Fishman Haygood Expands High-Stakes Energy Regulation and Utilities Practice
January 14, 2026
Fishman Haygood LLP is pleased to welcome three new partners, Dana Shelton, Noel Darce, and Justin Swaim, to the firm’s Litigation Section. Joining from Stone Pigman, the group brings a recognized Energy Regulation and Utilities practice to the firm, strengthening its ability to advise clients on high-stakes regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters across the energy sector.
“Fishman Haygood might not do everything, but what we do, we do well,” said Jim Swanson, partner and board chairman. “We focus on sophisticated, consequential matters where judgment and experience make the difference. Dana, Noel, and Justin are recognized leaders in utility regulation, and their practice fits squarely within the kind of complex work we exist to handle.”
“Our practice often sits at the intersection of regulation, economics, and litigation,” Dana said. “Fishman Haygood’s litigation culture and collaborative approach allow us to serve clients efficiently and decisively when regulatory outcomes have real financial and operational consequences.”
Among the team’s many recognitions, both Dana and Noel are ranked Band 1 in Energy & Natural Resources: Utilities by Chambers and Partners USA, the leading independent professional legal research company. Dana is also the Best Lawyers® 2026 Administrative/Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” in New Orleans.
The firm’s new Energy Regulation and Utilities team will also integrate with attorneys from practice groups firmwide, addressing energy issues from all angles with the help of our Appellate, Energy Transition, and Mergers & Acquisitions teams. Through this multidisciplinary approach, Fishman Haygood is better able to provide creative, efficient, and integrated solutions to the most complex energy-related issues.
“We could not be prouder that this team is bringing their wealth of experience to our firm,” said Jim.
Dana is an accomplished attorney whose practice focuses on electric utilities matters and transmission grid issues. She has extensive experience handling contested regulatory matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Louisiana Public Service Commission, and appellate courts, having handled numerous consequential matters that have garnered significant energy rate savings for the ratepayers she represents.
Noel Darce has practiced in utility, regulatory, and energy-related law for over four decades. With his experience across a broad range of utility regulatory energy issues, he counsels clients on Regional Transmission Organization (“RTO”) issues, retail regulatory matters, regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, and FERC regulations implementing those statutes. He often appears before state and federal regulatory agencies and the courts.
Justin Swaim concentrates his practice on public utilities regulation, energy, and general business litigation as well as appellate law. Justin has also represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission in numerous Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceedings.
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