Thomas H. Brinkley

As Chair of the Firm’s Economic Development/Incentives Group, Tom specializes in identifying and procuring tax incentive packages for businesses in the State of Alabama, whether for existing Alabama entities, international concerns, or businesses looking to build and establish operations in Alabama, as well as site selection activities. His list of clients that he has advised includes companies based in Japan, Germany, Canada, France, England, Korea, and China. With a current focus on the automotive and aviation/aerospace sectors, Tom represents all types of public and private companies in the service and manufacturing sectors.

In addition to his Economic Development/Incentives practice, Tom handles Alabama state and local tax legislation, compliance, and controversial work. He also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to representing and advising privately held companies in general corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, business and tax planning, and corporate finance.

Tom's talents have earned him recognition by Best Lawyers® as a leader in the areas of Corporate Law, Economic Development Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, and Tax Law since 2006. He was named by Best Lawyers® as the 2017 "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Economic Development Law, a distinction given to only one attorney in each geographic area, and "Best of the Bar" by Alabama publications in 2019 and again in 2020.

“Tom knows our business and culture as well as anyone outside the company. Maynard’s knowledge of the local and state regulations governing our business has been invaluable to us, and Tom in particular.”

Affiliations

• Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA), Board of Directors
• American Bar Association, Section of Taxation
• Alabama State Bar Association, Tax Section, Past Chair
• Business Council of Alabama, Tax Committee
• Alabama Aerospace Industry Association
• Economic Development Association of Alabama
• Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association
• Alabama-Germany Partnership, Board of Directors
• The Japan American Society of Alabama

Civic Involvement

• PARCA, Board Member
• Sunrise Rotary Club of Birmingham, Paul Harris Fellowship
• Virginia Club of Birmingham (Past President)
• Jefferson Scholarship Regional Selection Committee for UVA
• Habitat for Humanity
• Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs (Past Chairman of Board; Past President)
• Exceptional Foundation, Past Member of Board of Directors

• August 6, 2019: Panel on Mazda Toyota in Alabama at 2019 EDAA Summer Conference
• November 2-3, 2017: "Public Private Side of Economic Development" for Southern Business Law Institute, co-presenter with Greg Canfield, Alabama Secretary of Commerce, and Patrick Murphy, Vice President of Sales, Business & Economic Development with Alabama Power Company. To view the presentation slides, Click Here
• October 17, 2014: "Opportunities in Tax Credit Negotiations and Nontraditional Incentives" for Paul J. Hartman State and Local Tax Forum, Nashville TN