Attorney Justin Swaim

Practice Focus

Litigation Practice, Energy Regulation and Utilities

Justin Swaim focuses his practice on public utility regulation, energy matters, business litigation, and appellate law.

“Justin Swaim is an up-and-coming lawyer known for his able-handling of state and federal energy regulatory matters.” —Chambers and Partners

Justin regularly assists clients with challenging litigation issues and has represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission in numerous Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceedings.

Justin received his law degree, magna cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and was a William L. Crowe, Sr. Scholar. He served as a managing editor on the Loyola Law Review and received the journal’s Warren E. Mouledoux Editor-in-Chief’s Award. Among his many honors, Justin was awarded the Warren E. Mouledoux Professional Responsibility Award and the Joseph E. Bologna Prize, and was a Frederick J. Gisevius, Jr. Scholarship Recipient. Additionally, he was recognized with Law Excellence Awards in numerous areas of law.

Justin has served as an adjunct professor at Tulane University Law School, where he teaches Energy Law Regulation and Policy, since 2021. He is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association.

Justin is recognized by Chambers and Partners USA as “Up and Coming” in Energy & Natural Resources: Utilities. He is a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® for Administrative/Regulatory Law and Energy Law.

Experience

Louisiana Public Service Commission in complaints filed against System Energy Resources, Inc. challenging its return on equity.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in settlement proceedings regarding the return of excess ADIT amounts from Entergy and System Energy Resources, Inc. to ratepayers following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in a complaint filed against System Energy Resources, Inc. challenging its equity ratio.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in a complaint filed against System Energy Resources, Inc. concerning a sale/leaseback transaction for the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station and SERI’s renewal of the lease.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in proceedings concerning Entergy’s attempt to allocate the ownership and costs of Transmission Control Centers.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in an investigation into service company costs that are included in Entergy Louisiana’s retail rates.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in a proceeding concerning the potential recognition of a legally enforceable obligation requiring Entergy Louisiana to purchase firm power from Occidental.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in cases concerning the Entergy System Agreement and the application of the Bandwidth formula to roughly equalize production costs of the Entergy Operating Companies.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in complaints against Entergy regarding third-party off system opportunity sales made by Entergy Arkansas.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in numerous appeals before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the Entergy System Agreement.
Louisiana Public Service Commission in settlement discussions concerning the proper depreciation rates for System Energy Resources, Inc.

Publications / Presentations

Author, Note, “Bailey v. United States: The Supreme Court’s Futile Attempt at Setting Boundaries around a Borderless Rule,” 60 Loy. L. Rev. 355 (2014).

Education

J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, 2015
- Loyola Law Review of the Managing Editor
B.A. in Political Science from Southeastern Louisiana University, 2006