James J. Dragna

Environmental litigation, water disputes

Dragna, a prominent environmental litigator, is currently at the center of the legal fallout from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as he heads Bingham McCutchen's coordinating counsel team for non-operating investors in the well, including Anadarko Petroleum Corp., its exploration and production arm and MOEX Offshore 2007. Earlier, Dragna achieved a notable defense victory for client Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and a group of 12 other water contractors against plaintiff Northern California water agency claims of State Water Project violations. After a six-week trial the court ruled that Dragna's clients' interpretation of the contracts at issue were correct. Last year Dragna was co-lead counsel on the team that defended Eastern Municipal Water District in a $300 million breach of contract claim by Riverside County plaintiffs Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook Utility District. A four-week trial ended with a defense verdict.