James C. Holsclaw

Jim has extensive experience serving energy industry clients, practicing before state and federal agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He has comprehensive knowledge of wholesale electricity markets and has served as national coordinating counsel for large-scale utility integrations and complex, multi-jurisdictional regulatory matters.

Jim’s experience includes representation of Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations, investor-owned utilities, merchant generators, and renewable energy developers. 

Chambers USA recognized Jim as a Leading Lawyer in Energy & Natural Resources in Indiana, ranked in Band 2 (2023-2024). A client providing feedback to Chambers USA stated, "Jim is a strategic thinker and a strong communicator."

Additionally, Jim served as outside general counsel for privately held Indiana businesses, advising them in general corporate matters, contract negotiations and litigation.

Prior to joining Calfee in 2021, Jim served as President of The Holsclaw Group, LLC, an Indiana-based law firm specializing in energy policy, regulatory compliance, corporate strategy and privately held business matters.

Jim earned his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2001 and his B.A. in English from Butler University in 1998.

Honors & Recognitions

Chambers USA, Energy & Natural Resources, Band 2, Indiana (2023-2024) 

Education

J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law, 2001

B.A., English, Butler University, 1998

Experience

• Serving as co-counsel to public utility companies providing natural gas distribution services in relation to its request for a rate increase. We also provided guidance with Intervenor Compensation rulemaking and Thermal Energy Network policy development.
• Serving as co-counsel and local due diligence counsel to a Canadian pension investment manager, helping to provide economic and environmental regulatory due diligence for the possible acquisition of a stake in a public utility.
• Providing legal and regulatory strategy, managing the development of the filing and expert testimony, and drafted tariff language, a transmittal letter, and pre-filed testimony for an independent organization that manages and administers significant energy markets in North America.
• Providing legal strategy and defense of a complaint filed against an independent organization that manages and administers significant energy markets in North America. Specifically, Calfee is assisting the client in the defense of a complaint brought by a national solar energy trade association, alleging that the client's Tariff is unjust and unreasonable.
• Providing direction on legal and regulatory strategy, draft filing, and pre-filed testimony and assisting in regulatory compliance and discovery processes for an independent organization that manages and administers significant energy markets in North America. Specifically, Calfee manages the stakeholder processes and presentations and assists with the client’s compliance with FERC Order No. 2222 directing RTOs to allow distributed energy resources (DER) to participate in wholesale electricity markets. This matter is of high importance to the client and involves FERC’s direction in Order No. 2222 and removes barriers to allow DERs to participate in wholesale markets, therefore expanding the grid to previously precluded resources. The rules developed through the stakeholder engagement and filings related to this FERC’s mandate will allow the expansion of wholesale market participation to aggregations of smart residential devices like thermostats and electric vehicle chargers.
• Provided legal and compliance strategy, witness training and preparation, mock audit preparation, review, and advice on audit responses for an independent organization that manages and administers significant energy markets in North America. Specifically in this matter, Calfee represented the client in a North America Electric Reliability Council’s (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) audit. This matter was of high importance to the client and involved the preparation of witnesses and responses for audit assessing cyber security of critical energy infrastructure systems and assets.
• Assisting a nationwide energy management company, with third-party discovery responses, witness preparation, and witness defense in third-party 30(b)(6) depositions. The client was involved in discovery and deposed as a third-party service provider to a named party in litigation involving the operation and potential retirement of a generator.

Professional & Community

Energy Bar Association, Midwest Chapter, Board Director