Butler Snow has hired Jones Wilson “J.W.” Luna to join the firm’s regulatory and government group in Nashville, Tennessee.
Luna’s practice involves working with state and local governments as well as businesses and other commercial entities in the group, which focuses on governmental relations, public utilities, administrative law, telecommunications, and commercial litigation.
“J.W. has previously served clients’ government relations needs,” said group leader Melvin J. Malone. “He will work with our regulatory and government practice group to ensure that the government relations needs of our clients are met.”
Luna most recently worked at his own firm, Luna Law Group, which he founded in 2002.
Under former Tennessee Gov. Ned McWherter, who was in office from 1987 until 1995, Luna was commissioner of personnel from 1987 to 1988 and commissioner of the Department of Health and Environment from 1988 to 1991. Luna went on to create the concept for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. After the new department was approved by lawmakers and the governor, he served as its first commissioner from 1991 to 1995.
In private practice, his biography on Butler Snow’s website said Luna worked on environmental matters for several commercial developments. He also practiced before the Tennessee Public Utility Commission and has served as outside counsel to several commissioners of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
At his own firm, about one-third of his practice included working with state, local and municipal agencies, according to a profile posted on Super Lawyers in April.
At Butler Snow, his practice will be “fairly broad,” focusing primarily on environmental and regulatory issues, including those involving public utilities, said Malone.
While he will work with state and local governments, Luna will not work on public finance issues, Malone said.
Luna received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He is a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Nashville Bar Foundation.
