Thomas A. Forbes

Thomas A.

Forbes

Overview

Tom is a member of Butler Snow’s Regulatory and Government group. His practice is concentrated on government relations, regulatory and public affairs advice and advocacy and business transactions.

Industry

Experience

  • Over 35 years’ experience representing clients in their dealings with state and federal government agencies, legislators, members of Congress, and executive branch agencies.
  • Serves as a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Austin Trust Company. 
  • Represented a Fortune 100 company regarding the siting, permitting and development of a nuclear power plant.
  • Represented a Fortune 100 company developing statewide public support for a $4+ Billion liquefied natural gas export facility.
  • Represented multinational energy trading company regarding doing business with various Texas generators. 
  • Successfully represented the British Consul General regarding legislation which would have limited state investments in companies doing business in Northern Ireland.
  • Successfully represented the State of Maine, negotiating its withdrawal from an interstate compact with Texas and Vermont, including the waiving of payment of a multi-million dollar exit fee.
  • Represents one of the world’s largest education assessment companies in its dealings with Texas state government.
  • Represented Texas Academy of Family Physicians in legislative matters including dispensing, rural health care, access to care and other issues.
  • Represented the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas; the state association of the governmental affairs community in legislative and regulatory matters.
  • Represented one of the largest medical marijuana companies regarding its efforts to enter the Texas market.
  • Represented a national industry association regarding the passage of Texas legislation legalizing hemp cultivation and the establishment of a new hemp industry in Texas.
  • Represented a Texas groundwater conservation district in its dealings with the U.S. Department of Agriculture developing a multistate, regional effort to conserve groundwater, and before the Texas Legislature.

Distinctions

  • BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Administrative/Regulatory Law, 2010-2024
    • Government Relations Practice, 2007-2024
    • Lawyer of the Year: Government Relations Practice (Austin), 2017
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Commissioner, Legislative and Campaign Law Exam Commission, 2020-Present

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, 1975
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • Baylor University, J.D., 1975
    • Phi Delta Phi
  • Southwestern University, B.A., 1971

Associations

  • Texas Bar Foundation
    • Life Fellow
  • Austin Bar Foundation
    • Founding Fellow
  • Austin Bar Association
  • American Bar Foundation
    • Life Fellow
  • American Bar Association
    • Standing Committee on Government Affairs
    • Latin American Law Initiatives Council
    • Standing Committee on Election Law
    • Standing Committee on Meetings and Travel
    • Special Commission on Latin American Affairs
    • Standing Committee on Group and Prepaid Legal Services
    • House of Delegates
  • State Bar of Texas
    • Legislative and Campaign Law Section
      • Council Member
    • Advertising Review Committee
    • State Legislation Committee
      • Chair
    • Sunset Review Committee
      • Chair
    • Administrative Law Section
      • Chair

Papers, Presentations & Publications

  • Various presentations to bar association, government and public affairs professional programs.  

Civic Involvement

  • Southwestern University, Board of Trustees
  • Austin Area Research Organization
  • Wesleyan Homes, Inc.
    • Trustee
  • Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, University of Texas School of Law, First Class of Fellows
  • Texas Lyceum
    • Director
  • University of Texas School of Architecture Advisory Council
  • University of Texas McDonald Observatory Board of Visitors
  • Leadership Austin
    • Chair
  • Travis County Children’s Advocacy Center
    • Founding President
  • Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc.
    • Recipient of First Volunteer of the Year Award
  • Southwestern University Alumni Association
    • Citation of Merit
  • State Law Resources, Inc.
    • Founding Director
    • Chair

Thomas A.

Forbes

Overview

Tom is a member of Butler Snow’s Regulatory and Government group. His practice is concentrated on government relations, regulatory and public affairs advice and advocacy and business transactions.

Industry

Experience

  • Over 35 years’ experience representing clients in their dealings with state and federal government agencies, legislators, members of Congress, and executive branch agencies.
  • Serves as a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for Austin Trust Company. 
  • Represented a Fortune 100 company regarding the siting, permitting and development of a nuclear power plant.
  • Represented a Fortune 100 company developing statewide public support for a $4+ Billion liquefied natural gas export facility.
  • Represented multinational energy trading company regarding doing business with various Texas generators. 
  • Successfully represented the British Consul General regarding legislation which would have limited state investments in companies doing business in Northern Ireland.
  • Successfully represented the State of Maine, negotiating its withdrawal from an interstate compact with Texas and Vermont, including the waiving of payment of a multi-million dollar exit fee.
  • Represents one of the world’s largest education assessment companies in its dealings with Texas state government.
  • Represented Texas Academy of Family Physicians in legislative matters including dispensing, rural health care, access to care and other issues.
  • Represented the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas; the state association of the governmental affairs community in legislative and regulatory matters.
  • Represented one of the largest medical marijuana companies regarding its efforts to enter the Texas market.
  • Represented a national industry association regarding the passage of Texas legislation legalizing hemp cultivation and the establishment of a new hemp industry in Texas.
  • Represented a Texas groundwater conservation district in its dealings with the U.S. Department of Agriculture developing a multistate, regional effort to conserve groundwater, and before the Texas Legislature.

Distinctions

  • BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Administrative/Regulatory Law, 2010-2024
    • Government Relations Practice, 2007-2024
    • Lawyer of the Year: Government Relations Practice (Austin), 2017
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Commissioner, Legislative and Campaign Law Exam Commission, 2020-Present

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, 1975
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • Baylor University, J.D., 1975
    • Phi Delta Phi
  • Southwestern University, B.A., 1971

Associations

  • Texas Bar Foundation
    • Life Fellow
  • Austin Bar Foundation
    • Founding Fellow
  • Austin Bar Association
  • American Bar Foundation
    • Life Fellow
  • American Bar Association
    • Standing Committee on Government Affairs
    • Latin American Law Initiatives Council
    • Standing Committee on Election Law
    • Standing Committee on Meetings and Travel
    • Special Commission on Latin American Affairs
    • Standing Committee on Group and Prepaid Legal Services
    • House of Delegates
  • State Bar of Texas
    • Legislative and Campaign Law Section
      • Council Member
    • Advertising Review Committee
    • State Legislation Committee
      • Chair
    • Sunset Review Committee
      • Chair
    • Administrative Law Section
      • Chair

Papers, Presentations & Publications

  • Various presentations to bar association, government and public affairs professional programs.  

Civic Involvement

  • Southwestern University, Board of Trustees
  • Austin Area Research Organization
  • Wesleyan Homes, Inc.
    • Trustee
  • Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, University of Texas School of Law, First Class of Fellows
  • Texas Lyceum
    • Director
  • University of Texas School of Architecture Advisory Council
  • University of Texas McDonald Observatory Board of Visitors
  • Leadership Austin
    • Chair
  • Travis County Children’s Advocacy Center
    • Founding President
  • Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc.
    • Recipient of First Volunteer of the Year Award
  • Southwestern University Alumni Association
    • Citation of Merit
  • State Law Resources, Inc.
    • Founding Director
    • Chair