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Aileen S.
Thomas

Position
Partner
Office
Jackson

Aileen Thomas is a partner in the Tax Practice Group and a member of the firm’s board of directors.


Aileen is a nationally recognized finance attorney with a focus on New Markets Tax Credit transactions, Historic Tax Credit transactions, tax exempt bond transactions and other sophisticated debt financing transactions. Aileen’s clients include national, regional and community banks, underwriting firms, investment funds, community development entities and community development financial institutions.

Aileen is a regular speaker at various national conferences, including the National Association of Bond Attorneys and tax credit conferences. She also served for many years as an adjunct professor at Mississippi College School of Law teaching Secured Transactions and Contract Drafting to second- and third-year law school students.

Noteworthy

  • Chambers USA, Corporate/Commercial: Municipal Finance (listed annually since 2017); Public Finance (listed annually since 2024)
  • Best Lawyers'®, "Lawyer of the Year," Commercial Transactions/UCC Law (2026)
  • Best Lawyers'®, "Lawyer of the Year," Commercial Finance Law, Jackson (2022, 2025)
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Government Finance (listed annually since 2016)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, and Corporate Law (listed annually since 2014)
  • Mississippi Business Journal, Leadership in Law award (2017); Mississippi's 50 Leading Business Women (2007), "Top 40 Under 40" (2003)

Publications

  • "IRS Provides New Markets Tax Credit and Opportunity Zone Relief," Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, June 15, 2020
  • "Final Opportunity Zone Regulations," Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, December 2019
  • "$3.5 Billion in New Markets Tax Credit Allocations Announced," Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, May 2019
  • "Guidance Released for Opportunity Zone Program," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, October 2018
  • "Treasury Department Designates Opportunity Zones for Louisiana and Hawaii," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, May 2018
  • "Opportunity Zone FAQ Released," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, April 2018
  • "Opportunity Zones Designated in 15 States and 3 Territories," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, April 2018
  • "Nominate Louisiana Opportunity Zones," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, March 2018
  • "New Tax Law Creates Opportunities for Low-Income Communities," The Clarion-Ledger, March 9, 2018
  • "Stakeholders Must Act Now to Nominate Opportunity Zones," Law360, February 23, 2018
  • "Designation of Opportunity Zones," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, February 2018
  • "Apply Now for Inclusion in New Opportunity Zone Program," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, February 2018
  • "Capital Gain Deferral and Reduction - Benefits of Investing in Opportunity Zones," Jones Walker LLP Tax Reform Client Alert Series, February 2018
  • "New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Allocations Announced," Jones Walker LLP Tax Client Alert, November 17, 2016
  • "Qualified School Construction Bonds Building Mississippi Schools," The Mississippi Business Journal, October 31, 2009
  • "Privacy Issues Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act for Insurance Agents," Mississippi Agent Magazine, October 31, 2001

Presentations

  • "NMTC Beyond the Basics Workshop" and "Stakeholders Speak Out," Novogradac Fall New Markets Tax Credit Conference, October 25–26, 2023
  • "Opportunity Zones and Other Tax Reforms that Effect Economic Developers," 2019 Legislative Conference, February 7, 2019
  • Jones Walker LLP Hosts Seminar on Opportunity Zones, May 31, 2018
  • Katz and Thomas Present on Opportunity Zones, April 24, 2018
  • Jones Walker LLP Hosts New Markets Tax Credits Seminar in Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, June 6, 2013
  • Jones Walker to Host New Markets Tax Credits Seminar in Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, February 26, 2013
  • "Gramm-Leach-Bliley Privacy Update," Surplus Lines and Reinsurance Committee & Excess Line Association of New York, American Bar Association, October 31, 2002
  • "Privacy Issues in Insurance," Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi and Professional Insurance Agents Association of Mississippi, October 31, 2001
  • "Considerations in Buying/Selling a Business," National Business Institute, October 31, 1999
  • "Loan Closings," Mississippi Bankers Compliance Task Force, October 31, 1997

Memberships

  • National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • New Markets Tax Credit Coalition
  • Historic Tax Credit Coalition
  • Partnership For Job Creation
  • The Mississippi Bar, Past Chair of the Business Law Section
  • Mississippi Women Lawyers Association, Past President
  • Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capitol Area, Member of the Board of Directors
  • Junior League of Jackson, Past Member of the Board of Directors
  • Center for Nonprofits, Member; Past Member of the Board of Directors
  • St. Andrew’s Parents' Association, Chair Elect
Jackson
Suite 300
3100 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39216
D: 601.949.4751
F: 601.949.4673
Emailathomas@joneswalker.com

Education

  • Mississippi College School of Law
    JD, with honors, 1995
    Managing Editor, Mississippi College Law Review (1993-1995); Phi Delta Phi; Charles Clark Inns of Court (1994-1995); Chief Justice, Mississippi College Honor Court (1994-1995); Herrin-Hess Academic Scholarship (1992-1995)
  • Belhaven College
    BA, summa cum laude, 1991

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi
  • Missouri

Court Admissions

  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Related Practices

  • Commercial Transactions
  • Economic Development
  • Public Finance
  • Tax
  • Tax Credit Finance
  • Tax Credit Programs

Related Industries

  • Industrial, Petrochemical & Advanced Manufacturing
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