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John P. Gardella

Shareholder and Chair of Complex Litigation

(617) 279-8225
jgardella@cmbg3.com
Boston, MA
John Gardella

Overview

John Gardella is a Shareholder and nationally recognized thought leader at CMBG³ Law, licensed to practice in Massachusetts and Tennessee. He chairs the firm’s Emerging Markets Practice which includes PFAS, Environmental, Employment, Commercial Disputes and General Litigation practice areas— areas where legal mastery, scientific depth, and business foresight converge.

Accreditations

Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Tennessee
  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Education

  • 2000: Vanderbilt University, magna cum laude, B.A. Economics, minor Japanese
  • 2003: Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D. (Associate Editor of the Vanderbilt Transnational Law Journal)

Honors

  • 2020-2021: Only attorney in the country named a National Thought Leader on PFAS by the National Law Review
  • 2017 - 2021: Selected to Super Lawyers:
  • Rated “AV-Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, signifying the highest level of legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication ability
  • 2016: including.  Only 2.5% of the attorneys in Massachusetts are selected as “Rising Star” Super Lawyers., Named to the “Rising Stars” list in New England Super Lawyers for five years

Speaking Engagements

  • 2026: 2026 PFAS Conference, ACI (May 20-21, 2026)
  • 2026: PFAS Litigation and Regulatory Developments Conference, Perrin (May 17, 2026)
  • 2026: PFAS Webinar, Strafford (April 7, 2026)
  • 2026: Cosmetics Conference, ACI (March 17, 2026)
  • 2026: PFAS Conference, Perrin (March 17, 2026)
  • 2022: “PFAS Science In the Courtroom: Admissibility Issues For Emerging Contaminants”, Judicial Symposium On Scientific Methodology and the Admissibility of Expert Testimony, March
  • 2022: “The Environmental Justice Movement: Turning Concepts Into Actions”, Antea Group Webinar, February
  • 2022: “Navigating the Complexities of Today’s M&A Environment”, Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, January
  • 2022: “PFAS: 2022 and Beyond – Changes Coming and Impacts On Insureds”, Perrin’s Impact of PFAS On Environmental Litigation Conference, January
  • 2021: “Impact of PFAS On Environmental Litigation”, Perrin’s Environmental Risk & Litigation Conference, October

Published Articles

Legal Intelligence

More from John

Representative Cases

  • Ryan et al v. Newark, et al (USDC-MA) (PFAS, Environmental, Class Action)

    Obtained dismissal for our client on several counts at Motion to Dismiss stage, including dismissal of a novel RICO claim and a 93A claim seeking punitive damages. We further obtained dismissal after oral argument of the client’s related entity on personal jurisdiction grounds.

  • EPA v. C.I.L. Industries (federal enforcement action) (Environmental, TSCA)

    Successfully negotiated EPA’s penalty demands to well under 50% of the initial demand and was able to do so within a very limited window of time to ensure that the EPA matter was resolved such that the client could carry out a pending sale of the company.

  • EPA v. A.B. (federal enforcement action) (Environmental, Lead Paint)

    Successfully negotiated a resolution with EPA of our client’s alleged violations of federal lead paint laws on renovation jobsites for approximately 30% of the initial penalty demand for the alleged infractions. Payment was staggered over several years to allow the company to continue its business operations with minimal disruption.