James R. "Jim" Swanson

James R. "Jim" Swanson


Fishman Haygood L.L.P.

Recognized since 2005

New Orleans, Louisiana

Practice Areas

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Commercial Litigation

Environmental Law

Litigation - First Amendment

Litigation - Municipal

Litigation - Securities

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Navigate to map location for James R. "Jim" Swanson Call James R. "Jim" Swanson at 504-586-5252
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Bet-the-Company Litigation
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Jim Swanson represents state and local governments, corporations, and individuals in cases involving municipal finance, derivatives, CDOs, Ponzi schemes, corporate tax, coastal land loss, industrial and environmental accidents, and a range of other subject areas. Jim’s efforts are recorded in over 100 reported decisions.

Jim is particularly known for his securities practice and has obtained multimillion-dollar judgments for his clients in jury and bench trials and commercial arbitrations. Most recently, Jim was counsel to investors defrauded in R. Allen Stanford’s $7 billion Ponzi scheme in their lawsuit against the five banks that the investors allege aided and abetted or knowingly participated in the scheme. Settlements totaling $1.6 billion were reached with five bank defendants on the eve of trial in early 2023.

In addition to his established securities practice, Jim is working on a series of cases involving coastal land loss and other forms of environmental damage for governmental entities and private landowners. He also represents several commercial contractors in confidential international treaty arbitrations arising out of large-scale infrastructure and industrial development projects. Most recently, Jim and his team prosecuted bilateral investment treaty claims before a tribunal of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in London on behalf of a Turkish contractor against a North African nation for defaulting on housing and infrastructure contracts and won a substantial unanimous award from the ICC panel.

While the majority of Jim’s practice is plaintiff focused, he also represents defendants.

Jim has been a regular faculty member of the Practicing Law Institute’s (PLI) annual program Securities Litigation: From Investigation to Trial. He has also taught at Loyola Law School and Tulane University.

Jim is a fellow of the American and Louisiana Bar Foundations and a member of the International Society of Barristers.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 201 Saint Charles Avenue, Suite 4600
    New Orleans, LA 70170-4600
Languages
  • English
Education
  • Tulane University, J.D., graduated 1987
Bar Admissions
  • Louisiana, 1987
Affiliations
  • American Bar Association, Louisiana Bar Foundation and Fellows of the American Bar Association - Member of all
  • New Orleans Opera - Board Member

Fishman Haygood L.L.P.
Headquarters: New Orleans, Louisiana

21 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

8 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Best Law Firms Badge Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Bet-the-Company Litigation
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, New Orleans (2011)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Environmental Law
  • Litigation - First Amendment
  • Litigation - Municipal
  • Litigation - Securities
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Special Focus:
  • Arbitration
  • Civil Litigation
  • Communications
  • Complex Litigation
  • Economics
  • First Amendment
  • Litigation
  • Media
  • Securities
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Communications Law
  • First Amendment Law
  • Media Law

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Publications

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