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T(213) 955-5548

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Education

  • J.D., Loyola Law School

  • B.A., cum laude, California State University, Long Beach

Bar Admissions

  • California

Services

  • Environmental & Natural Resources

  • Commercial Real Estate Transactions

Industries

  • Technology

  • Real Estate

John J. Allen

Partner

John's roots in environmental law run deep. For more than 30 years, he has represented and counseled commercial and industrial firms, retailers, and real estate developers, buyers, and sellers regarding federal and local regulations related to air, water, and waste for corporations. He is an experienced advisor, whether dealing with “very dirty” dirt in real estate deals or advising or defending clients regarding permitting and permit modifications, variances, and compliance associated with their industrial processes.

John maintains exceptional relationships in the regulatory community, working with the federal, state, and regional environmental agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Boards, or the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the various air pollution control districts and city and county environmental agencies.

Client-Centered Counsel

With over a dozen years as an in-house environmental attorney, including nearly a decade at one of the largest international environmental engineering and consulting firms, John works from the client’s point of view. His long-standing relationships with engineers, scientists, geologists, and other environmental consultants facilitate John’s ability to coordinate the expertise needed to meet project requirements and ensure that clients receive qualified, comprehensive counsel, strategy, and results.

Commercial Industrial

A significant portion of John’s experience involves the complexities of environmental regulations for industrial manufacturers emitting contaminants to the air, generating waste, and discharging that waste into water sources. He assists in obtaining, renewing, and modifying permits from regional boards and helps enterprises create compliance strategies for existing permits related to air, water, and waste.

John’s work has helped numerous manufacturing facilities with extremely complicated contamination issues and has handled landfill liabilities and clean-up projects for many others. He employs his considerable know-how in dealing with regulatory agencies and their processes to negotiate settlements and appears at administrative hearings to present his clients’ cases before enforcement tribunals.

Real Estate

Clients receive straightforward counsel where environmental concerns may be associated with the sale, purchase, or development of commercial properties. While many of his clients are located in California, his work often extends nationwide to environmental issues associated with real estate located in other jurisdictions, including New Jersey, Texas, Washington State, Georgia, and others.

For buyers looking to avoid environmental liabilities, John keeps his buyer clients' end-use development needs and business objectives at the forefront and employs risk management strategies developed over years of practice. Employing his decades of experience in all aspects of environmental law can mean the difference between walking away from an opportunity or being able to close on the deal with appropriate and adequate protections.

For sellers looking to pass liabilities forward, he has negotiated relief or limitation from government agencies, helped them obtain insurance coverage, and has drafted indemnity language to protect the seller, yet still be acceptable for the prospective buyer.

For commercial clients and residential property managers, in addition to addressing air, water, and waste issues and concerns, John often has a role in dealing with worker health and safety under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). In particular, he has considerable experience regarding potential liability claims for preexisting conditions, including with respect to the existence and impact of asbestos, lead-based paint, and mold.

Retail

John assists large state-wide and national retailers in cross-cutting environmental issues affecting the development and operation of stores, distribution centers, and supplier channels. With decades of retail sector-specific subject matter experience across air, water, and waste matters, he offers retailers insight and guidance in managing their environmental responsibilities. He represents them in responding to enforcement actions and in defending their products, policies, and procedures before agencies, administrative bodies, and courts.

A significant portion of John’s practice in California involves Proposition 65 compliance counseling and the defense of private enforcement actions alleging failure to provide clean and reasonable warnings with respect to chemicals in products they manufacture and sell or manufacturing processes that are known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.

He also advises retail clients and their suppliers on a range of environmental regulations applicable to their products, including with respect to packaging, labeling, and management of product returns, logistics, and recalls, as well as regulations involving their facilities, including permitting for backup generators and refrigerants or management of stormwater runoff.

