Luis D. Peña-Navarro

Senior Associate

Location
New York
Phone number
(212) 808-7633

Luis Peña-Navarro’s practice focuses on environmental litigation, including representing states and territories in disputes to protect their residents and natural resources from exposure to harmful pollutants. A substantial portion of these cases concern per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) environmental contamination. 

Previously, Luis was part of the Fordham Criminal Defense Clinic and represented clients in New York County Criminal Court. Luis was also a judicial intern for The Honorable Paul A. Crotty in the Southern District of New York.

Served on trial counsel team for the State of New Jersey in prosecuting New Jersey’s case against DuPont for knowingly discharging PFAS and other contamination from DuPont’s Chambers Works site into the waters and environment of New Jersey for decades. Following a month of trial in federal court in Camden, DuPont and related companies agreed to a record-setting settlement with New Jersey valued at $2 billion in remediation, restoration, costs, and damages. On the eve of this trial, 3M settled-out for up to $450 million more in PFAS damages to New Jersey. At $2 billion, DuPont’s settlement with New Jersey is the largest environmental recovery for a single plaintiff – and is one of the largest legal recoveries of any kind – in the history of the country.

Served on team representing the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in litigation in New Jersey Superior Court seeking natural resource damages and related relief for PFAS contamination from a manufacturing plant in West Deptford, New Jersey. The team secured a settlement of approximately $393 million against site owner Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, and has submitted a settlement agreement with prior owner, Arkema, Inc., for nearly $34 million plus a $75 million reserve fund.

Served as Second Chair trial counsel in civil jury trial in the Eastern District of New York representing plaintiff corporation on breach of contract claim. 

Pro Bono

Luis is active within the firm’s pro bono practice, representing a civil rights plaintiff bringing claims for First and Fourth Amendment violations in the Eastern District of Louisiana, alongside the ACLU of Louisiana.