About Michael Gordon

Senior Partner Michael Gordon, has helped to create one of the most active and successful plaintiffs environmental law firms in the State of New Jersey.

Michael Gordon has a vast amount of experience and success in the prosecution of Mass Toxic Tort matters for damages. The DuPont Pompton Lakes matter which was settled for 38.5 million dollars is a classic example of where a plaintiffs environmental trial lawyer can effectively make the difference.

Mr. Gordon has been retained by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to represent the State of New Jersey to effectuate the cleanup of the Passaic River. The selection of Michael Gordon by the State of New Jersey as special environmental counsel is a recognition of the expertise and dedication in the area of environmental law. Michael Gordon was an invited and featured speaker at a Chinese Environmental Lawyers Roundtable at the China University of Law and Politics in Beijing. Professor Wang Canfu who heads the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims (CLAPV) invited Michael. Mr. Wang sought after Mr. Gordon because of his well-known expertise in environmental matters. While in China, Mr. Gordon led off the lawyers roundtable with a presentation entitled: “Twenty Five Years of Environmental Law and Litigation Fighting for People and the Environment: A Personal Journey” which was followed by a two hour discussion on the status of environmental law in China and proposed changes that could result in greater rights for victims

He also has a long and successful history in the use of the Citizen Suit and Environmental Rights Act. He served as local counsel of the Public Interest Research Group and Friends of the Earth in prosecuting the first waive of successful Clean Water Act Citizen Suit litigation. Major corporate defendants were pursued for their habitual violations. Defendants included Monsanto, Tenneco Polymers and American Cyanamid.

Mr. Gordon has been consistently recognized by his peers for his tireless efforts on behalf of the environment and its victims.  Recently, Michael Gordon was honored by the New Jersey General Assembly for being recognized by The New Jersey Work Environmental Council (WEC) for his twenty five years of legal work protecting the environment and communities of New Jersey. The General Assembly Resolution honors and congratulates Mr. Gordon for his meritorious record of service and commitment on behalf of the citizenry and environment of New Jersey.

In addition, the following are some representative awards and recognitions he has received for his litigation efforts:

• Environmental Law
• Gold Medal Association Trial Lawyers of America-NJ for DuPont Litigation 38.5 million dollar settlement
• A.V. Rating by Martindale Hubble,  representing the highest ethical and legal abilities.
• ATLA-NJ Environmental Law Committee Chairman
• Outstanding Achievement for Clean up of 140 Thomas Street from Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste.
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Who’s Who in American Law
• Lecturer 2003 Natural Resource Damages and the Public Trust Doctrine Baykeeper Conference
• Lecturer 2002 New Jersey Judicial College on Environmental Class Actions and Environmental Mass Torts
• Ten Leaders Environmental Law in New Jersey 2004-2005
• Environmental Consultant “West Wing” Award Winning T.V. Show
• Co-lead counsel 7.6 Billion dollar tobacco settlement
• Co-lead counsel 17.5 Million Dollar environmental settlement

In addition to environmental litigation, Michael Gordon has been a driving force in the New Jersey environmental public policy debate. He had been selected to serve by Governor Florio on his Emergency Solid Waste Assessment Task Force as the member brought on to represent the opinions and goals of the communities being decimated and impacted by landfills and incinerations. The task force ended garbage incineration and increased the recycling component of solid waste to the highest of any state in the nation.

He was selected to serve by Governor McGreevey on his Environmental Department Transition team on the Enforcement Subcommittee as well as being invited to participate in the Governor’s Sprawl Summit.

Michael Gordon has been actively advocating, writing, litigating and lecturing on environmental issues and litigation over the last ten years. In the wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, he urged Governor Florio to commence a Natural Resource Damage program within the Department. He has authored a law review article on the need to address the Natural Resource Damages to the Passaic River due to Diamond Shamrocks dioxin contamination. Most recently, he lectured at the NJ/NY Baykeeper Conference on Natural Resource Damages and the Public Trust doctrine.

Complementing his work in Environmental Law has been his constitutional administrative law work. Mr. Gordon represented the 3,000 member ATLA-NJ group in its successful constitutional challenge seeking a public hearing on the JUA insurance freeze. He also has represented environmental groups in their successful effort to secure reasonable time and place ordinances for the canvassing of homes in New Jersey. Finally, the firm represented the NY Times and Village Voice in a first amendment access to judicial information issue as a constitutional right.

View Michael Gordon's C.V.