Starnes Davis Florie LLP
100 Brookwood Place, 7th Floor
Birmingham, AL 35209
(205)868-6083 /
Thomas “Trey” is a 2005 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law where he was was selected and served as an editor for the Alabama Law Review and a 2001 graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in Psychology. Trey is an associate at Starnes Davis Florie LLP and practices in Civil Litigation with a primary focus on Complex Business Litigation, Professional Liability and Appellate Advocacy.
Trey was named a Rising Star for the state of Alabama by the 2011 editorial edition of Alabama Super Lawyers magazine. He is currently the executive editor of ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association and a member of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the ABA. Trey is Vice-Chair for the TIPS Section’s Public Relations Committee, the Products Liability Committee, as well as the Task Force for Outreach to Young Lawyers. He is also a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
A former president of the Alabama State Bar who recommended Trey says, “Trey is the son of one of my longtime law partners and friend. I watched Trey grow up from birth and have observed him in numerous settings, both social and professional, for his entire life. He has been a leader throughout his life, in school activities, community activities and bar work. He has been a leader in pro bono activities at his firm. Trey has been active in the TIPS section of the ABA and I’m impressed he is interested in providing service to our state bar. Trey truly understands that as lawyers we have an obligation to give back to our fellow citizens and will be a very good addition to the Leadership Forum Class. I’ve watched this program grow from its inception and congratulate all of you for the hard work you provide to continue and strengthen this important part of our state bar.”
In his own words, Trey said, “I have been practicing since 2005, primarily in the area of civil litigation defense. In the context of my private practice, I believe, and would hope those who have worked with me would attest, my most important contribution to the profession is professionalism. I believe that the bar has an excellent history of professional courtesy and ethics, and I try every day to promote the continuance of the same. While we are all striving to obtain favorable results for our clients, this can be achieved, and in most cases are more effective, by maintaining a friendly and professional relationship with opposing counsel. It is my sincere hope that at the end of my career those that I have litigated against will view me not only as a tireless advocate, but one who will not sacrifice professionalism, respect, or trust. Over the course of the last six years, I have learned that while effective representation of your clients is an important aspect of being a good lawyer, the role of all lawyers should include serving the profession and the community by helping to foster the principles of justice, professional ethics, and the rule of law. Of the lawyers I have come into contact with over my career, those of whom I consider to be ‘great’ lawyers all, without exception, have volunteered their time as leaders in the legal profession. I have tried to volunteer as much of my time as I have been able in the service of the profession. After spending the first few years of my practice focused on learning how to effectively practice law, I became actively involved in leadership positions in the American Bar Association in 2008. I have served in several positions with the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) of the ABA, and, schedule permitting, attend four leadership meetings per year, including the mid-year and annual meetings of the ABA. Since 2008, I have served as vice-chair of the TIPS Public Relations Committee, and in that role recently took the lead in organizing a children’s mock trial program during the TIPS Spring Leadership Meeting in Amelia Island, Florida. We coordinated with a local children’s theatre and put on a mock trial based on the fairy tale ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes.” It was styled as a civil suit between the emperor and his tailors, and the children in the audience served as the jury. After the conclusion of the mock trial, we helped the children in the jury conduct their deliberations and come to a verdict, which was a finding of liability, awarding no damages, but requiring the tailors to apologize. It was truly fascinating observing the children’s inherent grasp of the concepts of fairness and justice, and was a pleasure to introduce them to the concept of the American jury system. While I have served in leadership positions with the ABA, I have not yet had the opportunity to serve in such a position with the Alabama State Bar (ASB). I do believe, however, that my leadership experience in the ABA will be an asset that I could bring to a leadership role in the ASB. I would hope that if selected as a participant in the Leadership Forum I could learn more about the needs the ASB has as well as how I as a young lawyer could serve to fill those needs. I also believe that the education I would receive in the Leadership Forum as to what it takes to be an effective leader in the ASB would be invaluable as I endeavor to become more involved in service to the ASB.”
