James Guy counsels energy clients on a broad range of matters including litigation, regulatory compliance and enforcement, policymaking, and due diligence and counseling for project development and business transactions. James serves utilities, power marketers, retail electric providers, electric generators and energy storage providers, as well as project developers and end use customers.
James has 20 years of experience in natural gas and electric rate restructuring, certification, rulemaking and compliance proceedings before state and federal regulatory agencies, including the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Electric Reliability Commission of Texas (ERCOT), the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE). He also has assisted clients in matters before state utility commissions in 15 other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
He frequently provides comprehensive regulatory and commercial support in various energy transactional matters, particularly mergers and acquisitions, electric transmission and renewable energy projects, and development and construction agreements. He has experience advising clients on regulatory and contractual matters associated with retail electricity purchases, including behind-the-meter generation development and management and retail energy supply agreements.
James has a unique background working with companies of all sizes. Prior to law school, he worked as a quality control manager and production supervisor for a multinational process manufacturing company. His technical background, thoroughness, attention to detail and devotion to his clients stand out in his representation and work product as he leads clients and assists them in navigating complex situations through a myriad of energy matters. While he continues to work with Fortune 100 and 500 energy companies across the nation, he also advocates for small-to-mid-size companies both on specific matters and by effectively serving as outside general counsel.
James also has past experience teaching classes in leadership, management and teamwork skills and was part of a national team created to develop a company culture that encourages and supports learning and continuous improvement. James employs these leadership qualities as the Partner in Charge of the Eversheds Sutherland Austin office.
Awards and Rankings
Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of energy regulatory law (2020)
Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers in the area of energy: state regulatory and litigation (2017-2020)
Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of energy: regulatory (2015, 2019)
Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of energy law (2013-2020) and energy regulatory law (2017-2020)
Experience
“Like Theodore Roosevelt said, I believe one of the best prizes life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. My background as a business manager and degree in mechanical engineering allow me to see projects through the eyes of our clients and effectively achieve innovative solutions to projects involving complex business and legal issues.”
Experience
Represented a privately owned electric transmission and distribution utility in multiple proceedings before the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding transmission line certification and construction.
Advised a Texas retail electric supplier on license transfer proceedings related to the sale of its multistate retail electric supplier business.
Obtained PUCT approval for the transfer of a transmission and distribution utility's customers and assets.
Serves as counsel in a major merchant transmission project with the federal government.
Advises a leading electric transmission development company on several high-level regulatory issues related to a proposed direct current interconnection between two electric grids in the US and Mexico.
Provides ongoing regulatory and compliance insight to a Texas-based public electric utility.
Advised clients, including electric utilities, retail electric providers, generators, energy storage providers, power marketers and other companies in the energy industry on state regulatory compliance issues.
Advised on the sale of Texas retail electric providers or customer accounts owned by those companies.
Represented electric utilities and large industrial energy users in rate proceedings and other PUCT matters.
Demonstrated that a new transmission and distribution company failed to carry its burden of proof to be granted a certificate of convenience and necessity to an administrative law judge and the PUCT.
Counseled large energy user in energy dispute.
Secured PUCT approval for a proposed transmission line route on behalf of two landowners in a contested CCN application by the largest transmission and distribution utility in Texas.
Represented clients in state courts to obtain judicial review of final orders of Texas administrative agencies, including the Public Utility Commission, Workforce Commission, Department of Transportation and the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Prepared and negotiated electricity sales agreements.
News
In the News
Hunt Consolidated, Inc. Consortium Selected by Energy Future Holdings as Plan for Bankruptcy Solution (August 28, 2015)
Bloomberg Law
Sutherland is mentioned in this Bloomberg Law article for advising Hunt Consolidated, Inc. on regulatory and debt financing matters.
Press Releases
24 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 63 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2020 Chambers USA (April 23, 2020)
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that 24 practices and 63 attorneys have earned recognition in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers USA, a ...
19 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 87 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2019 Legal 500 United States (June 10, 2019)
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that 19 practice areas and 87 attorneys have been recognized in the 2019 edition of The Legal 500 United States, a comprehensive survey of legal service ...
19 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 55 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2019 Chambers USA (April 25, 2019)
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that 19 practices and 55 attorneys have earned recognition in the 2019 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers USA, a ...
19 Eversheds Sutherland Practice Areas, 59 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2018 Chambers USA (May 3, 2018)
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is pleased to announce that 19 practices and 59 attorneys have earned recognition in the 2018 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers ...
Four Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named Lawyer of the Year; 80 Lawyers Recognized in 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America (August 15, 2017)
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that four attorneys have been selected as “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective fields by The Best Lawyers in America, and 80 attorneys have been ...
20 Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP Practice Areas, 56 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2017 Chambers USA (May 26, 2017)
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP is pleased to announce that 20 practices and 56 attorneys at the firm earned recognition in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. ...
Six Sutherland Attorneys Named Lawyer of the Year; 81 Lawyers Recognized in 2017 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America (August 15, 2016)
ATLANTA and WASHINGTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is pleased to announce that that six attorneys have been selected as “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective fields by The Best Lawyers in ...
Five Sutherland Partners Named “Lawyer of the Year” 82 Lawyers Recognized in 2016 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America (August 17, 2015)
ATLANTA and WASHINGTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is pleased to announce that five partners have been selected as “Lawyer of the Year in their respective fields by The Best Lawyers in America, ...
14 Sutherland Practice Areas, 62 Attorneys Named Among Nation’s Best in 2015 Legal 500 United States (June 4, 2015)
ATLANTA and WASHINGTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is pleased to announce that 14 practice areas and 62 attorneys have been ranked in the 2015 edition of The Legal 500 United States, a ...
Three Sutherland Partners Named “Lawyer of the Year,” 83 Lawyers Recognized in 2015 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America (November 3, 2014)
ATLANTA and WASHINGTON-Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is pleased to announce that three partners have been selected as “Lawyer of the Year in their respective fields by The Best Lawyers in America, ...
Publications
Legal Alerts
New Texas law addresses transactions requiring approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (June 26, 2019)
On June 4, 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Texas Senate Bill (SB) 1211, which amends 39.158 of the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) relating to prior approval of certain ...
COP21 Yields Landmark Climate Change Accord: What’s Next? (December 23, 2015)
More than a week has passed since 195 countries announced a climate change deal to hold global average temperatures to 2 C above pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational ceiling of 1.5 C. While ...
