About Tom
Tom’s practice focuses on business planning, business disputes and representing businesses and their principals in litigation. He regularly represents businesses in commercial disputes. He also defends companies that provide financial services, manufacture products and develop or sell real estate, and contractors involved in construction disputes. With an extensive litigation, trial and tax background, Tom enjoys working with growing and evolving businesses while helping clients manage risks and plan for the future.
Tom has significant experience in a variety of disciplines, including business torts involving proprietary and trade secrets claims, copyright and non-competition issues, products liability, mass torts, real estate, construction, financial services, admiralty, insurance and other general commercial litigation claims. Licensed and actively practicing in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, in both state and federal courts, Tom has regional trial, litigation and arbitration experience.
Before joining the firm, Tom was in-house counsel for a general aviation manufacturer, where he focused on the company’s nationwide and international product liability defense and was responsible for other labor, employment, warranty, aviation maintenance, and general corporate matters. Tom is also an instrument rated private pilot.
As a member of the Mobile Bar Association, Tom was elected to serve as Assistant Treasurer (2011) and Treasurer (2012), and he is a past president of the Young Laywers’ Section. He regularly writes and presents current issues in the law to various national legal organizations. Most recently, Tom spoke to the Defense Research Institute’s Construction Law Section on the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, and was co-author of a published admiralty law update: Recent Developments in Admiralty Law in the Eleventh, Eighth, and Sixth Circuits, Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, 2003. Tom is also a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. In addition, he was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Alabama Super Lawyers in 2011 and 2012.
Tom graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and earned his masters in tax law from the University of Alabama. He was a member of the Order of Barristers, the Bench & Bar Legal Honor Society, the Farrah Law Society, and the John A. Campbell Moot Court Board. He graduated, cum laude, from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, and is also a lifetime member and former district director of The Citadel Alumni Association.
When he is not working or studying the law, Tom enjoys spending time with his lovely wife, Valerie, and their two children, Emma Caroline and Thomas. Tom also enjoys flying, reading, traveling, golf and tennis.
Reported Cases
Murray v. Holiday Isle, LLC, 620 F. Supp. 2d 1302 (S.D. Ala. 2009)
Freemanville Water System, Inc. v. Poarch Band of Creek Indians, 563 F. 3d 1205 (11th Cir. 2009)
Taylor v. Holiday Isle, LLC, 561 F. Supp. 2d 1269 (S.D. Ala. 2008)
Holiday Isle v. Adkins, 12 So. 3d 1173 (Ala. 2008)
Drago v. Holiday Isle, 537 F. Supp. 2d 1219 (S.D. Ala. 2007)
Brown Electro Mechanical Systems v. Thompson Engineering, Inc., 848 So. 2d 238 (Ala. 2002)