R. Wilson Montjoy II

In over four decades of law practice, Wilson has led teams providing project development representation to data center, renewable energy, fossil fuel, industrial, and distribution projects totaling over $100 billion in proposed investment. Several projects were the largest in state history at the time of development and involved custom legislation passed in a special session of the state legislature. Wilson’s depth and breadth of experience allows him to advise clients from project inception through completion and daily operations.

• Economic Development
• Public Utilities
• Data Centers & Other Large Load Projects

Energy

For data center, energy, industrial, and distribution clients, Wilson provides or leads the firm’s project development assistance which includes site selection, incentive negotiation and implementation, real estate and land use, environmental, tax advantaged bond financing, utility regulatory advice and permitting, administrative and legislative representation, project finance and M&A, and general representation after project completion.

Wilson’s work has been recognized in a variety of best lawyer publications, including Chambers USA (Band 1) and Best Lawyers (ranked in 6 areas). According to one client interviewed by Chambers: “Wilson is among the best counsels I have worked with. He leads negotiations and we trust him to make decisions. He understands our business and commercial priorities and tailors his legal advice accordingly.” Another client described Wilson as “the foremost expert in the state” in understanding the regulatory landscape.

General

• Represented developers of over $100 billion in data center, large industrial, distribution, and energy projects, handling or coordinating site selection, incentive, real estate, environmental, finance, regulatory and other project development activities.
• Represented private developers and the state in projects which qualified as Mississippi Major Economic Impact Act (MMEIA) projects, an incentive provided to the largest and most significant projects and which typically involve custom legislation passed in a special session of the state legislature.
• Negotiated numerous economic development incentive agreements with the state and dozens of counties and cities, including over 100 fee-in-lieu tax agreements, reserved for the largest projects.

Data Center

• Represented SpaceX/xAI in developing a campus to include three data centers and 1+ GW behind-the-meter power generation with a projected investment over $40 billion.
• Represented Amazon Web Services in the only data center project to be incentivized by MMEIA legislation passed in a special legislative session. The project will include four data center campuses and a projected investment of $25 billion.
• Provided Mississippi utility regulatory advice to a number of developers seeking to construct behind-the-meter power generation.
• Advised developers with regard to large load electric contracts.
• Led the firm’s team in representing a number of data center projects with regard to site selection, incentives, utility regulatory, real estate and land use matters, environmental permitting, power generation or large load contracts and other project development. In projects with behind-the-meter power generation, the firm also provided broad project development services.

Industrial and Distribution Projects

• Served as lead outside counsel in the development of a tire manufacturing facility qualifying as an MMEIA project.
• Represented an automotive company with regard to a state and local economic development incentive package for a $2 billion facility, including the negotiation of inducement agreements for this MMEIA project.
• Represented a national grocery company in the development of a $350 million, fully automated distribution center.
• Represented the Mississippi Development Authority in connection with the negotiation and implementation of a $293 million incentive package for a steel mill, which was an MMEIA project
• Advised a biochemical company in the development of a $250 million facility.
• Represented both counties and local economic development agencies in large economic development projects. 

Energy Projects

• Led the firm’s team in project development work for over 50 solar and other renewable energy projects, with services including real estate and land use, incentives, public service commission approvals, environmental permitting.
• Represented clients in project finance, sale and acquisition of solar projects.
• Served as counsel for the development of a 3,000 MW HVDC transmission line in Mississippi and Louisiana, including representation before the Mississippi Public Service Commission for a siting certificate.
• Served as lead outside counsel for clients developing energy wood pellet manufacturing and export facilities. 
• Represented large manufacturers in multiple states on energy issues, ranging from the impact of extreme weather events to cogeneration agreements.
• Served as lead Mississippi counsel for a number of pipeline projects ranging in size from $100 million to over $1 billion and totaling over 700 miles, with services including right-of-way acquisition, eminent domain actions, permitting, tax incentives, bond financing and environmental, real estate, regulatory and other commercial issues. 
• Served as outside counsel for development of $2 billion natural gas and NGL export facility. 
• Served as counsel in development of multi-billion dollar LNG liquefication and export facility. 
• Represented a number of independent power producers in connection with site selection, project development and on-going operations for over 15 natural gas or lignite facilities ranging in size from $250 to over $500 million, and in proceedings before the Public Service Commission.
• Obtained siting certificates for independent power producers from the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
• Represented developers of several natural gas processing and underground natural gas storage facilities ranging from $100 to $300 million.
• Advised numerous clients in the sale or financing of large energy facilities. 
• Litigated cases for natural gas pipelines in MS, LA, OK and TX involving issues such as contract, eminent domain and federal and state regulatory matters.  Significant cases include:
  • Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. v. State Oil and Gas Board, 475 U.S. 1099 (1986)
  • Williamson v. Elf Aquitaine, Inc., 138 F. 3d 546 (5th 1998)
  • Ford v. Destin Pipeline, 809 So. 2d 573 (Miss. 2000)
  • Southeast Supply Header, LLC v. 40 Acres, 2007 WL 4459092 (S. D. Miss. 2007)

• Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
  • Energy & Natural Resources (Mississippi), 2009-2026
  • Corporate/Commercial (Mississippi), 2008
• Martindale-Hubbell®, AV-Rated
• Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers®
  • Mid-South Super Lawyer, Energy and Industrial Project Development, 2012-2014
• BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Lawyer of the Year, Mediation, 2022
  • Economic Development Law, 2019-2027
  • Energy Law, 2010-2027
  • Mediation, 2013-2027
  • Natural Resources Law, 2010-2027
  • Oil and Gas Law, 2010-2027
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Who's Who in the World
• Who's Who in American Law
• Who's Who in America

• Mississippi, 1978
• U.S. District Courts
• Mississippi: Northern, Southern
• U.S. Court of Appeals
• 5th Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

• University of Mississippi, J.D., 1978
  • Articles Editor, Mississippi Law Journal
• University of Mississippi, B.A., with distinction, 1975

• American Bar Association
  • Board of Governors
  • House of Delegates
  • Nominating Committee
  • Young Lawyers Division
    • Assembly Speaker
    • Clerk
    • Director
    • Fellow
  • Section on Environment, Energy and Resources
    • Treasurer
    • Director
• Mississippi Bar Association
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
    • Chair
  • Young Lawyers Division
    • Director
    • Fellow
• Capital Area Bar Association
  • Board of Directors
• Jackson Young Lawyers
  • President
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer

• Co-Author, "Mississippi's Fee-in-Lieu Statute and Renewable Energy Exemptions", Environmental Update, November 11, 2022.
• Co-Author, LAW ELEVATED — Recent tax changes to encourage development & new investment, Mississippi Business Journal, September 7, 2018.

• Leadership Greater Jackson
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Board of Directors
  • Chair of the Board
  • Vice-Chair of the Board
  • Trustee
  • Co-Chair of Head of School Search Committee
• St. Andrew's Cathedral
  • Senior Warden
  • Junior Warden
  • Vestry
  • Chair of Dean Search Committee
• Grace House, Inc.
  • Vice President
  • Founding Board Member