James provides strategic responses for his clients in energy litigation matters across the country.
He has a long history of representing electric cooperatives, independent power producers, electric utilities, oil and gas producers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) companies, and other energy-related companies.
With more than 35 years of experience in energy litigation, James defends and prosecutes cases in a variety of judicial and regulatory proceedings at both the state and federal level.
- Defended electric utilities in a successful antitrust challenge to the electric industry structure in Georgia.
- Represented electric utilities in several cases against municipalities involving the assessment of franchise fees and occupation taxes.
- Represented an electric transmission utility in a successful challenge to a governmental ban on certain types of transmission lines.
- Defended an electric utility in a personal injury lawsuit alleging that electromagnetic fields from power lines cause cancer.
- Represented energy clients in government contract disputes involving competitive bidding laws.
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of energy law (2012-2024)
- Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of energy (2017-2023)
- Recognized as a Top Author as part of JD Supra’s Readers’ Choice Awards for thought leadership in the utilities sector (2016)
- Selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers® (2004-2010)
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Appellate Courts Georgia
- Trial Courts Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- B.A., summa cum laude, University of Georgia
- J.D., cum laude, University of Georgia School of Law,
Comments Editor, University of Georgia Law Review
Latest Insights
- InsightsCourt of Appeals affirms “grandfather” rights in Territorial Act renovation dispute
- InsightsEighth Circuit recognizes plain language of wholesale power contracts among electric cooperatives does not permit early termination
- InsightsGeorgia Public Service Commission reversed on Territorial Act renovation dispute
- InsightsCourts uphold wholesale power contracts among electric cooperatives
- InsightsFourth annual review of developments in energy contracting
- InsightsThird annual review of developments in energy contracting
- InsightsAnother climate change lawsuit remanded to state court
- InsightsGeorgia Power denied grandfather rights to provide electric service to textile plant converted to pet food plant
- InsightsClimate change litigation remains in state courts (for now)
- InsightsCity held not entitled to state action immunity in its policy of tying water service to natural gas
- InsightsCARES Act Summary for Coops
- InsightsLitigation update on Alabama patronage capital cases
Latest News
- NewsNine Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 137 Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- News34 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 81 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2023 Chambers USA
- NewsThree Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 111 Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- News34 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 83 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2022 Chambers USA
- NewsEight Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 112 Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- News31 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 79 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2021 Chambers USA
- NewsThree Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 115 Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- News24 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 63 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2020 Chambers USA
Insights
Court of Appeals affirms “grandfather” rights in Territorial Act renovation...
Insights
Eighth Circuit recognizes plain language of wholesale power contracts among...
Insights
Georgia Public Service Commission reversed on Territorial Act renovation di...
Insights
Courts uphold wholesale power contracts among electric cooperatives
News
Nine Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 137 Attorne...
News
34 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 81 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s B...
News
Three Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 111 Attorn...
News
34 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 83 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s B...