Mr. Swanson is the firm's managing partner and head of the litigation section. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of business litigation matters, with emphasis on securities, media, state tax, contract and other general litigation. He regularly represents The Times-Picayune, L.L.C., SMG, The State of Louisiana and others. He has obtained a number of multi-million dollar judgments in commercial matters. His efforts are recorded in many reported decisions, including a number of landmark media and securities cases.

Mr. Swanson is ranked as one of the top litigators in New Orleans in Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, The Best Lawyers in America, New Orleans Magazine, Super Lawyers and others. Chambers has commented that he is "talented, astute and an expert performer before the jury," and on his ability to "negotiate a minefield of potential options in concluding a case." In the most recent edition of Chambers (2008), he is placed in Band One, the youngest lawyer in that small group, with the comment "he is a solid trial lawyer known for getting great results for his clients."

He is an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School teaching Trial Advocacy and at Tulane University in Media Law. For several years, he regularly taught trial advocacy with Federal Judge Carl Barbier. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Choice Foundation, which operates Lafayette Academy, a K-8 charter school serving New Orleans' inner city community.

Jim graduated from Tulane University in 1984 (Economics). He received his law degree, magna cum laude, from Tulane Law School, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Tulane Law Review. He was the winner of the Tulane Moot Court Appellate Competitions in 1986 and 1987.

Recent litigation successes include:

• A $22 million award including $3.5 million in punitive damages, in a nationally publicized NASD arbitration against Securities America, one of the largest NASD awards ever;
   
• The dismissal of the securities class action against US Unwired;
   
• The successful defense of Amedisys in class action securities litigation, including obtaining reversal of class certification;
   
• A $26 million jury verdict against Tennessee Gas in a corporate income tax case, including $6 million in bad faith penalties;
   
• Landmark First Amendment and access decisions in favor of the Times-Picayune, the Associated Press, CNN and the Baton Rouge Advocate; and
   
• Defense of SMG against the Saints bid to break their Superdome Lease.
  

Significant reported cases:

• Unger v. Amedisys, Inc., 401 F.3d 316 (5^th Cir. 2005) (establishes the burden of proof for class certification on market efficiency element)
   
• Civil Service Com'n of City of New Orleans v. City of New Orleans, 2002-1812 (La. 9/3/03), 854 So.2d. 322 (significant issue of constitutional power of Civil Service Commission)
   
• Times-Picayune Pub. Corp. v. Board of Sup'rs of Louisiana State University, 2002-2551 (La.App. 1 Cir. 5/9/03), 845 So.2d 599 (access case regarding settlement of mass tort litigation against LSU)
   
• Capital City Press v. Board of Sup'rs of Louisiana State University, 2001-1692 (La.App. 1 Cir. 6/21/02), 822 So.2d 728, 30 Media L. Rep. 2210 (public records case regarding LSU athletic director search results)
   
• Huger v. Morrison, 2001-1864 (La.App. 4 Cir. 2/6/02), 809 So.2d 1140 (suit by local real estate developer for breach of oral promise)
   
• U.S. v. Brown, 250 F.3d 907, 29 Media L. Rep. 1779 (5^th Cir. 2001) (First Amendment litigation re: prior restraint regarding reporting on trial of Louisiana Secretary of State)
   
• Times Picayune Pub. Corp. v. City of New Orleans, 1999-1685 (La.App. 4 Cir. 2/23/00), 760 So.2d 375 (litigation regarding City official journal requirements)
   
• Times Picayune Pub. Corp. v. New Orleans Aviation Bd., 99-237 (La.App. 5 Cir. 8/31/99), 742 So.2d 979 (public records case for airport DBE program)
   
• Times-Picayune Pub. Corp. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 37 F.Supp.2d 472 (E.D.La. Mar 05, 1999) (FOIA request for Eddie DeBartolo mug shot)
   
• Estiverne v. Times-Picayune, L.L.C., 2006-0571 (La.App. 4 Cir. 12/20/06), 950 So.2d 858 (dismissal of defamation suit brought by notorious plaintiff's lawyer)
   
• Times-Picayune Pub. Corp. v. Zurich American Ins. Co., 421 F.3d 328 (5^th Cir. 2005) (judgment rendered in favor of client on multi-million dollar fidelity bond claim)
   
• Over 50 reported decisions