Accolades

  • Selected for inclusion in the Southern California Super Lawyers (2004-2022)
  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America (2013-2025)

Client-Centered Counsel

With over a dozen years as an in-house environmental attorney, including nearly a decade at one of the largest international environmental engineering and consulting firms, John works from the client’s point of view. His long-standing relationships with engineers, scientists, geologists, and other environmental consultants facilitate John’s ability to coordinate the expertise needed to meet project requirements and ensure that clients receive qualified, comprehensive counsel, strategy, and results.

Commercial Industrial

A significant portion of John’s experience involves the complexities of environmental regulations for industrial manufacturers emitting contaminants to the air, generating waste, and discharging that waste into water sources. He assists in obtaining, renewing, and modifying permits from regional boards and helps enterprises create compliance strategies for existing permits related to air, water, and waste.

John’s work has helped numerous manufacturing facilities with extremely complicated contamination issues and has handled landfill liabilities and clean-up projects for many others. He employs his considerable know-how in dealing with regulatory agencies and their processes to negotiate settlements and appears at administrative hearings to present his clients’ cases before enforcement tribunals.

Real Estate

Clients receive straightforward counsel where environmental concerns may be associated with the sale, purchase, or development of commercial properties. While many of his clients are located in California, his work often extends nationwide to environmental issues associated with real estate located in other jurisdictions, including New Jersey, Texas, Washington State, Georgia, and others.

For buyers looking to avoid environmental liabilities, John keeps his buyer clients' end-use development needs and business objectives at the forefront and employs risk management strategies developed over years of practice. Employing his decades of experience in all aspects of environmental law can mean the difference between walking away from an opportunity or being able to close on the deal with appropriate and adequate protections.

For sellers looking to pass liabilities forward, he has negotiated relief or limitation from government agencies, helped them obtain insurance coverage, and has drafted indemnity language to protect the seller, yet still be acceptable for the prospective buyer.

For commercial clients and residential property managers, in addition to addressing air, water, and waste issues and concerns, John often has a role in dealing with worker health and safety under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). In particular, he has considerable experience regarding potential liability claims for preexisting conditions, including with respect to the existence and impact of asbestos, lead-based paint, and mold.

Retail

John assists large state-wide and national retailers in cross-cutting environmental issues affecting the development and operation of stores, distribution centers, and supplier channels. With decades of retail sector-specific subject matter experience across air, water, and waste matters, he offers retailers insight and guidance in managing their environmental responsibilities. He represents them in responding to enforcement actions and in defending their products, policies, and procedures before agencies, administrative bodies, and courts.

A significant portion of John’s practice in California involves Proposition 65 compliance counseling and the defense of private enforcement actions alleging failure to provide clean and reasonable warnings with respect to chemicals in products they manufacture and sell or manufacturing processes that are known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.

He also advises retail clients and their suppliers on a range of environmental regulations applicable to their products, including with respect to packaging, labeling, and management of product returns, logistics, and recalls, as well as regulations involving their facilities, including permitting for backup generators and refrigerants or management of stormwater runoff.

Accolades

  • Selected for inclusion in the Southern California Super Lawyers (2004-2022)
  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America (2013-2025)
  • 64 Allen Matkins Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in America®

    Press Release

    8.15.24

  • 38 Allen Matkins Partners Recognized in 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®; Keith Bishop, Jeff Chine, and Val Hoy Named ‘Lawyers of the Year’; 16 Additional Lawyers Named to ‘Ones to Watch’ List

    Press Release

    8.17.23

  • 40 Allen Matkins Partners Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®; Dwight Armstrong, Jeff Chine, Val Hoy, and Sandi Nichols Named ‘Lawyers of the Year’; 13 Additional Attorneys Named to ‘Ones to Watch’ List; Firm Receives National Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    8.19.22

  • 33 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    Press Release

    7.08.22

  • Thirty-Six Allen Matkins Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®; David Cooke Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’; Emily Feder Named to ‘Ones to Watch’; Firm Receives National Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    11.04.21

