Jacob R. Swatley

Jacob Swatley began working with Harris Shelton as a law student at the University of Mississippi, serving two stints as a summer associate. Since then, he’s continued to grow his role at the firm, becoming an attorney with principal practice areas in healthcare litigation, business organizations and election law matters.

Jacob represents healthcare providers and practitioners in malpractice lawsuits, and frequently advises healthcare clients on risk mitigation, compliance, employment contracts, and workers’ compensation matters. He also leads Harris Shelton’s COVID-19 practice; advised firm clients on CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program regulations; and assisted them with legal issues related to vaccinations, contact tracing, and reopening plans.

In the area of election law, Jacob has advised legislators on the redistricting process and has handled redistricting cases before the Tennessee Supreme Court. He has also supported some of the Mid-South’s largest businesses and non-profit organizations in the area of government affairs and has drafted numerous pieces of legislation at the state level that have become law. At present, Jacob is litigation counsel for the Shelby County Election Commission, and he is active with both the Memphis Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society and the Republican National Lawyers Association.

Jacob has also assisted numerous businesses with organizational formation and general corporate affairs, utilizing his litigation experience to help clients avoid pitfalls before they arise. He has closed on a variety of transactions, ranging from small business deals to healthcare acquisitions worth tens of millions of dollars. 

Jacob received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis in political science before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he was staff editor of both the Mississippi Law Journal and the Federal Courts Law Review. He is active with both the Memphis and Tennessee Bar Associations.