James R. (“Jim”) Arnold is the principal of The Arnold Law Practice. He has devoted his practice to environmental law and real estate law. Clients retain Jim and other attorneys who associate with The Arnold Law Practice to represent and counsel them in many aspects of “environmental” and “real estate” law including Proposition 65 compliance, soil and groundwater pollution, consumer products, “brownfields,” USTs, air quality, water quality, waste disposal, air emissions, management of hazardous wastes, vapor intrusion, NEPA/CEQA, insurance (both coverage for past pollution and negotiating brownfields insurance), transactions (including leases, purchase and sale agreements, licenses, business acquisitions, loans, roads, historical title, condemnation), and related matters.
Career
Jim was admitted to the California Bar in 1973, and spent the earlier part of his career with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles. He is admitted to the state and federal courts in California, and the Federal Claims Court.
Education
Claremont McKenna College, B.A., Political Science
University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.
Professional Activities
Jim continues to serve in leadership of bar associations and other groups. He writes and teaches environmental law for both lawyers and non-lawyers. He is active in local and national bar associations, including the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Contra Costa County Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the California State Bar, and the American Bar Association (ABA) (Environmental/Energy Law and Litigation Sections). He has chaired the ABA’s Superfund and Hazardous Waste Committee and is a founder of the Environmental Law Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco. He served as Secretary of the ABA’s Section of Environment and is a contributing editor for the column, People on the Move, in the Section’s newsletter, Trends.
Author
“Environmental Law Update-2015,” Real Estate Section, Contra Costa Bar Association (Sept. 2015); “Ethics Issues for Small Law Offices,” Bay Area Lawyers Network (Nov. 2015); “Recent Toxics Issues in Due Diligence and Transactions,” The State Bar of California 30th Annual Real Property Retreat May 11, 2011; Chapter 72, “Hazardous Waste Cleanup and Land Use,” in the treatise, California Environmental Law and Land Use Practice (Lexis); “2010 Update on Environmental Insurance Law,” Environmental Transactions and Brownfields Committee, ABA/SEER, Jan. 2011; Annual Update Programs, Environmental Enforcement and Environmental Ethics, Bar Association of San Francisco, 2003-2007.
Professional Career – Highlights
USDOJ Trial Attorney, Washington, DC 1974-1978; Assistant US Attorney, Los Angeles, 1978-1987; Severson & Werson, 1991-1996; The Arnold Law Practice 1998-present.
Public Service
Member, UST Cleanup Fund Task Force, California Water Resources Control Board (2009-2010); Director, CORE Environmental (2010-2018); Member, Board of Advisors, Roberts Environmental Center, Claremont McKenna College (2008-present); Director/President, East Bay Services to the Developmentally Disabled, Inc. (1991-2009); Lecturer, Environmental Aspects of Real Estate Transactions, American Law Institute-ABA (1988-1998); Chair, Annual RCRA-CERCLA Update program, ABA Section of Environment, Energy & Resources (1988-1998).
