Lucas J. Narducci, Partner at our Phoenix law office
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Lucas J. Narducci

Partner
Biography

Lucas Narducci has more than 27 years of experience in environmental and natural resources law. Luke regularly guides clients through administrative hearings, litigation, and other forms of dispute resolution, striving to protect their assets and keep their business goals in mind. He has extensive experience in acquisitions, divestments, expansions, mergers, ventures, operational compliance, employee workspace safety, work place and third-party toxic exposures, audits, risk reductions and control methods. He also advises on policy and legislative developments that affect or could impact his clients and their businesses. He has been a lead counsel in the divestment, acquisition, operation, curtailment, reclamation and closure of several copper, gold, coal, and uranium mines.

Luke’s practice has taken him across the United States, as well as to Canada, Mexico, and several countries in South America. He participates in many significant business, industry and manufacturing associations in order to advance the interests of those associations and his clients, and to influence rulemaking, regulatory, policy and legislative processes.

Luke has extensive experience under all significant and some less recognized federal and state permitting and environmental assessment processes working with the government agencies and regulators to achieve client goals.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona
  • United States Supreme Court


Education

  • University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (J.D., with distinction)
  • University of Arizona (B.A.)
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation (2007-2025), Natural Resources Law (2020-2025)
  • Southwest Super Lawyers®, Energy & Natural Resources (2012-2022, 2024)
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business®, Environmental (including water rights) (2006-2018, 2022-2024), Energy & Natural Resources (2019-2021)
  • Michael J. Brophy Distinguished Service Award, Arizona State Bar Environmental and Natural Resource Law Section (2015)
  • Advocate of the Year Award, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Arizona Manufacturers Council
  • Arizona’s Top Lawyers, Environmental Law, Arizona Business Magazine (2009, 2013-2014)

Representative Matters

  • Representation of a major groundwater claimant in the Gila River adjudication in which the delineation between surface water and groundwater is essential in determining the water rights and maintaining historic uses of the water
  • Representation regarding assessing natural resource damages (NRD) claims in various states represented by various trustees
  • Representation regarding the restart of operations of an open pit copper mine and mill after years of curtailment of operations including every labor, operational, regulatory permitting and licensing aspect of the project
  • Representation regarding defense of Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA) cost recovery and contribution claims brought by the U.S. EPA through administrative action, involving allegations of contribution to historical radioactive contamination on U.S. Native American lands
  • Representation of Arizona city in several cross-border contamination and remediation issues
  • Representation of a railroad company in a CERCLA cost recovery action in federal court resulting in a summary judgment
  • Representation of an international sporting goods manufacturer in the development and implementation of its ISO 14001 environmental management systems plans
  • Representation of U.S. Native American tribes regarding industrial and commercial development on tribal lands, development of environmental rules and regulations for tribal lands, and defense of claims brought against a tribe under the Oil Pollution Act
  • Representation of a national manufacturing company in development and implementation of an all facilities audit to assess and correct environmental conditions and address the same with the U.S. EPA
  • Representation of several industrial clients in various states regarding multi-party and class actions for toxic tort and environmental contamination cases, involving insurance companies, property damage, chemical exposures, personal injury and water contamination
  • Representation of a municipality in the defense of citizen suits under RCRA arising out of the breach of a municipal landfill located on tribal lands
  • Representation and involvement with many industry and manufacturing associations in the development of environmental regulations and legislation supportive of businesses in many states in the U.S.
  • Representation of a railroad company on its national panel concerning remediation and sustainability
  • Representation regarding the day-to-day legal matters of an operating open pit copper mine in Arizona
  • Representation regarding the closure and reclamation of historical uranium mines and mills in Utah and New Mexico
  • Representation regarding the curtailment, cessation and closure of an open pit and underground mine, as well as mill operations, solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW), and closure of a copper smelter in Arizona
  • Representation regarding the first multiagency investigation of a large coal mine

Previous Professional Experience

  • Polsinelli PC, Shareholder
  • Bryan Cave LLP, Partner

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • American Bar Association
    • Environment, Energy & Resources Section
  • Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
    • Board of Directors
  • Arizona Manufacturers Council
    • Board of Directors, Member at Large
    • Environment Committee, Co-Chair
      • Air Quality Subcommittee
  • Arizona Mining & Industry Get Our Support (AMIGOS)
  • Arizona Mining Association
    • Executive Committee
    • Board of Directors
  • Chandler Chamber of Commerce
  • East Valley Partnership, Member at Large
  • Maricopa County Air Quality Department’s Clean Air Council
  • National Mining Association
  • Northwest Mining Association
  • Pinal Partnership, Member at Large
  • Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
  • Tempe Chamber of Commerce

Community Involvement

  • Arizona State Board of Education, President (2018-Present)

Representative Presentations and Publications