Gov. John Bel Edwards to join New Orleans law firm when he leaves office. See which one.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Thursday he will be joining the New Orleans-based law firm Fishman Haygood when he leaves office Jan. 8.

In his new position as special counsel, Edwards will work with the firm’s business team and will be focused specifically on bringing renewable energy deals to the state. He also will work with the firm’s litigation section, potentially venturing back into the courtroom to try cases for the first time in years.

The outgoing governor’s experience and skill set make him qualified to work in both areas. During his two terms as governor, Edwards made expanding renewable energy and mitigating climate change central planks of his administration. He is also a trial attorney who had a private practice in his native Amite before becoming governor in 2016.

“I am very excited about it,” Edwards said Wednesday of his new position. “I have a wonderful job that I love, but I always knew it was just for a period of time and that I would transition back home and back to the practice of law."

Edwards will be based in a new, one-person satellite office in Hammond and will travel between Fishman Haygood’s New Orleans and Baton Rouge offices as needed.

“I think a lot of my work will be done wherever I am needed,” he said. “I anticipate traveling a lot around the state and also around the country to meet with clients and business prospects.”

'Tremendous respect and appreciation'

Edwards said he has known of Fishman Haygood, a boutique law firm with more than 40 attorneys, since its founding in 1996. Though relatively small compared to some of its counterparts, the firm's attorneys have been involved in negotiating complex land deals and corporate mergers as well as high-profile cases like the Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme and the BP Deepwater Horizon settlement.

Fishman Haygood has also brought dozens of suits on behalf of private landowners against oil and gas companies for the damage pipelines have caused to fragile wetlands. In 2016, it was one of several firms tapped by Edwards to sue those companies on behalf of the state. 

One of the firm’s partners and litigators involved in those suits, Jim Swanson, was the initial catalyst for Edwards’ decision to join the firm, the governor said. Conversations began nearly a year ago and came together in the final months of 2023.

“Jim Swanson is the lawyer I knew the best and the longest,” Edwards said. “I have tremendous respect for and appreciation for him. He’s not just a first-rate lawyer but a really good person and I look forward to working with him.”

Edwards said it's too soon to say what suits he might work on specifically at the firm.

“It's hard for me to say specifically but I believe the folks at Fishman Haygood expect my help in the litigation division working on their portfolio of existing cases,” he said.

Climate focused 

Edwards will also be spending his time doing business development and transactional work, trying to bring more low- and no-carbon projects to Louisiana, as well as carbon capture and storage opportunities. As governor, Edwards implemented a Climate Action Plan that calls for achieving zero carbon emissions in Louisiana by 2050, and his administration has claimed credit for helping to attract some $50 billion in private sector capital investments for both low- and no-carbon projects.

“I really view this as an extension of much of the work I was doing as governor: Courting businesses to help us grow and diversify the economy,” he said.

Swanson said Edwards' climate plan is one of the best-formulated in the country and benefits the state's economy and coastline.

"He understands the business and litigation sides of our practice and we believe his unique perspective will bring value to our team and our clients."

State ethics laws prevent Edwards from being able to lobby the executive branch for two years. At Edwards' request, Fishman Haygood has asked the Louisiana Board of Ethics for an advisory opinion on the propriety of Edwards serving as special counsel for the firm. The governor said he will not be doing any lobbying or policy advocacy work at the state capitol.

"He requested the opinion to be proactive about the proposed arrangement to make sure it fully complies with the state ethics code," said Edwards' attorney Dane Ciolino. 

Fishman Haygood's request notes that the firm has represented the Louisiana Department of Revenue since 1996, but says while in office, Edwards did not personally or substantially participate in any in department matters handled by its attorneys. The board will take up the request at a regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. Friday in Baton Rouge. 

Fishman Haygood Managing Partner John Werner said the firm is “thrilled” to have the governor join the firm.

“John Bel has been a proven leader throughout his life, including his recent efforts to grow the renewable energy sector in Louisiana,” Werner said. “We are excited that he has chosen to join us in this next phase of his career.”

Edwards' first day with the firm is Jan. 9.