O’Melveny has added Reza Zarghamee as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office, strengthening the firm’s environmental capabilities across transactions, regulatory matters, investigations, mass torts and major infrastructure-related sectors.
Zarghamee joins O’Melveny’s Project Development & Real Estate Practice and brings more than 20 years of environmental law experience.
His practice spans corporate transactions, financing matters, regulatory compliance, government investigations, enforcement actions and environmental liability issues.
Zarghamee advises clients on environmental compliance audits, remediation strategies and responses to government investigations.
He also represents companies facing enforcement actions and provides environmental due diligence in connection with transactions.
His work includes advising clients on environmental matters arising under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requirements.
Zarghamee also counsels U.S. and international companies on allocating environmental liabilities in complex real estate and corporate transactions.
Those matters include acquisitions, dispositions, greenfield developments and other infrastructure projects.
A significant portion of his practice focuses on chemical regulation and emerging contaminants.
His experience covers federal environmental and product-regulation statutes including the Toxic Substances Control Act, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, along with related state laws.
Zarghamee has also developed a substantial practice involving PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.”
He advises companies on PFAS rulemaking, regulatory advocacy and internal assessments designed to determine potential PFAS exposure.
The issue has become increasingly important for manufacturers, chemical companies and other businesses as regulators examine the production, use, disposal and environmental impact of PFAS substances.
Zarghamee also advises on Extended Producer Responsibility laws affecting plastics and packaging.
He has participated in industry advocacy surrounding EPR requirements, which can impose additional obligations on producers related to the collection, recycling and disposal of packaging and other materials.
His experience is expected to complement several areas of O’Melveny’s practice, particularly work involving chemicals, energy, infrastructure and data centers.
Environmental considerations can play a significant role in transactions and development projects within those industries, spanning permitting, remediation, regulatory compliance and allocation of historical environmental liabilities.
Zarghamee joins O’Melveny from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s Washington office.
At Pillsbury, he was a partner in the Environmental & Natural Resource Practice and co-chaired the firm’s PFAS Task Force.
His arrival continues a broader period of lateral expansion for O’Melveny.
Zarghamee is the 55th lateral partner to join the firm since 2023.
He is also the seventh lateral partner added to O’Melveny’s Project Development & Real Estate Practice since 2020.
The firm sees his combination of transactional, regulatory and litigation-related environmental experience as particularly relevant for clients pursuing complex projects or transactions where environmental risk can affect financing, deal structure and long-term operations.
Zarghamee earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from Columbia University. He also holds a Ph.D. in Ancient History from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are delighted to welcome Reza to O’Melveny and to our growing Project Development & Real Estate team. Reza is a respected environmental lawyer and a trusted corporate adviser with extensive experience and a versatile skillset that will be an immediate asset to our clients, especially those in the chemicals, energy, and infrastructure fields. It is a pleasure to welcome him to our firm.”
Bradley J. Butwin, Chair of O’Melveny
“I’ve long admired O’Melveny from afar, and I’m excited to join the firm and work alongside such a talented group of lawyers. O’Melveny has a premier global platform, a reputation for providing superior client service, and a collegial, collaborative culture that’s second to none. It’s an ideal fit for my clients and my practice.”
Reza Zarghamee, Partner at O’Melveny
