Bob Graham is a nationally recognized authority on environmental, health, safety, natural resources, and energy matters. He literally helped write the book on these issues, co-authoring an environmental law textbook that is used in many of the nation’s law schools. He founded the firm’s Environmental and Workplace Health and Safety Practice, which Chambers has praised for being “sought out for its advice on transactional and compliance-related matters, including environmental health and safety issues.”
In addition to Bob’s environmental focus, his experience also includes advising clients on contractual and business tort disputes, RICO and fraud litigation, securities litigation, civil rights matters, and class action litigation. He has represented clients in trial, regulatory, and transactional settings. He has handled numerous appeals before the US Supreme Court and state and federal appellate courts.
Bob is a sought-after thought leader whose contributions include serving on the boards of the Environmental Law Institute, the Northwestern Center on Wrongful Convictions, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Shepard's Environmental Liability in Commercial Transactions Reporter, and the Institute for Psychoanalysis. He has taught environmental law at Northwestern University School of Law and Loyola University School of Law and, for 15 years, was a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Civil Pattern Jury Instructions. He is also a former Managing Partner of Jenner & Block.
Representative Matters
- Served as lead environmental counsel for the Milwaukee Road Railroad concerning a Superfund industrial site located in Wisconsin.
- Served as lead environmental counsel in the bankruptcy and reorganization of General Motors Corp.
- Served as lead environmental counsel in environmental insurance litigation brought by People’s Energy.
- Represented a group of Illinois farmers opposing the licensing and location of a neighboring industrial facility anticipated to cause significant air and water pollution.
- Represented a class of Hispanic residents in federal court who suffered housing discrimination and the denial of their civil rights in Addison, Illinois arising from governmental restrictions imposed by the Village upon their rights to access public housing.
- Represented a major manufacturer in the federal courts, including the US Supreme Court, concerning the US Postal Service’s attempt to ban the mailing of advertising promoting contraceptive products.
- Represented the Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church in the Illinois courts and the US Supreme Court concerning its First Amendment right to defrock a church bishop.
- Represented numerous defendants in federal and state criminal trials on charges involving criminal fraud, murder, robbery, and other alleged crimes;
- Served as lead trial and appellate counsel for computer software companies protecting their proprietary rights and trade secrets in the federal courts.
- Represented the Trustee in bankruptcy in federal court in obtaining a judgment of $272 million against corporate officers who breached their contractual obligations in their efforts to construct a casino in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
Bob Graham is a nationally recognized authority on environmental, health, safety, natural resources, and energy matters. He literally helped write the book on these issues, co-authoring an environmental law textbook that is used in many of the nation’s law schools. He founded the firm’s Environmental and Workplace Health and Safety Practice, which Chambers has praised for being “sought out for its advice on transactional and compliance-related matters, including environmental health and safety issues.”
In addition to Bob’s environmental focus, his experience also includes advising clients on contractual and business tort disputes, RICO and fraud litigation, securities litigation, civil rights matters, and class action litigation. He has represented clients in trial, regulatory, and transactional settings. He has handled numerous appeals before the US Supreme Court and state and federal appellate courts.
Bob is a sought-after thought leader whose contributions include serving on the boards of the Environmental Law Institute, the Northwestern Center on Wrongful Convictions, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Shepard's Environmental Liability in Commercial Transactions Reporter, and the Institute for Psychoanalysis. He has taught environmental law at Northwestern University School of Law and Loyola University School of Law and, for 15 years, was a member of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Civil Pattern Jury Instructions. He is also a former Managing Partner of Jenner & Block.
Areas of Focus
Representative Matters
- Served as lead environmental counsel for the Milwaukee Road Railroad concerning a Superfund industrial site located in Wisconsin.
- Served as lead environmental counsel in the bankruptcy and reorganization of General Motors Corp.
- Served as lead environmental counsel in environmental insurance litigation brought by People’s Energy.
- Represented a group of Illinois farmers opposing the licensing and location of a neighboring industrial facility anticipated to cause significant air and water pollution.
- Represented a class of Hispanic residents in federal court who suffered housing discrimination and the denial of their civil rights in Addison, Illinois arising from governmental restrictions imposed by the Village upon their rights to access public housing.
- Represented a major manufacturer in the federal courts, including the US Supreme Court, concerning the US Postal Service’s attempt to ban the mailing of advertising promoting contraceptive products.
- Represented the Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church in the Illinois courts and the US Supreme Court concerning its First Amendment right to defrock a church bishop.
- Represented numerous defendants in federal and state criminal trials on charges involving criminal fraud, murder, robbery, and other alleged crimes;
- Served as lead trial and appellate counsel for computer software companies protecting their proprietary rights and trade secrets in the federal courts.
- Represented the Trustee in bankruptcy in federal court in obtaining a judgment of $272 million against corporate officers who breached their contractual obligations in their efforts to construct a casino in Schaumburg, Illinois.
Credentials
Admissions
- Illinois, 1972
Education
- Harvard Law School, JD, 1972
Research Assistant to Professors Charles Fried and Derrick Bell - University of Michigan, BA, with highest distinction; James B. Angell Scholar; Phi Beta Kappa, 1969
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court, 1976
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1998
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1993
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1973
- US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, 1973
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 1983
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1972
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan, 1994
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1992
Service / Recognition
Awards
- American Constitution Society Chicago Chapter, Abner J. Mikva Award, 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, 2014-2019, 2021-2022, 2024, 2026
- Chambers USA, Environment: Mainly Transactional, Illinois, 2006-2019
- Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, Commitment to Justice and Community Service Award, 2006
- Crain's Who's Who in Chicago Business, 2002-2008
- Harvard Law School Society of Illinois, Role Model Award, 2010
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005-2022, Environmental/Land Use, and Environmental Law
- Jenner & Block Robert L. Graham Mentor Award, 2017
- Leading Lawyers Network, Leading Business Lawyer, 2004, 2007; Environmental Law, 2004-2019; Top 100 Real Estate-related Lawyers in Illinois, 2009; Top 10 Leading Environmental Lawyers in Illinois, 2015-2017
- League of Women Voters, Citizen of Action Award, 2008
- Legal 500, Illinois, Transactions and Finance, 2008; Real Estate and Construction, Illinois, 2009
- Who's Who Legal Illinois, Environment, 2007-2010
Community
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Law, 1973-1978
- Northwestern University School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Law, 1990-2000, 2005, 2014-2019
- Environmental Law and Policy Center, Chair, Board of Directors, 1998-present; Co-Founder and Board Member, 1993-present; Recipient of Founders Award, 2013
- Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, Chair, 2016-2021
- Illinois Chess Association, Board Member, 2017-2021
Service to the Bar
- Environmental Law Institute, Member, Board of Directors, 2006-2011
- Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Civil Pattern Jury Instructions, Associate Member and Member, 1981-1996
- Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Trustee, 2005-present
- Fund for Justice, Chairperson, 1987; Member, Board of Governors, 1979-1986, 1988-2000
- American Bar Association - Commission on the Renaissance of Idealism in the Legal Profession, Member, 2005-2006
- American Law Institute, 1995-present
- Chicago Appleseed Fund For Justice, Board Member, 2000-2014
- Chicago Council of Lawyers, President, 1979-1981; Member, Board of Directors, 1977-1979 and 1982-1985