Mr. Johnson’s practice centers on environmental compliance and litigation, with emphasis on hazardous and toxic substances, air quality regulation, and groundwater contamination.  He has particular experience with Superfund and hazardous waste litigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and its California counterpart, the Hazardous Substance Account Act, as well as related statutory and common law claims.  His practice also extends to environmental compliance and regulation, representing clients before the Environmental Protection Agency, California’s State and Regional Water Boards, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, as well as other related federal, state, and local permitting and regulatory entities.  Mr. Johnson has also overseen and assisted clients with environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), particularly in reviewing the adequacy of environmental assessments and exemptions.

Beyond his environmental practice, Mr. Johnson is part of the firm’s general litigation team, representing both public and private clients.  Mr. Johnson also focuses his practice on appellate law, and has initiated and defended appeals before federal and California courts.

Mr. Johnson is admitted to practice in the State of California and the District of Columbia.  He is also a member of the Environmental Section of the California Bar. He graduated from the University of Kansas with honors in 1994, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Russian, and received his Master of Arts degree in pure mathematics from the University of Southern California in 2000. While at USC, Mr. Johnson served as a student senator and president of the Mathematics Graduate Student Association.

In 2000 Mr. Johnson graduated cum laude from Pepperdine Law School. While at Pepperdine, he served as president of the Environmental Law Society, actively participated in moot court and advocacy competitions, and served on law review. Mr. Johnson also represented President Clinton in Pepperdine’s mock impeachment hearings. He continues to judge moot court competitions at Pepperdine. 

For the past three consecutive years, Mr. Johnson has been honored with selection by his peers as a Southern California Super Lawyer - Rising Star.