Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016 
Since 1982, Jon Wactor has focused his legal practice on resolving environmental issues affecting real estate developers, landowners, lenders, manufacturers, mining companies, and other stakeholders operating under federal, state, and local environmental programs. He is based in Oakland, California and practices with Wactor Environmental Law Group PC.
Jon has handled the environmental aspects of more than 150 large commercial, industrial, and residential real estate developments across the United States. His work includes addressing matters related to property acquisition, financing and transactions, contamination, wetlands, endangered species, human health considerations, archaeological and historic resources, agency compliance requirements, and environmental insurance issues.
In addition to transactional matters, Jon represents clients in environmental litigation and enforcement actions at the federal, state, and local levels. His practice includes Litigation – Environmental, with experience advising and defending clients in regulatory investigations and contested proceedings. He is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of California and Arizona, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
From 1982 through 1989, Jon served as an Enforcement Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arizona. He has authored numerous professional articles on environmental law topics and frequently speaks at environmental and real estate industry conferences.
Jon has received professional recognition from American Lawyer’s The San Francisco Recorder for his work on contaminated property redevelopment matters, as well as inclusion in Outstanding Lawyers of America and Who’s Who in American Law. He holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Jon previously served on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California Environmental Law Section from 2001 to 2004 and was Chair of the San Francisco Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section in 1999 and 2000.
