Dorsey & Whitney LLP has announced the addition of David Fountain as a partner in its Commercial Litigation group. Fountain brings extensive experience from his previous roles at Duke Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
At Duke Energy, Fountain held several key positions, including Senior Vice President of Legal, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary. In these roles, he was responsible for overseeing corporate governance and compliance matters, ensuring effective communication with the company’s board of directors. He also served as Duke Energy’s North Carolina President, where he managed operations for approximately 3.3 million electricity customers and 717,000 natural gas customers. Notably, he coordinated the company’s response to hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018. ([tva.com](https://www.tva.com/Newsroom/Press-Releases/TVA-Appoints-New-Vice-General-Counsel?utm_source=openai))
In 2020, Fountain joined TVA as Senior Vice President and Vice General Counsel. In this capacity, he oversaw the administrative and operational functions of the Office of General Counsel, leading litigation, enterprise records, and ethics and compliance efforts. ([tva.com](https://www.tva.com/Newsroom/Press-Releases/TVA-Appoints-New-Vice-General-Counsel?utm_source=openai))
Fountain’s educational background includes a Juris Doctor, Master of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He remains actively involved with UNC as an Energy Advisory Board member of the Kenan-Flagler Business School and serves on the boards of the Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen in Raleigh and the Alexander YMCA. ([tva.com](https://www.tva.com/Newsroom/Press-Releases/TVA-Appoints-New-Vice-General-Counsel?utm_source=openai))
Fountain’s arrival at Dorsey & Whitney is part of the firm’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its litigation capabilities. In recent years, the firm has made several strategic hires, including the addition of Edward J. Loya Jr., a former federal prosecutor, as Head of the Trial Practice Group in the Dallas office. ([dorsey.com](https://www.dorsey.com/newsresources/news/press-releases/2025/05/edward-loya-joins-dorsey?utm_source=openai))
With Fountain’s extensive experience in the energy sector and his leadership roles in both legal and compliance functions, his addition is expected to enhance Dorsey & Whitney’s ability to serve clients in complex commercial litigation and regulatory matters.