As a member of the firm’s Economic Development Practice Group and a member of the Real Estate team, Tom Trent represents clients regionally and nationally, including major manufacturing companies, corporate users of commercial real estate, institutional investors, developers, lenders and governmental entities in their real estate and economic development incentive matters.
With more than 45 years of experience in real estate and economic development law, Tom has handled complex economic development incentive and commercial real estate transactions across the country, including real estate financing, leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, workouts, equity participations, tax advantaged leasing, the structuring and financing of subordinated and unsubordinated ground leases, industrial development financing, grants, tax increment financing (TIFs), and payment in lieu of tax agreement transactions (PILOTs).
Tom was honored to receive the Legacy Award from the Tennessee Economic Development Council (TEDC) at its 2026 annual meeting. The Legacy Award recognizes those in the state economic development community who have had an extraordinary impact on the profession and the community in which they worked. This award is not given annually but is instead offered as a special recognition for individuals who are highly respected, active in economic development, and have been a TEDC member for at least 10 years.
Tom also received the award for Real Estate as the exclusive winner in the “Individual Practitioners” category at the Lexology Awards: North America event in June 2024 in New Yok City. Presented by Lexology, the Association of Corporate Counsel and Who’s Who Legal, the Client Choice Awards are designed to honor the best in-house lawyers and private practitioners who stand apart for the service they provide clients. These awards are considered one of the most prestigious accolades available to legal practitioners, and selections are made from in-depth, comprehensive practice area-based research that is collected from over 300,000 individual recommendations from private practitioners and in-house counsel. Tom also has received the annual Client Choice Award for seven consecutive years from 2020 through 2026.
Tom has been a frequent speaker or panelist for economic development seminars and programs, including the Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Economic Development (numerous years), Tennessee Economic Development Council (numerous times), American College of Real Estate Lawyers, Tennessee Municipal League, the International Council of Shopping Centers (TN/KY Idea Exchange), the Nashville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, Commercial Real Estate Development Association (formerly known as NAIOP), and a number of other organizations.
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® Economic Development Law, 2012-2027 Real Estate Law, 2003-2027 Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2016-2027 Corporate Law, 2017-2027 "Lawyer of the Year," Nashville, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2018, 2024 "Lawyer of the Year," Nashville, Economic Development Law, 2016, 2020 "Lawyer of the Year," Nashville, Real Estate, 2010 Listed in Chambers USA, Real Estate, 2003-2026 Listed in Who's Who Legal: Real Estate, 2013-2024 Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers Real Estate, 2006-2025 “Top 50," Nashville, 2013, 2017-2018, 2020-2025 "Top 100," Tennessee, 2017-2018, 2020-2025 Listed in the Nashville Business Journal Commercial Real Estate Leadership Awards, "CRE Attorney of the Year," 2020-2021 “Power 100: Dealmakers,” 2015-2017, 2021, 2023-2026 “Power Leaders of Commercial Real Estate,” 2015-2018 "Best of the Bar,” Real Estate, 2005, 2007-2008, 2011-2013, 2020, 2022-2023 “Heavy Hitters in Real Estate,” 2005 Listed in the Nashville Post In Charge – Real Estate, 2022 In Charge – Economic Development, 2021 "2011 Commercial Real Estate (CRE) 50” Tennessee Economic Development Council, Legacy Award, 2026 Lexology Client Choice Award Winner, Real Estate - Tennessee, 2020-2026 Listed in Lawdragon 3000, "Leading Lawyers in America," 2009-2010 Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Attorney – Judicial Edition Counsel to Orano USA LLC in connection with its planned $4.5 billion uranium enrichment facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the largest capital investment in Tennessee history, including economic development incentives, state tax legislation, real estate development and contracting, environmental matters, planning and zoning, and business organization. Represented companies on incentives projects in Tennessee, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, South Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri and Texas. Counsel to the State of Tennessee in connection with the incentive package for Ford’s $5.6 billion “Blue Oval City” vehicle manufacturing project at the Memphis Regional Megasite, the drafting of the legislation adopted at the special session of the Tennessee General Assembly, the documents creating the Memphis Regional Megasite Authority, and the documents implementing the incentives. Counsel to Oracle America Inc. in the acquisition and development of its $4 billion office campus in Nashville, Tennessee and the Tax Increment Financing incentive, state, and TVA grants for that project. Counsel to the Maury County Alliance in assisting the local industrial development board in its incentives for the $2 billion+ expansion of the General Motors assembly plant in Maury County, Tennessee. Represents many companies in their payment in lieu of tax, TIF and grant incentives for projects of all sizes, ranging from a small TIF for streetscape and public infrastructure improvements in Greenbrier, Tennessee, to the Mitsubishi headquarters relocation from California to Franklin, Tennessee. Other projects include Tyson Food in $1 billion+ projects in Gibson County, and the ICEE headquarters and facility relocation to Rutherford County, Tennessee, including projects for Jackson National Life, Chewy, Inc., Gränges Americas Inc., Community Health Systems, and many others. Implemented payment in lieu of tax and/or TIF incentives all across Tennessee, from Washington County in Northeast, Tennessee, to Lake and Weakley Counties in Northwest, Tennessee, and many counties in between, including every county in Middle Tennessee.
