Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006 
E. Lynn Grayson is a partner in the environmental law firm of Nijman Franzetti LLP in Chicago. She is consistently recognized as a leading environmental lawyer by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who: Environment, Illinois Super Lawyers, and the Leading Lawyers Network. She is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability. Ms. Grayson formerly was a partner and chair of the environmental practice group at the Chicago office of a national law firm, Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois.
She serves as national environmental counsel to corporate law departments for the management of day-to-day environmental compliance and site cleanup challenges. She counsels corporate leadership on material environmental risks and liabilities, advises clients on critical enforcement, regulatory and litigation matters, and serves as lead environmental counsel in complex transactions. Ms. Grayson defends clients in natural resource damage claim matters, manages CERCLA, RCRA, state-led and voluntary private party investigations and remediation, and represents clients in substantive environmental enforcement proceedings including EPCRA, CAA, TSCA, chemical releases, worker safety, and emergency response.
Ms. Grayson served as Co-Chair of the CBA/CBF Task Force on the Sustainable Practice of Law and Innovation. She is a frequent author and speaker on environmental law and policy matters and teaches natural resources law. She received the National Law Journal’s “Energy and Environmental Trailblazer” Award and was recognized twice as Best Lawyers’ Environmental Lawyer of the Year in Chicago.
She is the recipient of the Chicago Bar Association's first Alta May Hulett Award, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois’ Women with Vision Award, the Illinois State Bar Association’s Diversity Leadership Award, and the Best Lawyers’ Women of Influence Award. In 2024, she was recognized with the John Paul Stevens award by the Chicago Bar Association for commitment to integrity and public service in the practice of law. In 2026, she was named to the list of Top 250 Leading Lawyers in Illinois.
Ms. Grayson is the past president of the Chicago Bar Association, one of the oldest and most prestigious urban bar associations in the U.S. She serves as a member of the ABA Center for Bar Leadership, on the Board of Directors of the Geneva Lake Association (President), the Geneva Lake Museum and the Environmental Education Foundation. Ms. Grayson received her J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and her B.A. from Franklin College. She is admitted to the Illinois bar and several federal courts including the Supreme Court of the United States.
