William J. Jackson

Bill Jackson is co-chair of the firm’s national Environmental Law practice group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Bill has one of the most sophisticated and successful environmental and natural resource damages litigation practices in the country. For more than two decades, Bill has represented states, port authorities, railroads and energy-sector clients in noteworthy contamination cases that are often valued into the hundreds of millions (and even billions) of dollars at stake. Bill is known and valued as a fierce advocate for his clients and for achieving remarkable results in complex litigation that can involve literally hundreds of parties. His ability to navigate beyond obstacles that seem insurmountable is the reason his client’s turn to him again and again.

Notably, Bill is currently serving as counsel for several states, territories, and private-sector clients in both litigation and administrative actions related to contamination and natural resource damages from Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Previously, Bill was lead counsel for the state of New Jersey in the Passaic River litigation, recovering over $355 million in damages (including $67.5 million for restoration projects) and up to $400 million more in remediation costs, which is the largest settlement of its kind in the state’s history. Bill also represented the state of Louisiana and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office in the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, including leading Jindal Administration efforts to identify and quantify billions of dollars in economic and natural resource damages to the state of Louisiana, all of which were ultimately recovered as part of a $20 billion global settlement, the largest environmental and natural resource damages recovery in history.

Bill’s multi-dimensional understanding of environmental issues, proven and effectual advocacy skills, and complete understanding of the practical and policy impacts environmental regulation has on industrial, commercial and governmental enterprises, enable him to create an approach to environmental litigation that ends in the right result. Bill’s focus is to win either in or out of court in the most cost-effective way possible for his clients. He knows first-hand that environmental litigation can have huge implications to governmental actors, trustee agencies, industry and the impacted communities, and he has unique abilities to bring all parties together and to achieve lasting solutions.

With a demonstrated capacity to successfully prosecute complex environmental litigation, often in tandem with the requisite state and federal administrative processes, Bill has proven time and again that he is able to balance the public and policy needs of his clients. Bill also has extensive skill in representing parties to significant commercial litigation disputes, including suits involving partnership and corporate formation issues, alter ego and de facto merger issues, civil-RICO, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and negligent misrepresentation, tortious interference and breach of contract and indemnity matters. Clients appreciate Bill’s fundamental ability to quickly analyze their case, no matter how daunting or complex, and advise them regarding the most practical and effective course of action.