The Southern Company has named James Kerr as chief compliance officer and general counsel, effective March 8.

Kerr joins the electric utilities company from the law firm McGuireWoods, where he was a partner and co-chair of the firm's energy industry team. He further served as a senior adviser at McGuireWoods Consulting since 2008.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Kerr was a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners from 2007 to 2008; and president of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners from 2002 to 2003.