Adams and Reese LLP on Wednesday announced that former Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-01) has rejoined the firm’s Mobile office as special counsel.
According to a release, Byrne is a member of the firm’s Intersection of Business and Government Practice Group, where he focuses on representing a wide range of clients in government relations and economic development matters. He served in Congress from January 8, 2014 to January 3, 2021.
“I am excited about returning to private practice with the top-notch team at Adams and Reese, which feels to me like returning home,” Byrne said in a statement.
“As a former leader within the firm’s Mobile office, I have seen how over the past several years, Adams and Reese’s Government Relations practice has grown and become a hallmark practice for the firm,” he continued. “Adams and Reese has historically welcomed several former elected officials to its ranks, which speaks to the firm’s status as a leader in government relations. I look forward to collaborating with a team of accomplished professionals to advocate for clients’ interests throughout the Southeast and in Washington, D.C.”
Byrne brings more than 30 years of experience in private practice and more than a decade of public service to the firm, where he will provide government relations services at the state and federal levels, corporate advice and counsel, economic development services, and labor relations counsel for a mix of private businesses, public entities, as well as both state and federal associations. Throughout his legal career, he has litigated hundreds of civil cases across the Southeast.
His time representing Coastal Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives included service as a member of the Committee on Armed Services. Byrne was an outspoken supporter of a strong national defense and worked to support Alabama’s significant defense footprint. He also served on the House Committee on Education and Labor, which compliments his former roles as a member of the Alabama State Board of Education and chancellor of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education.
“Bradley’s track record serving as a passionate advocate for Alabama businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations makes him a great fit with our team at Adams and Reese,” stated Britton Bonner, a partner in Adams and Reese’s Mobile office who represents numerous Alabama entities in government relations and economic development matters at the state and federal levels. “Bradley is driven and committed to making a difference for his clients, ensuring their voices are heard in the Alabama legislature and in Washington. His in-depth knowledge of the workings of government will be an incredible asset to our clients and team alike.”
A 1980 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and a 1977 graduate of Duke University, Byrne has received notable honors for excellence in service and his commitment to business and industry. Some recent and notable awards he has received include the U.S. Navy Distinguished Public Service Award (2016), U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award (2015–2019), International Franchise Association Legislator of the Year (2017), Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association Legislator of the Year (2020), Business Council of Alabama Bubba Lee Political Courage Award (2016), Healthcare Leadership Council Champion of Healthcare Innovation (2016), National Association of Manufacturers Champion of Manufacturing (2016), and Thurgood Marshall College Fund Award (2019).
An avid sportsman and small forest owner, Byrne is also an advocate for the agricultural, forestry, fishing and hunting industries, and received the Alabama Wildlife Federation Legislative Conservationist of the Year in 2005, 2014 and 2015.
Adams and Reese’s footprint of offices across the Southeast and in D.C. includes locations in Mobile, Birmingham and Montgomery.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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