Atty. Bruce P. Ely
Bruce Ely’s more than 40 years of experience have allowed him to handle projects as diverse as serving on the recruiting teams that successfully induced both Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai to locate their first U.S. manufacturing plants in Alabama to representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, the Alabama Department of Revenue and local taxing authorities. His practice focuses on three concentric areas: representing taxpayers in federal, state and local administrative and judicial forums; advising companies on choosing the proper form of entity through which to conduct business in t
Litigation and Controversy - Tax & More Attorney · Serving Birmingham, AL
Profile Summary
About Bruce P. Ely at a Glance
Bruce P. Ely is a tax and tax litigation attorney based in Birmingham, Alabama, practicing at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. Admitted to practice in Alabama, U.S. Supreme Court and Alabama, Alabama State Bar Association. Educated at New York University (LL.M., 1981) and The University of Alabama (J.D., 1980). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Litigation and Controversy - Tax (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Tax Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serves clients in Birmingham, AL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Bruce P. Ely
- Bruce Ely’s more than 40 years of experience have allowed him to handle projects as diverse as serving on the recruiting teams that successfully induced both Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai to locate their first U.S. manufacturing plants in Alabama to representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, the Alabama Department of Revenue and local taxing authorities
- His practice focuses on three concentric areas: representing taxpayers in federal, state and local administrative and judicial forums
- advising companies on choosing the proper form of entity through which to conduct business in the southeast and potential tax incentives
- and advising companies and various trade and professional organizations regarding state and local tax legislative matters
- He also devotes a substantial amount of time to teaching and writing on SALT-related topics
- Bruce was founding chair of the firm’s State and Local Tax (SALT) Practice Team, which represents taxpayers before the Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi Departments of Revenue, as well as local government taxing authorities and the state and federal courts
- He has served as counsel to multistate taxpayers in cases before the U.S
- Supreme Court, but more often before the Alabama appellate courts, circuit courts, and the Alabama Tax Tribunal
- He also recently co-chaired the New York University Institute on State & Local Taxation and was selected by State Tax Notes/Tax Analysts as one of its “Top Ten Tax Lawyers in the U.S.” As part of his governmental affairs practice, Bruce has co-authored a number of landmark pieces of tax and business entity legislation in Alabama and numerous statute-specific tax bills
- He was privileged to serve as counsel to several state tax reform, economic development and constitutional reform commissions over the years and has written extensively on those topics, as well as on other multistate tax issues and incentives matters
- He also speaks regularly on the tax aspects of pass-through entities at the national and state levels, and co-authors a series of charts on the state taxation of LLCs and LLPs that have appeared in numerous tax and business entity journals and treatises
- Bruce also serves as co-lead editor of Bloomberg BNA’s Pass-Through Entity Navigator, a comprehensive online resource providing detailed analysis and practical guidance on a state-by-state basis for each type of pass-through entity and pass-through entity owner
- The resource tool allows tax professionals to quickly access more than 1,700 topics, such as formation, federal tax classifications, taxes imposed, withholding, or composite returns, and is available to subscribers of Bloomberg BNA’s Tax & Accounting State Tax research
- As a longstanding Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and member of the Alabama Law Institute, Bruce is the only Alabama member included in the International Who’s Who of Corporate Tax Lawyers
Practice Areas Explained
Bruce P. Ely's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Bruce P. Ely handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Birmingham.
Tax Law in Birmingham
Tax attorneys handle IRS audits, tax debt, international tax, estate planning, and tax court litigation.
Bruce P. Ely is one of 84,606 tax attorneys indexed nationally. Browse tax attorneys in Alabama →
Tax Litigation in Birmingham
Bruce P. Ely is one of 3,087 tax litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse tax litigation attorneys in Alabama →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Birmingham
Practicing law in Alabama. Legal matters in Alabama are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Birmingham are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Alabama state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Alabama brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Alabama courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Birmingham Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Birmingham-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Alabama attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Birmingham or all attorneys in Alabama.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Birmingham Choose Bruce P. Ely
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Bruce P. Ely's practice in the field of tax and tax litigation.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in Alabama, U.S. Supreme Court and Alabama, Alabama State Bar Association, Bruce P. Ely can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering tax and tax litigation, Bruce P. Ely can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Birmingham
A Birmingham-based practice means Bruce P. Ely attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Bruce P. Ely Handles in Birmingham
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Bruce P. Ely has experience with under Alabama law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Bruce P. Ely directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Bruce P. Ely Online
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Bruce P. Ely's Practice Areas & Specializations
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Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
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