DALLAS (March 25, 2025) – Holland & Knight welcomes James McGuire as a partner in the Firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group in Dallas. Most recently, Mr. McGuire served as regional counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 6, covering five states and 66 federally recognized Tribes. Mr. McGuire also served as acting deputy general counsel for Environmental Media and Regional Law Offices, the highest career legal role in the EPA.
Mr. McGuire started his legal career in private practice and, in 2011, went to work for the City of Dallas, first serving as senior assistant city attorney and later as the director of the Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability. In that role, he created and led the first comprehensive environmental department with 100 employees in eight divisions and a $14 million budget.
Working closely with the U.S. Department of Justice and state environmental agencies, Mr. McGuire's office regularly led the nation in enforcement under the federal Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, CERCLA (Superfund law) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. While at EPA Region 6, he supervised 80 attorneys and legal professionals in delivering civil and criminal enforcement, multimedia counseling and permitting, defensive litigation, Freedom of Information Act responses and ethics and general law functions under multiple administrations. Additionally, he finalized two of the largest municipal consent decrees in EPA history.
"In addition to having exceptional credentials, James has a distinct mix of experience, having worked on environmental issues in private practice and in local and federal government," said Rich Gold, leader of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group. "James will be an integral part of expanding the depth of our environmental and energy practice to serve the ongoing needs of our clients, including corporate clients who require environmental regulatory counsel on transactional matters and deals in Texas and nationwide. Clients facing complex environmental challenges will be able to rely on his experience and proficiency."
"I'm excited to begin this new chapter in my career, using my deep experience to help our clients navigate and resolve their environmental issues," said Mr. McGuire. "With Holland & Knight's extensive platform and prominent public policy practice, I am confident we are well on the way to building the market-leading environmental law practice in Texas."
Mr. McGuire earned a J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law, an M.S. degree in Geological Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and both B.A. and B.S. degrees from Duke University. He is admitted to practice law in Texas.