Jeffrey Thomas has over fifteen years of legal, government relations, and public policy making experience related to community and economic development; disaster recovery management; energy and environmental regulation; public-private project financing; and real estate development.
Jeffrey’s experience includes senior government executive roles in crafting budgets, legislation, programs, and regulations; legal practice experience with commercial, environmental, and real estate litigation and regulatory compliance; legislative lobbying and federal agency negotiation experience; and strategic planning counsel related to disaster resilience investment, public-private partnerships, and sustainable venture formation and growth.
Jeffrey leverages this experience to provide both traditional legal services and strategic counsel to public and private sector clients nationwide. Among recent projects, Jeffrey has advised several state and local government clients, including most recently in Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, and New York, among other markets, on federal agency negotiations, investment strategies, policy formation, and regulatory compliance for developing community-scale resilience plans related to coastal restoration, flood prone property relocations, food system security, renewable energy sources, and water management. Additionally, on behalf of the City of New Orleans, Jeffrey coordinated a public-private task force to craft infrastructure investment, policy, and governance strategies for improving long-term effectiveness of the city’s water management and flood protection systems.
Jeffrey also provides traditional business transaction and real estate development legal services that help ventures structure innovative public-private financing, partnerships, and development strategies. Using this approach, since 2011, Jeffrey has helped secure and structure public-private financing and community support for over $65 million in commercial blight revitalization projects. Additionally, Jeffrey advises several emerging-growth ventures and impact investors on business structuring, market entry and partnership strategies based on regulatory and investment trends.
Jeffrey counsels public and private sector clients on governmental operational efficiencies, policy formation, and program implementation based on nearly two decades of relevant experience at every level of government. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Jeffrey supervised policy development for the City of New Orleans’ long-term disaster recovery, helping to shape government programs to coordinate the use of over $1 billion in federal funds for hosing, economic development, and infrastructure investments. Prior to that role, Jeffrey’s legal practice and previous advocacy experience centered on analyzing and representing stakeholder interests within state and federal budgeting, legislative, and rule-making processes.
Jeffrey is a 2001 graduate of Tulane Law School with a certificate in energy and environmental law; and a 1994 graduate of Millersville University (PA), with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Secondary Education.
Recognition
- New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (2011-2012)
- Fellow, Loyola University Institute for Politics (2009)
- New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Award (2007)
- Gambit Weekly “Forty Under Forty” Selection (2006)
Education
- Millersville University (B.A., 1994)
- Tulane University (J.D., 2001)
Publications
- Living with Water in the Era of Climate Change: Innovation and Limitation in the Planning and Rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.” Journal of Planning Education & Research (publication pending).
- “Reimaging New Orleans Post-Katrina: A Case Study in Using Disaster Recovery Funds to Rebuild More Resiliently.” Georgetown Climate Center (August 2015).
- Management & Investment Strategies for Enhancing Stormwater Protection and Water and Sewerage Service in New Orleans.” New Orleans Citizen Sewer, Water & Drainage System Reform Task Force (April 2012).
- “Abating Katrina’s Second Wave: A Strategy for Using Code Enforcement to Target Unoccupied Nuisance and Blighted Property in Post-Disaster New Orleans.” Loyola Law Review (Winter 2007).
- Recommendations for Structuring a City Government “Recovery Office” to Utilize Local Recovery Plans to Maximize Federal, State, and Private Funding. (November, 2006).
- Stephen Stec et al., The Århus Convention: An Implementation Guide., UN/ Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, United Nations Publications (New York & Geneva, 2000). (Contributing Writer).
Bar Admissions
