Warren has worked extensively with domestic and foreign companies to secure economic and tax incentives for manufacturing facilities locating in the Southeastern United States. To date, he has worked on new economic development projects and expansions representing over $16 billion of capital investment and the creation of over 25,000 new jobs. In collaboration with his partner, Lee Thuston, Warren assisted with the site selection and incentive implementation for the KIA Motors plant located in West Point, Georgia, the ThyssenKrupp steel mills located in Mobile County, Alabama, and most recently the Jack Daniel Cooperage Project located in Lawrence County, Alabama. In addition, Warren has assisted with the negotiation of incentives packages for major plant expansions in Alabama for companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Honda. Closer to home, he enjoys working with Greenville and Butler County officials on exploring economic development opportunities.
In 2000, Warren and his family moved to Greenville, Alabama, and he opened the Montgomery, Alabama office for Burr & Forman. The Montgomery office serves as the center of the firm’s governmental relations and regulatory practices. It provides Burr & Forman’s clients with valuable access to the state government and its many functions.
Warren is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the Economic Development, Nonprofit, and Tax Law categories. Warren is co-author, with partner Bruce Rawls, of “Proposed Amendment to the Alabama Qualification and Franchise Taxes: Promoting Horizontal Equity for Domestic and Foreign Taxpayers” (43 Alabama Law Review 683, 1992). He is co-author, with partners Louis Anders and Lee Thuston, of Alabama Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual. He authored Chapter 17 “Nonprofit Corporations of Contemporary Corporation Forms” (Second Edition) and “Alabama Laws Concerning Nonprofit Organizations” in the Exempt Organizations Tax Review (1998). Warren frequently lectures on topics involving state and local taxation, economic development, nonprofit entity issues, charitable planned giving and probate matters. Warren is a longtime member of the Alabama Board of Bar Examiners.
Warren received his B.S. from the University of Alabama. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University, where he was the Student Authorities Editor of the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law. He also received his LL.M. degree in Taxation from New York University.
Warren presently serves as the Chairman of the Greenville YMCA, Chairman of Fort Dale Academy and on the Board of Trustees of the Greenville First United Methodist Church. He previously served as counsel for several nonprofit organizations, including the Birmingham Zoo, the Birmingham Bar Foundation, the Alabama Basketball Foundation, and the Alabama Prep Football Foundation. In 1999, he was selected as one of Birmingham’s “Top 40 Under 40,” an award given to dynamic men and women who have distinguished themselves as outstanding young achievers in business, civic and social accomplishments. In 2010-2011, Mr. Matthews had the privilege of participating in Class XXI of Leadership Alabama.
Warren was born and raised in Ozark, where his mother’s family was in the wholesale grocery business for over 100 years and his father practiced law and served as a District Judge. He and his wife Elizabeth (Stabler) have two children, Anne and Warren Jr. His interests include golf, tennis and coaching youth basketball.
Warren has worked extensively with domestic and foreign companies to secure economic and tax incentives for manufacturing facilities locating in the Southeastern United States. To date, he has worked on new economic development projects and expansions representing over $16 billion of capital investment and the creation of over 25,000 new jobs. In collaboration with his partner, Lee Thuston, Warren assisted with the site selection and incentive implementation for the KIA Motors plant located in West Point, Georgia, the ThyssenKrupp steel mills located in Mobile County, Alabama, and most recently the Jack Daniel Cooperage Project located in Lawrence County, Alabama. In addition, Warren has assisted with the negotiation of incentives packages for major plant expansions in Alabama for companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Honda. Closer to home, he enjoys working with Greenville and Butler County officials on exploring economic development opportunities.
In 2000, Warren and his ...
Personal Q&A
What is your favorite thing about the law?
One particular area of my practice, economic development, has allowed me to see that the work we do on the front-end leads to substantial transformations to affected communities through increased employment, new or upgraded infrastructure, and all the positive ripple effects that go with an economic development project. The difference can be as simple as a new job enabling someone to own a home versus renting one. We are part of the positive change and that is really rewarding.
What community projects are you involved in?
I was fortunate to be part of and volunteered to do the legal work for two (2) groups that brought the state high school boys and girls basketball (AHSAA Final Four) and football (Super Six) state championships to Birmingham. The state championship in any high school sport is a huge event but these organizations, in conjunction with the Alabama High School Athleti...
What is your favorite thing about the law?
One particular area of my practice, economic development, has allowed me to see that the work we do on the front-end leads to substantial transformations to affected communities through increased employment, new or upgraded infrastructure, and all the positive ripple effects that go with an economic development project. The difference can be as simple as a new job enabling someone to own a home versus renting one. We are part of the positive change and that is really rewarding.
What community projects are you involved in?
I was fortunate to be part of and volunteered to do the legal work for two (2) groups that brought the state high school boys and girls basketball (AHSAA Final Four) and football (Super Six) state championships to Birmingham. The state championship in any high school sport is a huge event but these organizations, in conjunction with the Alabama High School Athletic Association have taken it to a higher level and the positive impact for the schools and their athletes has been very exciting to witness first hand. I am presently the Chairman of the Greenville YMCA and we are about to undertake a substantial capital campaign. I also assist the Greenville community with various economic development projects.
What was your first job?
My first job was as a route salesperson for my mother’s family business, M.O. Carroll-Newton Company in Ozark, Alabama. I would drive throughout South Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Southwest Georgia and pick up orders from small groceries and convenience stores for goods such as candy, canned goods, tobacco products and sport drinks. This job instilled in me that customer satisfaction is a top priority.
What are your hobbies?
Golf, basketball and tennis are the recreational sports that I continue to play. However, my favorite sport to play is squash which I infrequently play with my partner, Ben Johnson. I really enjoy coaching my kids’ basketball teams with my wife (who was a strong high school basketball player in her day). A recent golf trip to Western Ireland was my ultimate golf experience.
What advice would you give to a young law student?
When I interview law students at Vanderbilt, I always tell my interviewees the truth - law school gives you very little practical experience for practicing law; you will learn the most important aspects of the legal profession in the first three years of practice, so hang in there.