  • Thirty Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    Press Release

    7.14.21

  • Thirty-One Allen Matkins Partners Recognized in 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®; Keith Bishop and Jeffrey Chine named 'Lawyers of the Year'; Derek Weisbender named to 'Ones to Watch'; Firm Receives National Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    11.05.20

  • Thirty-One Allen Matkins Partners Recognized in 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®; Firm Receives National Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    8.15.19

  • Thirty-Eight Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    Press Release

    6.26.19

  • New Proposition 65 Regulation Intended to Assist Residential Rental Property Owners Offers a Mixed Bag

    4.24.19

  • Online Wine Yes, Coffee No: Scrambling to Keep up With California’s New Prop. 65 Toxic Warnings

    John J. Allen in CALmatters

    Press Mention

    3.22.19

  • Businesses Required to Post Prop 65 Warnings for Two New Chemicals

    11.14.18

  • Thirty-Two Allen Matkins Partners Named to 2019 The Best Lawyers in America®; Dwight Armstrong and Valentine Hoy Named "Lawyers of the Year"; Firm Receives National Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    11.01.18

  • Prop 65 Means Re-Evaluating Existing Signage

    John J. Allen  in GlobeSt

    Press Mention

    7.18.18

  • Forty-One Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    Press Release

    7.16.18

  • Are You Ready for the New Prop 65 Warnings? What Commercial Property Owners and Businesses Need to Understand to Be Prepared

    6.20.18

  • Thirty-Four Allen Matkins Partners Named to 2018 The Best Lawyers in America®; Armstrong, Bishop, Chine, Hoy and Nichols Named "Lawyers of the Year"; Firm Receives National Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    11.01.17

  • 44 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2017 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    Press Release

    7.07.17

  • Thirty-Four Allen Matkins Partners Named to 2017 Best Lawyers in America®; Michael Ryan Named "Lawyer of the Year"; Firm Receives Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    8.15.16

  • Fifty Allen Matkins Attorneys Named 2016 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    Press Release

    7.08.16

  • Thirty-Two Allen Matkins Partners Named to 2016 Best Lawyers in America®; Osias and Wintersheimer Named "Lawyers of the Year"; Firm Receives Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    8.18.15

  • 56 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among 2015 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    Nine Allen Matkins attorneys received special honors in their respective regions.

    Press Release

    6.26.15

  • Thirty-One Allen Matkins Partners Named to 2015 Best Lawyers in America®; Bishop and Hoy Named "Lawyers of the Year"; Firm Receives Tier 1 Rankings

    Press Release

    11.03.14

  • 55 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2014

    Press Release

    7.03.14

  • Thirty-One Allen Matkins Partners Named to 2014 Best Lawyers in America®; Armstrong and Chine Named "Lawyers of the Year"; Firm Receives Tier 1 Rankings

    Article

    8.15.13

  • 60 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers 2013 and Rising Stars 2013

    Press Release

    7.11.13

  • Thirty-Four Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America®

    Press Release

    8.23.12

  • 61 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers 2012 and Rising Stars 2012

    More Than 40 Percent of Firm's Partners Make the List

    Press Release

    7.19.12

  • Allen Matkins Attorneys Named in 2012 Edition of The Best Lawyers In America®

    Press Release

    9.19.11

  • 60 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers 2011 and Rising Stars 2011

    Press Release

    7.27.11

  • 63 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers 2010 and Rising Stars 2010

    Press Release

    7.19.10

  • Cadmium Levels in Consumer Products Scrutinized

    The information in this alert affects manufacturers and distributors of consumer products.

    2.19.10

  • 57 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers 2009 and Rising Stars 2009

    Press Release

    7.14.09

  • Commercial Real Estate Grapples With Going Green in Recession

    John J. Allen in the California Real Estate Journal

    Press Mention

    1.26.09

  • 44 Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers 2008 and Rising Stars 2008

    Press Release

    8.13.08

  • Allen Matkins Attorneys Named Among Super Lawyers

    Press Mention

    9.17.07

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