawyer Should Know About the Alliance For Women," CBA Record, January 2004, Vol. 18, No. 1, page 39.
• "Insight Into Career Moves by Women Lawyers," The Catalyst, September 2003, Vol. 9, No. 1, page 4-5.
• "Women in Afghanistan," ISBA The Catalyst, Spring, 2002.
• "Women in Need Growing Stronger," ISBA The Catalyst, Fall, 2001.