Ali Abazari
Experience
- Administrative
- Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)
- Energy Regulation & Governmental Affairs
- Environmental Compliance & Enforcement
- Environmental Due Diligence
- Mining & Reclamation
- Permitting
- Power Generation
- Remediation & Property Redevelopment
- Renewable Energy
- Superfund
- Waste
- Water
Biography
Ali Abazari is a partner with Jackson Walker where he practices environmental law. His practice is focused on environmental permitting and compliance assistance, defense of environmental enforcement actions, and environmental aspects of real estate and corporate transactions. He represents a diverse group of clients including mining companies, energy companies, manufacturers, real estate developers, and utilities with an emphasis on CERCLA, RCRA, CWA, SMCRA, OPA, SDWA, NEPA, and their state counterparts. Over the past 20 years, he has also participated in the drafting and development of environmental laws and regulations at the state and federal levels. He has successfully represented clients in contested case hearings in permitting and enforcement matters before various state agencies. Ali was formerly an attorney in the Litigation Division of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) where he represented TCEQ in administrative enforcement matters, and also provided guidance to the various TCEQ remediation programs, including the petroleum storage tank, corrective action and voluntary cleanup programs.
Education
B.A., University of Texas at Austin
LL.M., Tulane University Law School
J.D., Oklahoma City University School of Law
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Served as counsel to BP America, Inc. at the Unified Area Command Post for the Deepwater Horizon incident
- Secured TPDES wastewater discharge permit in contested case proceeding involving opposition by local governmental bodies and environmental advocacy group
- Defended water district in a complex contested water and sewer rate matter challenging districtâs budget data and cost allocation methodology, among other challenges
- Represented major U.S. energy company in evaluating environmental conditions at several refineries, remediation of the sites, and transfer of assets
Areas of Focus
- Mine and reclamation permitting and compliance
- Obtaining Clean Water Act permits, including NPDES/TPDES permits, and providing compliance counselling
- Multi-media environmental auditing
- Brownfields redevelopment
- Environmental assessment and remediation projects
- Transactional matters involving sale and acquisition of contaminated properties
- Management of environmental risks in business transactions
- Analysis of federal and state environmental reviews, wetland jurisdiction, endangered species, cultural resources, and permitting issues for the siting of new projects
- Water and sewer utility certificates of convenience and necessity (CCN) and rate matters
- Defending environmental enforcement actions before various federal and state agencies, particularly the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Railroad Commission of Texas
- Waste permitting, management and compliance counselling
- Underground Storage Tank compliance and remediation
- Permitting of underground injection disposal wells
- Emerging legislative and regulatory requirements for the management of coal combustion residuals, carbon capture and sequestration, and related matters
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2022-2025
- Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2023-2025
- Environmental Law, 2022-2025
- Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law – Environmental Law, esp. Enforcement, 2023-2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyers – Environmental Law-Enforcement, 2021
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2006-2010
- Speaker, “CCR Rule Update,â 2020 Coal Combustion Residuals Conference (August 10, 2020)
- Co-Author, “U.S. Supreme Court Finds That Clean Water Actâs Permitting Requirements Can Extend to Discharges Through Groundwater,â Jackson Walker Insights (April 24, 2020)
- Author, “EPA Issues Temporary Policy on Enforcement Discretion for Noncompliance Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Jackson Walker Insights (March 31, 2020)
- “The Admissibility of Scientific Expert Witness Testimony in Environmental Litigation,” SETAC Conference (November 2003)
- “Landowner Liability Defense and Funding under Brownfields Act of 2002,” Lloyd Gosselink Seminar (November 2003)
- “Understanding Environmental Enforcement in Texas: Practical Tools for Navigating the TCEQ Process” (March 2004; July 2004; and October 2004)
- “Brownfields RedevelopmentâA Municipal Perspective,” Texas City Attorneys Association Seminar (June 2006)
- “Defending Against Environmental Enforcement Actions and Negotiating Favorable Settlements, Administrative Law in the Environmental Practice,” Austin Bar Association (June 2006)
- “Accommodating Resource Protection Laws in Construction,” Design Law for Texas Architects and Engineers Conference (March 2008)
- “Natural Resources Protection Laws,” Land Law for Civil Engineers and Surveyors (September 2008)
- “State and Federal Site Contamination Law,” Land Law for Civil Engineers and Surveyors (September 2008)
- “Water Law,” Texas Land Law Seminar (May 2009)
- “Handling Your First (or Next) Environmental Law Matter: Finding Your Niche,” Texas Bar Association CLE on Administrative and Civil Enforcement (December 2019)
- State Bar of Texas â Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section
- Austin Bar Association â Administrative Law and Environmental Law Sections
- American Bar Association â Environment, Energy, and Resources Section
May 30, 2025
Newsletters
JW Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter â May 2025
View Jackson Walker’s May 2025 Belonging & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
January 31, 2025
Attorney News
Lawdragon Lists Eight Jackson Walker Partners Among Leading Environmental Lawyers of 2025
Jackson Walker partners Ali Abazari, Leonard Dougal, Taylor Holcomb, Lindsey Moorhead, Michael Nasi, Benjamin Rhem, Daniel Vineyard, and Peter Wahl have once again been recognized among Lawdragonâs list of leading environmental lawyers.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
April 15, 2024
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter â April 2024
View Jackson Walker’s April 2024 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
February 2, 2024
Attorney News
Lawdragon Lists Eight Jackson Walker Partners Among Leading Environmental Lawyers of 2024
According to Lawdragon, “The 2024 Leaders in Environmental Lawâ list features âan amazing collection of attorneys, ranging from wolf advocates, to sustainable finance leaders, experts in greenwashing claims and regulatory gurus who help businesses navigate environmental regulations to successfully develop projects.â
August 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this yearâs guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
April 24, 2023
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter â April 2023
View Jackson Walker’s April 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
February 14, 2023
Attorney News
Lawdragon Lists Five Jackson Walker Attorneys Among Leading Environmental Lawyers
Jackson Walker announces the selection of Ali Abazari, Leonard Dougal, Michael Nasi, Benjamin Rhem, and Daniel Vineyard to “The Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law” list for 2023.
