Jerry Jones’ practice primarily involves assisting private and public entities with local, state, and federal governmental regulation; representing private entities before governmental entities; assisting private entities in local and state legislative matters; assisting private entities with land use and zoning issues; assisting private entities with environmental permitting, regulation, remediation, and management; negotiating and closing industrial site land acquisitions; negotiating and closing large scale industrial contracts such as joint ventures, licensing, and construction; assisting private clients establish and manage compliance programs; assisting private clients with corporate governance.
Jerry has represented large scale petro-chemical companies in site location and acquisition, economic development incentive negotiations, permitting, company start-up, and contract negotiations. He has represented a large scale agricultural facility in economic development incentive negotiations. He has also provided immediate response and representation before the Louisiana Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Public Safety related to significant environmental impact incidents. In addition, Jerry has represented commercial clients before the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality in response to significant enforcement actions in matters relating to air, water, solid waste, and hazardous waste. He has served as the appointed municipal attorney to three Louisiana municipalities.
Best Lawyers ®, Baton Rouge, LA – Energy Law “Lawyer of the Year”, 2022
The Best Lawyers in America ©, Baton Rouge, LA – Energy Regulatory Law, 2023
The Best Lawyers in America ©, Baton Rouge, LA – Energy Law, since 2022
The Best Lawyers in America ©, Baton Rouge, LA – Litigation-Environmental and Litigation-Municipal, since 2012
City of Shreveport Rising Young Business Leader, 1993
Martindale Hubbell ® AV Preeminent ® Peer Review Rating, http://www.martindale.com/ratings
Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer in Environmental Law, since 2013
Mr. Jones’ career includes work on multi-million dollar projects, and he has worked with public and private clients on local, state, and federal regulatory matters. A representative sample of his work follows.
- Represented multiple petrochemical 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 petroleum terminal 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 acceptable 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 various local governmental entities in matters related 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
Speeches:
“Separation of Church and State: You’ve Come a Long Way”, Tarshar Society, 1999
“Municipal Franchise Agreements: The Next Few Years May Be a Bumpy Ride”, Louisiana City Attorney’s Association, 2001
“Louisiana Construction Contracting for Public Entities”, Lorman Education Services, 2001
“Cable Franchises in Louisiana”, Louisiana Municipal Association, 2001
“Negotiating Franchise Agreements”, Louisiana Municipal Association, 2002
“Franchise Agreements: The Ride is Far From Over”, Louisiana City Attorney’s Association, 2003
“What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in Louisiana”, Lorman Education Services, 2003, 2009
“Cell Tower Siting and Related Issues”, Lorman Education Services, 2004
“Zoning and Land Use in Louisiana”, Lorman Education Services, 2005
“Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Louisiana”, Lorman Education Services, 2005
“Getting it Right-The Differing Judicial Standards of Review in Zoning and Administrative Appeals”, Lorman Education Services, 2005
“Louisiana’s Governmental Code of Ethics and its Application to Private Entities”, 2016, 2018
“Essentials of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act”, 2017, 2018
“Essentials for a Chemical Manufacturing Compliance Program Operating in Louisiana”, 2018
