Granta Y. Nakayama

Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Washington, DC

Granta Nakayama served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance from 2005 through 2009. At the Agency, Granta led the national enforcement and compliance program for all media (air, water, waste, toxic chemicals, pesticides). During Granta’s tenure EPA achieved record annual pollutant reductions (more than three billion pounds) and injunctive relief (more than $11 billion).

Granta also brings more than a decade of experience as a practicing engineer and technical manager to Kirkland’s environmental and energy practice. Granta represents companies whose products or services are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (either under the Clean Air Act or other federal statutes), the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and State government agencies, such as the California Air Resources Board. Granta’s work includes the defense of enforcement actions, other litigation involving regulations and rate proceedings, and the representation of clients in agency rulemakings and Congressional matters.

Granta was selected as a “leading lawyer” in the 2012 edition of the Legal 500 U.S. for his work in Environmental: Litigation. He has been recognized in the publication every year since 2010. He was also listed in 2012 Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Granta was recruited into the U.S. Navy’s nuclear propulsion program by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover after graduating from M.I.T. and served for more than a decade as an engineer and manager responsible for quality control. In this position, he supervised manufacturing operations at Navy contractors, designed reactors for nuclear attack submarines, and successfully handled the construction of the SSN 21 (Seawolf) prototype reactor. Granta holds an S.B and S.M from M.I.T., and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law.