Jerry N. Jones

Jerry N. Jones is a partner in the Baton Rouge office whose practice includes assisting private and public entities with local, state, and federal governmental regulation; lobbying and governmental relations before local and state stakeholders; zoning; environmental permitting and compliance; public works contracts; contract negotiations, disputes, and administration; and energy, oil & gas. He has assisted domestic and international clients in the development, construction, and operation of world-scale manufacturing facilities.

Jerry served as City Attorney for the City of Shreveport for eight years prior to returning to private practice. Jerry is serving in his fourth term on Louisiana’s Board of Commerce and Industry after being originally appointed by Governor Bobby Jindal and then re-appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards.  He is now in his fifth year as Chairman of that Board.  He serves his local community as a member of the West Feliciana Parish Board of Adjustment.  Jerry has been admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Louisiana and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

• Represented multiple petro-chemical companies in site location and acquisition, economic development incentive negotiations, permitting, company start-up, governance, compliance, and contract negotiations for world scale facilities
• Assisted multiple clients in developing and implementing permitting strategies that successfully navigate complex regulatory requirements in areas such as local land use and zoning, construction, emergency response planning and management, state and federal environmental standards, U.S. Corps of Engineer standards, and state and federal historic preservation standards
• Represented multiple clients before local, state, and federal agencies in both private consultations with regulators and public hearings related to the permitting process
• Represented large scale terminaling project in site location and company start-up
• Represented large scale agricultural facility in economic development incentive negotiations
• Conducted review and consultation on company compliance programs
• Conducted review and consultation on company policies and procedures relating to the Federal Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics
• Provided immediate response and representation before the Louisiana Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Public Safety related to significant environmental impact incidents
• Represented commercial clients before the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality in response to significant enforcement actions including matters relating to air, water, solid waste, and hazardous waste
• Appointed Special Master by the Federal District Court of Louisiana, Western District, in complex land use litigation
• Represented oil and gas industry clients before various local governmental entities in the negotiation of ordinances and regulations including pipeline right-of-way and construction permit agreements, noise ordinances, and road repair ordinances
• Represented various municipal clients and the Louisiana Municipal Association in the negotiation of franchise agreements with telecommunications, cable, and natural gas entities
• Represented private entities before various local planning commissions, zoning boards, municipal, and parish governmental authorities relating to significant modifications to zoning ordinances
• Represented clients in matters relating to Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law, Public Records Act, Local Budget Act, and Public Works Act
• Represented various local governmental entities in annexation, reapportionment, and redistricting issues
• Represented both public and private entities in the drafting and passage of significant legislation at the local and state government levels

• City of Shreveport Rising Young Business Leader, 1993
• Former City Attorney for City of Shreveport
• AV® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell. “AV” is the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards
• Best Lawyers®, since 2012 in the practice areas of Litigation – Environmental and Litigation – Municipal; since 2021 in Energy Law
• Best Lawyers®, Baton Rouge, LA, Energy Law “Lawyer of the Year”, 2022
• Chambers USA, Listed as a leading lawyer in area of Environmental Law
• Named in the Business Report’s Capitol Region 500, 2023

Presentations

Lorman Education Services:

• What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Louisiana; May 20, 2003 and January 15, 2009
• Advanced Zoning & Land Use in Louisiana; December 8, 2005
• Zoning & Land Use in Louisiana; September 15, 2005
• Getting it Right – The Differing Judicial Standard of Review in Zoning and Administrative Appeals; March 31, 2005
• Cell Tower Siting and Related Issues; December 8, 2004
• Louisiana Construction Contracting for Public Entities; June 13, 2001

Louisiana Municipal Association:

• Negotiating Franchise Agreements; August 10, 2002
• Cable Franchises in Louisiana; August 3, 2001

Louisiana City Attorney’s Association:

• Land Use and Street Revitalization Seminar:  Rights of Way and Franchise Agreements; March 26, 2010
• Franchise Agreements: The Ride is Far from Over; October 31, 2003
• Franchise Agreements: The Next Few Years May be a Bumpy Ride; November 9, 2001

Tarshar Society:

• Separation of Church and State: You’ve Come a Long Way; November 17, 1999