Robert regularly advises and consults with business and family leaders, economic development and other public officials. With over thirty-five years of experience in a very broad based tax practice, he has represented manufacturers, developers, public entities, estates, trade associations, governments, regulators and individuals. Robert regularly advises clients on matters of tax business and estate planning, acquisitions, financings, assessing environmental risks, contracting, joint ventures, transactions and operations, and is a frequent lecturer on matters concerning tax and business issues.
Robert was the first associate hired upon the firm’s formation in 1983. Outside of the law practice, Robert serves on various local boards and church committees.
Experience >
- Represented foreign conglomerate in multi-million dollar sale of US sawmill operations to foreign purchaser
- Represented closely-held businesses before US Tax Court and Alabama Department of Revenue proceedings
- Represented foreign suppliers in structuring and funding their US operations, including the negotiation of tax incentives and project agreements
- Advised on the acquisition and development of landfills
- Structuring DISCs for domestic exporters
- Represented the Alabama House Ways and Means Committee with respect to rewriting the franchise tax laws
- Completed some of the first assessment backed financings in Alabama
- Formed and licensed the first domestic captive insurance company in Alabama
Memberships and Affiliations >
- Board of Directors, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, serving on Incentive Sub-Committee as well as I-65 Development Group
- Board of Trustees, Alabama State University
- National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Alabama State Bar, International Law Section, Tax Section (Editor, Tax Section Newsletter, 1989-91)
- American Bar Association, Section of Taxation
Education >
- B.S., University of Alabama, 1979
- J.D., University of Alabama, 1982
- LL.M. in Taxation, New York University, 1983
Accolades >
- Best Lawyers in America©, Tax Law and Litigation
- Best Lawyers in America©, 2017 Lawyer of the Year
- AV-Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell
- Member of Robert E. Lee High School Hall of Fame
- Member, University of Alabama Law Society, 1980-81
- Article Editor, American Journal of Tax Policy, 1981-82
Presentations and Publications >
- “Alabama Captive Insurance Companies” / Carr, Riggs, & Ingram, LLC, August 30, 2006
- Municipal Law Conference, Huntsville, Alabama May 21, 2005 “The EastChase Experience - Alabama Improvement Districts”
- Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants, August, 2004 “Income Taxation of Estates and Trusts”
- Commercial Real Estate Transactions Seminar, HealthSouth Conference Center, Birmingham, Alabama, March, 2003 “Alabama Improvement Districts”
- May, 2001, Alabama League of Municipalities Annual Convention “Municipal Debt Seminar” Montgomery, Alabama
- International Trade Seminar, November, 1995, “Foreign Sales - Tax Benefits of Exporting”
- “A Grab Bag of Legal Issues Relating to Solid Waste Disposal Facilities” May, 1995
Related Practices
- Public Finance
- Economic Development
- Federal and State Tax Controversy
- Insurance Companies
- Corporate and Securities
- Tax
- Estate and Business Succession
- Corporate Transparency Act
Bar Admissions
- Supreme Court of Alabama
- United States District Court, Middle District of Alabama
- United States Tax Court
Licensed In
- Alabama