James “Jim” Guy’s legal career was defined by tireless advocacy for electric cooperatives and the members they serve
March 2026
James Patrick “Jim” Guy II, of Saxe, Va., was a tireless advocate and trusted legal voice in the cooperative world.
by Laura Emery, Staff Writer
James Patrick “Jim” Guy II, of Saxe, Va., spent his career making sure electric cooperative members were never an afterthought.
A tireless advocate and trusted legal voice in the cooperative world, he helped shape energy policy discussions with balance, foresight and a deep respect for cooperative values.
He passed away on Jan. 21, leaving behind a lasting legacy. During his tenure at LeClairRyan from 1994 to 2019, Guy served as energy practice leader. While the firm served as general counsel to Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, Guy’s work played a central role in the legal transformation of ODEC into an asset-owning, operational G&T. His work also included contracts and legal transactions related to the development and construction of ODEC’s Marsh Run, Louisa and Rock Springs power plants.
Guy provided extensive legal counsel to member cooperatives of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives, including work on the agreed withdrawal of NOVEC from ODEC, the acquisition of Delmarva Power’s service territory by A&N Electric Cooperative and the acquisition of Allegheny Power’s distribution territory by Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative.
His work extended to drafting and revising Virginia law governing electric cooperatives, including a major rewrite of the Cooperatives Act — the Virginia law that governs the incorporation and governance of electric cooperatives and the cooperative business model — as well as significant portions of the commonwealth’s utility law. His work shaped Virginia’s experiment with electric deregulation in the late 1990s as it applied to cooperatives and the subsequent re-regulation in 2007. Much of the legal framework from which Virginia’s electric cooperatives benefit today is built on that foundation.
“Jim was more than a brilliant lawyer — he was a friend and a mentor to all who knew him,” says Andrew Vehorn, senior vice president of member engagement at ODEC. “He shaped not just institutions and laws, but people. His generosity with his time, wisdom and encouragement left a mark on every one of us.”
After being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in October 2004, Guy began writing a blog chronicling his experience. His first post, titled “Everything is Different Now,” marked the start of a long and difficult journey. Through candid reflections on his daily health struggles and challenges, he offered encouragement, comfort and inspiration to others facing serious illness. Guy would eventually overcome the cancer with remarkable resilience.
In March 2020, Guy joined Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative as general counsel, leading the legal team for MEC and its affiliates. Guy championed fair and forward-thinking policies on behalf of MEC’s members. Says MEC President and CEO Casey Logan, “We would not be where we are today at MEC or EMPOWER without Jim’s unwavering dedication, wise counsel and steady guidance.”
Throughout his career, Guy has served on the board of the Energy Bar Association and as president of the EBA’s Southern Chapter covering 10 states, including Virginia. He served on the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the HARPS Foundation boards of directors. He also served as president of the Virginia Bar Association in 2016 and chaired the Air Pollution Control Board starting in 2022.
Outside of his professional life, Guy was loved by many. He was devoted to his family and enjoyed spending time with his wife of 35 years, Judith; his children Callaghan, Seamus and Mairead; and grandchildren Imogen and Aoife. He also had a deep love of music and a strong faith in God.
Guy’s influence endures in the policies he helped shape on behalf of the electric cooperatives of Virginia, and in the many lives he touched along the way. Says CEO of VMDAEC Brian Mosier, “Jim Guy’s distinguished legacy is one of service, integrity and steadfast advocacy for Virginia’s electric cooperatives. For his commitment and many years of dedicated service, he will be remembered with profound admiration and respect.”
