Profile

Bruce Thompson heads the Firm’s Government & Public Policy Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in governmental and regulatory activities. His practice includes legislative representation and counsel before the United States Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly, strategy formulation, bill drafting, preparation of testimony for legislative committees, and appearances before state and federal executive agencies. Mr. Thompson also focuses on economic development initiatives, having represented some of the nation’s largest companies in incentives negotiations with local and state officials.

Before beginning practice with the Firm, Mr. Thompson served as an assistant attorney general in the Education Section of the North Carolina Department of Justice. As a Justice Department lawyer, Mr. Thompson represented the state colleges and universities, the community college system and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. He also served as a legal advisor to the North Carolina Commission on Business Laws and the Economy while a member of the attorney general's staff.

Following graduation from law school, Mr. Thompson served as a law clerk for the Honorable Jack L. Cozort on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He also served as the campaign manager for a statewide campaign for North Carolina Attorney General in 1996.

Mr. Thompson most recently served on the National Finance Committee for the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign and was an advisor to Secretary of State Clinton’s campaign during the North Carolina Primary. He served as Legal Counsel to United States Senator Kay Hagan in her successful campaign and also advised the North Carolina campaign of President Barack Obama during the 2008 general election.

During the 2008 election cycle, news outlets including Media General, Fox News, UNC-TV, NBC-17, the Raleigh News & Observer, the Winston-Salem Journal and the New York Times called upon Mr. Thompson for commentary. His experience in state and national politics provides him with insight into the electoral process and its impact on public policy. Mr. Thompson also utilizes this experience to advise clients on election law issues in addition to providing counsel on how to navigate the halls of government in Washington, DC and Raleigh, NC.

Mr. Thompson is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

Experience Highlights

• Represents clients as a registered lobbyist before the United States Congress and the North Carolina General Assembly
• Assists clients with overall government and public policy strategy, including advice on campaign finance and election laws
• Routinely represents clients before agencies such as the Departments of Insurance, Transportation, Environment and Natural Resources, Labor, and Revenue in North Carolina
• Represents clients before federal agencies including the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior and the United States Department of the Treasury
• Represents landowners in property tax disputes before local boards of equalization and the North Carolina Property Tax Commission
• Represents clients in regulatory matters before the Office of Administrative Hearings, the North Carolina State Board of Elections, the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the North Carolina Board of CPA Examiners, the North Carolina Commission on Health Services and the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Land Surveyors

News

• Bruce Thompson Named Top Political Influencer in NC
  January 7, 2013
• Bruce Thompson Interviewed by CBJ on New Political Alignment in Raleigh
  CBJ Sound Off: How will the new political alignment in Raleigh affect business law and regulation?
  Charlotte Business Journal
  January 4, 2013
• 74 Parker Poe Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® for 2013
  August 23, 2012
• 69 Parker Poe Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® for 2012
  September 6, 2011
• 2010 Federal Election Analysis
  Government & Public Policy Alert
  November 3, 2010
• 2010 South Carolina Election Analysis
  Government & Public Policy Alert
  November 3, 2010
• 2010 North Carolina Election Analysis
  Government & Public Policy Alert
  November 3, 2010
• NC Public Policy Center Names Bruce Thompson in Top Lobbyists List
  September 29, 2010
• 61 Parker Poe Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® for 2011
  August 18, 2010
• Exploring for State and Local Business Incentives: Finding the Highest Ground for Growth
  Business Law Alert
  November 11, 2009
• 55 Parker Poe Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers®
  July 30, 2009
• Treasury and DOE Issue Guidance on Grants in Lieu of Tax Credits
  July 24, 2009
• H-1B Foreign Professional Worker Restrictive Provisions Enacted in Stimulus Bill
  Immigration News
  February 24, 2009
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
  February 20, 2009
• Forty-Six Attorneys Named Super Lawyers
  January 26, 2009
• Parker Poe Increases Number of Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers in America
  October 1, 2008
• Bruce Thompson: Delegate Reported from the Democratic National Convention
  August 29, 2008
• 40 Parker Poe Attorneys Named Among 2008 Best Lawyers in America
  September 14, 2007
• 2006 Election Report
  November 20, 2006
• Gov. Easley Reappoints Carpenter and Thompson to the Center for Public Television Board
  June 23, 2006

Memberships

• Artspace
  Board of Directors, 2000-2009; Chair, 2003-2004, 2007-2008
• North Carolina Bar Association
  Administrative Law Council, 2007-present
• Wake Forest Law Board of Visitors
  2007-present
• North Carolina Center for Voter Education
  Board of Directors, 2006-present
• University of North Carolina Center for Public Television
  Board of Trustees, 2006-2010
• Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
  Member, Government Affairs Board, 2002-2008
• Method Child Development Center
  Board of Directors, 2002-2010
• Chi Psi Alumni Corporation
  President, 1998-2008

Cases

• Historic Judgment Won for PCS Phosphate