August 18, 2022
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.
Practice Experience
- Served as counsel to BP America, Inc. at the Unified Area Command Post for the Deepwater Horizon incident
- Secured TPDES wastewater discharge permit in contested case proceeding involving opposition by local governmental bodies and environmental advocacy group
- Defended water district in a complex contested water and sewer rate matter challenging districtâs budget data and cost allocation methodology, among other challenges
- Represented major U.S. energy company in evaluating environmental conditions at several refineries, remediation of the sites, and transfer of assets
Areas of Focus
- Mine and reclamation permitting and compliance
- Obtaining Clean Water Act permits, including NPDES/TPDES permits, and providing compliance counselling
- Multi-media environmental auditing
- Brownfields redevelopment
- Environmental assessment and remediation projects
- Transactional matters involving sale and acquisition of contaminated properties
- Management of environmental risks in business transactions
- Analysis of federal and state environmental reviews, wetland jurisdiction, endangered species, cultural resources, and permitting issues for the siting of new projects
- Water and sewer utility certificates of convenience and necessity (CCN) and rate matters
- Defending environmental enforcement actions before various federal and state agencies, particularly the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Railroad Commission of Texas
- Waste permitting, management and compliance counselling
- Underground Storage Tank compliance and remediation
- Permitting of underground injection disposal wells
- Emerging legislative and regulatory requirements for the management of coal combustion residuals, carbon capture and sequestration, and related matters
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2022-2025
- Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2023-2025
- Environmental Law, 2022-2025
- Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law – Environmental Law, esp. Enforcement, 2023-2025
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyers – Environmental Law-Enforcement, 2021
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2006-2010
Publications & Speeches
- Speaker, “CCR Rule Update,â 2020 Coal Combustion Residuals Conference (August 10, 2020)
- Co-Author, “U.S. Supreme Court Finds That Clean Water Actâs Permitting Requirements Can Extend to Discharges Through Groundwater,â Jackson Walker Insights (April 24, 2020)
- Author, “EPA Issues Temporary Policy on Enforcement Discretion for Noncompliance Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Jackson Walker Insights (March 31, 2020)
- “The Admissibility of Scientific Expert Witness Testimony in Environmental Litigation,” SETAC Conference (November 2003)
- “Landowner Liability Defense and Funding under Brownfields Act of 2002,” Lloyd Gosselink Seminar (November 2003)
- “Understanding Environmental Enforcement in Texas: Practical Tools for Navigating the TCEQ Process” (March 2004; July 2004; and October 2004)
- “Brownfields RedevelopmentâA Municipal Perspective,” Texas City Attorneys Association Seminar (June 2006)
- “Defending Against Environmental Enforcement Actions and Negotiating Favorable Settlements, Administrative Law in the Environmental Practice,” Austin Bar Association (June 2006)
- “Accommodating Resource Protection Laws in Construction,” Design Law for Texas Architects and Engineers Conference (March 2008)
- “Natural Resources Protection Laws,” Land Law for Civil Engineers and Surveyors (September 2008)
- “State and Federal Site Contamination Law,” Land Law for Civil Engineers and Surveyors (September 2008)
- “Water Law,” Texas Land Law Seminar (May 2009)
- “Handling Your First (or Next) Environmental Law Matter: Finding Your Niche,” Texas Bar Association CLE on Administrative and Civil Enforcement (December 2019)
Community Involvement
- State Bar of Texas â Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section
- Austin Bar Association â Administrative Law and Environmental Law Sections
- American Bar Association â Environment, Energy, and Resources Section