E. Lynn Grayson

E. Lynn Grayson is a partner in the environmental law firm of Nijman•Franzetti LLP in Chicago. She is consistently recognized as a leading environmental lawyer by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, Illinois Super Lawyers and the Leading Lawyers Network. She is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability.

Ms. Grayson was formerly a partner and chair of the environmental practice group at the Chicago office of a national law firm. She has served as the Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency and the State Emergency Response Commission. She also has prosecuted federal and state environmental cases as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois.

A significant portion of her practice is dedicated to serving as national environmental counsel supporting corporate law departments with the development of environmental strategies and management of day-to-day environmental compliance challenges and cleanup obligations. She counsels corporate leadership on material environmental risks and liabilities, advises clients on critical enforcement, regulatory and litigation matters, and serves as lead counsel in U.S. and international transactions. Ms. Grayson defends clients in natural resource damage matters, manages all aspects of site cleanups including CERCLA, RCRA, state-led and voluntary private party investigations, and represents clients in substantive environmental enforcement proceedings including those related to air, chemical use, and worker health and safety issues.

Ms. Grayson served on the Board of Directors of the DC-based Environmental Law Institute.  She is a frequent author and speaker on environmental law and policy matters. Ms. Grayson teaches Natural Resource Law as Adjunct Faculty. She received the City of Chicago Recognition Award for Service to the Environmental Community and was recognized as Chicago’s Best Lawyers Environmental Lawyer of the Year in 2021.

For her work to promote diversity in the in the legal profession, she is the recipient of the Chicago Bar Association’s Alta May Hulett Award, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois’ Women with Vision Award, the Illinois State Bar Association’s Diversity Leadership Award and the Best Lawyers‘ Women of Influence Award.

In 2022, she served as the President of the Chicago Bar Association and continues to serve on its Board and Executive Committee. She served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Bar Foundation and served as Co-Chair of the CBA/CBF Task Force on the Sustainable Practice of Law and Innovation. Ms. Grayson serves on the Board of Trustees of Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana, the Board of Directors of the Catholic Lawyers Guild  of Chicago,  Geneva Lake Museum (Secretary), and Geneva Lake Association (Vice-President).

Ms. Grayson received her J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law and her B.A. from Franklin College. She is admitted to the Illinois bar as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.