Jim Thompson’s dynamic legal practice spans four decades and focuses on environmental and energy law matters, including seven years as counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and three years as senior counsel reporting directly to the agency’s general counsel on all environmental and energy issues arising in the western half of the United States.

Jim counsels large industries and utilities on a wide range of complex energy and environmental permitting, compliance and project development issues throughout the United States. His work spans matters concerning the siting of natural gas and renewable energy generation and transmission facilities, the acquisition and sale of utility assets and companies through auctions and direct negotiations, and counseling of senior management and general counsel on the management of regulatory risks.

Jim also represents lenders, borrowers, sellers, creditor committees, project developers, investors, project underwriters and portfolio managers on corporate and real estate transactions, including the acquisition and sale of regulated businesses and contaminated real property in the United States and overseas. His knowledge and substantial experience help clients negotiate contractual terms to properly allocate risk and structure business deals to limit and manage liabilities.

Throughout his legal career, Jim has advised several clients on U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission corporate governance issues, and energy companies on the re-evaluation of retained liabilities and reserves to meet Sarbanes-Oxley obligations. Prior to joining the firm, Jim was Of Counsel at Pepper Hamilton. From 2007 to 2012, he was a partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf. From 1996 until 2007, Jim was the chairman of the global Environmental and Health Practice and head of the U.S.-based Climate Change Practice at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae.