Firm
Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips L.L.P.
Practicing law since 1974, Taylor Porter Of
Counsel Jim Ellis has focused on representing utility, energy, and other
regulated companies on state and federal regulatory, corporate, merger
and acquisitions, transactional, contract, and litigation matters.
Upon graduating from Tulane Law School, he worked in Washington, D.C.,
for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the General Services
Administration. He represented the executive agencies of the federal
government and the Department of Defense in state and federal regulatory
proceedings involving electric, gas, and telecommunications matters. In
addition to appearing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
he appeared in regulatory proceedings before one-fourth of the state
public service commissions in the United States.
Since joining Taylor Porter in 1978, he has represented electric, water,
and gas utility companies, and numerous pipeline and energy companies
before state regulatory agencies and the courts. As part of that
representation, he advises the boards and management of those companies
on corporate, rate, merger and acquisitions, contract, and litigation
issues. Further, he has worked with regulated entities on franchise
issues with public bodies and compliance with city and state regulatory
codes. He has represented many national companies in utility, energy,
cogeneration, pipeline, and other matters relating to financing,
acquisitions, deal structuring, land and right-of-way acquisition,
government compliance, and other corporate and litigation issues. He has
been lead counsel and has litigated numerous cases at the trial and
appellate levels and has won several notable cases involving regulatory
law before the Louisiana Supreme Court.
In addition to his representation of regulated entities and
corporations, he has also represented the boards of public bodies in
court and regulatory proceedings, including towns, police juries,
universities, and state agencies. He also advises boards and commissions
on corporate governance and directors’ and officers’ liability issues.
Mr. Ellis has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in Energy Law for the last 25 years.
Mr. Ellis has been active in many civic and economic development
organizations in the capital region. He was General Counsel for the
Baton Rouge Area Chamber (2005-2007), served as Chairman of the Board of
the Baton Rouge Area Chamber in 2008, and served on the Board of
Directors and Executive Committee. Mr. Ellis has also served as a
member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Baton Rouge Airport
Commission and served as Chairman of the Board of the Airport
Commission. In addition, he served as President of the Board and board
member of the City Club of Baton Rouge, FuturePAC, the Manship Theatre,
the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, the McMains Children’s Developmental
Center, ReStore of Baton Rouge, and Evergreen Life Services.