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James L. Halford

Member

Tel: 601-960-6868
Fax: 601-960-6902

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Practice Areas

Easements and Rights of Way
Energy Project Development
Governmental Relations
Natural Gas Marketing, Transportation, and Storage
Public Utilities
Telecommunications
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James L. Halford

Member

Biography

Since 1985, Jim Halford has represented energy, pipeline, and gas, telecommunications and electric utility clients in the Gulf South region with the Brunini Firm.  He serves on the Firm’s five-person Board of Directors and is past Chairman of the Firm’s Regulatory Department. Mr. Halford was selected as Lawyer of the Year 2013, Jackson Missississippi in Energy Law by Woodward/White’s Best Lawyers® in America. He regularly appears before the Mississippi Public Service Commission on behalf of one of the largest natural gas utilities in the state, as well as on behalf of numerous telecommunications providers. He was also lead counsel for the nation’s first electric regional transmission organization as it obtained Mississippi Public Service Commission approval of its management of the transmission assets of Mississippi’s largest electric utility.  Mr. Halford’s practice also includes pipeline litigation, including prosecution of injunctive relief and eminent domain actions, as well as defense of surface damage and personal injury claims in state and federal courts. He oversees major energy projects and advises clients on regulatory and easement issues. Jim has lobbied the Mississippi Legislature on behalf of local natural gas utilities, interstate natural gas pipeline companies, and telecommunications companies. He has chaired a panel on natural gas deregulation issues at the National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys. He is also recognized by Chambers U.S.A.: America’s Leading Lawyers as among Mississippi’s Leading Lawyers in Energy and Natural Resources.

Education

  • B.A., William Carey College, (Omicron Delta Kappa; Intercollegiate Basketball; Intercollegiate Baseball)
  • J.D., University of Mississippi, (Mississippi Law Journal; Associated Student Body Senator)

Admissions

  • Mississippi (1985)
  • United States District Courts of Mississippi (1985)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1985)

Community & Professional Activities

  • Capital Area Bar Association
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Mississippi Natural Gas Association
  • Southern Gas Association
  • Former Board Member of the Mississippi Heritage Trust

Representative Matters

  • Obtained federal injunctive relief for immediate possession of multiple Mississippi properties for construction of interstate natural gas pipeline projects.
  • Oversaw right of way acquisition activities, including condemnation proceedings, for the following pipeline projects:
    • Texas Gas Transmission’s Greenville Lateral (Washington, Humphreys, Holmes and Attala Counties, MS);
    • Tri-States NGL Pipeline’s Upgrade (Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties, MS; St. Tammany Parish, LA);
    • Gulf South’s Mississippi Expansion (Warren, Hinds, Copiah and Simpson Counties, MS);
    • Gulf South’s Southeast Expansion (Simpson, Smith, Jasper and Clark Counties, MS; Choctaw County, AL);
    • Gulf South’s Mississippi Loop;
    • Petal Gas Storage Pipeline (Forrest, Jones, Jasper and Clarke Counties, MS);
    • Destin Pipeline (Jackson, George, Greene, Wayne and Clarke Counties, MS);
    • Koch Gateway Pipeline Highway 51 Relocation Project (Madison County, MS);
    • Koch Pipeline Southeast’s Pipeline Conversion Project (Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties, MS);
    • Florida Gas Transmission’s Phase III Expansion (Pearl River, Stone, Perry and George Counties, MS);
    • Endevco Pipeline Interconnect with Transco (Forest, Jones and Covington Counties, MS);
    • Endevco Pipeline Interconnect with Tennessee Gas (Forrest County, MS); and
    • Mississippi Fuel Company Expansions (Hinds, Warren, Marion, Jefferson Davis and Covington Counties, MS.)
  • Oversaw right of way acquisition for major telecommunications fiber projects, including those for AT&T and 360 Networks.
  • Lead counsel in condemnor pipeline company verdict of $12,000 where condemnee Levee Board sought $3.3 million.
  • Won arbitration where client Walgreens was awarded approximately 90% and its landlord was awarded roughly 10% of condemnation proceeds from a highway widening project.

Honors & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America©: Communications Law and Energy Law
  • Best Lawyers in America©Lawyer of the Year 2013 Jackson MS in Energy Law
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Energy and Natural Resources

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