James E Smith

James (Jim) Smith is a shareholder at Crain Caton & James whose practice focuses on environmental and natural resources law, including contested administrative proceedings, civil and criminal enforcement defense, and appellate litigation. He has represented clients before the EPA, OSHA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and the Railroad Commission of Texas.

Smith’s litigation experience spans air quality, water quality, hazardous and solid waste, wetlands, PFAS, and Superfund matters under state and federal law. He has successfully defended corporations in environmental criminal trials, obtained dismissal of criminal charges on constitutional grounds, and negotiated supplemental environmental projects in enforcement resolutions. His appellate record includes oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Supreme Court of Texas.

Beyond environmental law, Smith has served as lead trial counsel in construction disputes for clients in petroleum refining, chemical, and electric generation industries. A licensed chemical engineer, he is also registered before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and handles patent prosecution and IP disputes in the energy sector.

Recognized in Chambers USA for Environmental Litigation since 2005, Texas Super Lawyers since 2003, and Best Lawyers in America since 1995.