Overview
Warren Matthews is Co-Chair of the firm’s Manufacturing Industry Group where he focuses on economic development and state and local taxation. He represents foreign and domestic companies that are locating and/or expanding their business operations in the United States. Most of his clients are in the Manufacturing sector.
Warren has assisted over 130 economic development projects/expansions representing an estimated $24 billion of capital investment and over 33,000 new jobs. Projects include work for Mercedes-Benz, Honda, ThyssenKrupp (now AM/NS Calvert), Hyundai, KIA, Kronospan, Brown-Forman and Airbus. Economic development work involves site selection, incentives negotiations and implementation, and a myriad of matters required to get a project sited, constructed, equipped and a workforce hired and trained. Warren remains involved with these economic development clients throughout their life cycles, assisting them with contractual and operational matters.
Warren has advised numerous clients on state and local tax issues including matters relating to tax incentives, sales and use tax, property tax, income tax and business license tax. This work typically involves planning advice but also includes tax litigation.
With almost 30 years of experience representing all types of nonprofit entities, Warren has successfully guided many organizations through the tax exemption application process. Examples include work for the following nonprofit organizations – Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Bar Foundation, Alabama Basketball Foundation, Alabama Prep Football Foundation and numerous private foundations.
Experience
- Negotiation and implementation of incentives for ThyssenKrupp's Project Compass located in Mobile County, Alabama, the largest private economic development project in Alabama history.
- Negotiation and implementation of incentives for multiple expansions of Mercedes-Benz Plant located in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
- Negotiation and implementation of incentives for expansion of Honda Plant located in Talladega County, Alabama.
- Site selection and negotiation and implementation of incentives for KIA Plant located in West Point, Georgia.
- Site selection and negotiation and implementation of incentives for Brown-Forman's Jack Daniel Cooperage Plant located in Lawrence County, Alabama.
- Site selection and negotiation and implementation of incentives for IPSCO Steel Plant (now SSAB) located in Mobile County, Alabama.
- Site selection and negotiation and implementation of incentives for the Kronospan Plant located in Oxford, Alabama.
- Negotiation and implementation of incentives for Airbus Plants in Mobile, Alabama.
Honors & Recognitions
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®️, Economic Development Law since 2011, Non-Profit/Charities Law since 2007, Tax Law since 2010, Corporate Law since 2022, Mergers & Acquisitions since 2023
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®️, "Lawyer of the Year," Corporate Law, Montgomery, AL (2022,2024) Tax Law, Montgomery, AL (2016 & 2020)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent© Peer Review Rating
- Birmingham Business Journal's "Top 40 Under 40"
- Leadership Alabama, Class of XXI
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Civic Activities
- Greenville YMCA, Past Chairman
- Fort Dale Academy, Past Chairman
- First United Methodist Church of Greenville, Trustee
- Montgomery Area YMCA, Board
- Fort Dale Pee Wee Basketball, Commissioner and Coach
- United Methodist Children’s Home, Vice President
- Blackburn Institute (University of Alabama)
Professional Activities
- Alabama State Bar, Board of Bar Examiners, Chairman
- Alabama State Bar, Tax Section, Past Chairman
- Alabama Law Institute, Nonprofit Corporation Committee
- Alabama Federal Tax Clinic, Board of Directors
- American Bar Association, Exempt Organizations Committee
- American Bar Association, Taxation Section
Paralegal/Assistant
Legal Practice Assistant
Tina George
(334) 241-7000
tgeorge@burr.com