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Nathan D. Dupes

Member,Detroit

T 313-393-7590F 313-393-7579313-393-7590

Languages
  • Spanish
Education
  • Wayne State University Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • University of Michigan, B.A., with Highest Distinction
Admissions
  • Michigan
Overview

Mr. Dupes represents clients involved in complex commercial litigation and environmental law matters. He is the Co-Chair of Bodman’s Environmental Practice Group.

In addition to representing clients involved in environmental litigation, he counsels clients on a wide variety of other issues, including permitting, regulatory compliance, and environmental risk arising from real estate transactions. He has particular expertise in chemical regulatory law and regularly advises clients on the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Controlled Substances Act, REACH, and other related statutes and regulations.

Mr. Dupes has also been involved in some of the firm’s largest and most complex litigation matters. He has successfully represented clients nationally and internationally in both court and arbitration proceedings, in a wide range of industries, including automotive, IT, health care, energy, manufacturing, and sports entertainment. He has particular expertise in litigation matters involving supply and distribution relationships.

He frequently represents municipal clients in environmental matters and related litigation and counsels municipal boards and planning commissions on environmental compliance. He has represented both property owners and municipal governments in tax appeals before the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

Mr. Dupes is very active in bar activities and non-profit and community-service organizations. He currently serves as Executive Board Member of the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter. He also currently serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center. He is a past Vice President of the Grosse Pointe Newcomers Club.

Mr. Dupes is listed as a “Future Star” and as a member of the “40 & Under Hot List” in Benchmark Litigation 2024. He is listed as a 2024 “Top Lawyer” in Environmental Law by DBusiness Magazine, in Michigan Rising Stars 2023 under Business Litigation, and in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2023 under Commercial Litigation.

Honors, Awards, and Recognition
  • The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 2021-2023, Commercial Litigation
  • DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyers” 2018-2024, Arbitration; Environmental Law
  • Benchmark Litigation 2017-2024, “Future Star”
  • Benchmark Litigation 2017-2024, “40 & Under Hot List”
  • Michigan Rising Stars 2018-2023, Business Litigation
Civic, Cultural, and Community Activities
  • Federal Bar Association
    • Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, Executive Board Member
    • Environmental Committee, Co-Chair
  • Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, Vice President and Treasurer
  • Grosse Pointe Newcomers Club, past Vice President
Publications
  • Co-Author (with Erica Shell) “Survey of Michigan Environmental Cases for the Period May 2021 through June 2022,” Wayne Law Review (Vol. 68, No. 3, Spring 2023)
  • Author, “Survey of Michigan Environmental Cases for the Period May 31, 2018 Through June 1, 2019,” 65 Wayne L. Rev. 573 (2020)
  • Co-Author (with Joseph T. Muzingo), “Attacking the Massive ESI Project on Two Fronts,” In-House Defense Quarterly (Winter 2019)
  • Author, “Managing the Outsourced Document Review Project,” The Business Suit (DRI Commercial Litigation Committee newsletter), August 2017
  • Co-Author, Supplementary Teacher’s Manual: Environmental Law & Policy: Nature, Law & Society, (4th Ed. 2010).
Speaking Engagements

 

Representative Matters
Recent Environmental matters include:
  • Counseled chemical formulator and automotive clients on the recent amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act and assist with various submissions to the EPA under that statute, including pre-manufacture notices, low volume exemptions, and reporting under the Inventory Reset rule.
  • Assisted paper manufacturer obtain permits for multiple plants under federal and state air and water pollution control laws.
  • Counseled clients on managing environmental risk in real estate and M&A transactions, including advice on CERCLA and Michigan’s Part 201 statute.
  • Represented a municipality in a long-running environmental litigation involving remediation of a large plume of 1,4-dioxane contamination in the groundwater under the municipality and neighboring communities.
  • Represented a cement manufacturer in a petition filed in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals for review of an EPA rule under the Clean Air Act.
Recent Commercial Litigation matters include:
  • Represented manufacturer in an international arbitration proceeding in London involving the respondents’ failure to honor a multiyear distribution agreement to purchase mining equipment.
  • Represented automobile manufacturer in litigation over termination of distribution relationship for the sale of products in Greece.
  • Represented professional football team in litigation brought by a former NFL prospect seeking millions of dollars for alleged injuries and a lost NFL career.  
  • Represented IT services provider in litigation against former employee for violation of confidentiality and non-compete obligations.
  • Represented energy company and officers in an arbitration involving numerous claims and millions of dollars in alleged damages arising out of an investment in a storage facility.
Recent Municipal matters include:
  • Represent City of Ann Arbor on other miscellaneous environmental law matters/counseling.
  • Represent Ann Arbor Township in zoning/environmental litigation against mining company.
  • Formerly served as assistant city attorney for Grosse Pointe Park. Involved prosecution, FOIA work, ordinance review and revisions, litigation defending the City.

 

Practices & Industries Education
  • Wayne State University Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • University of Michigan, B.A., with Highest Distinction
Admissions
  • Michigan