James L. Halford
Member

Practice Areas
Energy Project DevelopmentGovernmental Relations
Natural Gas Storage and Transportation
Public Utilities
Telecommunications
Utility Easements and Rights of Way
James L. Halford
Member
Biography
Jim Halford, an “Energy Lawyer of the Year” as named by Best Lawyers and one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in Energy and Natural Resources” as recognized by Chambers USA, has broad experience in regulatory, contractual and litigation matters involving renewable energy, traditional energy, public utilities, broadband, telecommunications, and land rights.
Jim’s focus on energy infrastructure development and acquisition has led him to oversee right-of-way acquisitions, eminent domain and other litigation for most of the major natural gas and liquids pipeline projects in Mississippi in the last 35 years, as well as large fiber optic projects by AT&T and other major technology/broadband companies. Jim represents the nation’s largest natural gas utility in its Mississippi operations, including its rate and other proceedings before the Mississippi Public Service Commission. He provides regulatory advice for a $90 million 100 megawatt solar generation facility in north Mississippi. He represented the developer of the initial salt dome cavern natural gas storage facilities in Forrest County, Mississippi. Jim was lead counsel for the country’s first electric regional transmission organization (“RTO”) in gaining regulatory approval for Mississippi’s largest electric utility to join that RTO. He has represented one of North America’s largest refiners and a major chemical company in state regulatory proceedings involving a proposed $6.7 billion first-of-a-kind lignite fuel electric generating facility in Mississippi by an electric utility. Jim advises clients on renewal natural gas projects, as well as electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities and natural gas/propane vehicle stations. He has represented residential/commercial property developers in the siting by an electric utility of electric transmission and substation facilities and their impact on such developments.
Jim’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 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 issues at the National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys.
He has served on the Firm’s five-person Board of Directors and is the current Chair of the Firm’s Regulatory Department. He regularly appears before state and federal courts, local governing boards, and the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
Education
- J.D., University of Mississippi, (Mississippi Law Journal; Associated Student Body Senator)
- B.A., William Carey University, (Omicron Delta Kappa; Intercollegiate Basketball and Baseball)
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
- Mississippi Energy Institute, Board Member
- Mississippi Heritage Trust, former Board Member
Representative Matters
- Obtained over $23.5 million in rate increases over last ten years from Public Service Commission rulings for major natural gas public utility.
- Obtained state regulatory approval of American Midstream’s acquisition of intrastate gas pipeline facilities from Southcross, and their subsequent acquisition by Third Coast.
- Represented large gasoline refinery in electric utility’s rate case where Public Service Commission decreased electric rates by $10.88 million more than what utility sought.
- Obtained seven figure settlement payment for residential/commercial developer from utility for placement of electric transmission lines on 2.3 acres.
- Lead counsel for Regional Transmission Operator (“RTO”) in gaining Mississippi Public Service Commission approval for electric utility to join that RTO.
- Obtained federal injunctive relief for immediate possession of multiple Mississippi properties for construction of natural gas pipeline projects.
- Oversaw right of way acquisition activities, including condemnation and injunctive relief proceedings, for many pipeline projects, including the following:
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- Texas Gas Transmission’s Fayetteville and Greenville Laterals natural gas pipeline (Mississippi portion of 262.6 miles of 36″ natural gas pipeline in Washington, Humphreys, Holmes and Attala Counties, MS);
- Tri-States NGL Pipeline’s Upgrade (52 miles of liquids pipeline in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties, MS; St. Tammany Parish, LA);
- Gulf South’s Mississippi Expansion (60 miles of 42″ natural gas pipeline in Warren, Hinds, Copiah and Simpson Counties, MS);
- Gulf South’s Southeast Expansion (111 miles of 42″ natural gas pipeline in Simpson, Smith, Jasper and Clark Counties, MS; Choctaw County, AL);
- Gulf South’s Mississippi Loop (17.8 miles of 42″ natural gas pipeline in Hinds and Simpson Counties, MS)
- Petal Gas Storage Pipeline (64.2 miles of 36″ natural gas pipeline in Forrest, Jones, Jasper and Clarke Counties, MS);
- Destin Pipeline (137 miles of 30″ and 36″ natural gas pipeline in 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 (Mississippi part of 815 miles of 26″-36″ natural gas pipeline in 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.)
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- Advise major broadband client on railroad crossings, tower site placements and other right-of-way and government permitting issues in 6000 mile project.
- Oversaw right-of-way acquisition and eminent domain for major telecommunications fiber projects, including those for AT&T.
- Won $1.2 milllion eminent domain jury verdict for major pharmacy chain against Mississippi Department of Transportation for its alteration of an access point into store parking lot.
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
News
- BRUNINI ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED IN THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA© 2023 EDITION
- Brunini Attorneys Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers
- Brunini Law Firm and Attorneys Ranked in Prestigious Chambers USA 2021 Guide
- CHAMBERS USA RECOGNIZES BRUNINI AMONG TOP LAW FIRMS IN MISSISSIPPI
- COVID-19 and Energy/environmental business sectors
- Brunini Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers
- Brunini Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers
- Chambers Lists Brunini Attorneys
- Twenty- seven honored by Best Lawyers® 2017, Four attorneys named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Halford and Ueltschey featured in Expert Guides
- Brunini Recognized Among Top Law Firms in Mississippi by Chambers USA
- BRUNINI RECOGNIZED AMONG TOP LAW FIRMS IN MISSISSIPPI BY CHAMBERS USA
- HALFORD SPEAKS AT JUDGES’ CONFERENCE
- Brunini Recognized Among Top Law Firms in Mississippi by Chambers USA