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Thomas A. Cunningham

Founding Principal | 1949 - 2022

Practice Areas

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Municipal Law
Land Use & Zoning
Urban Development
Municipal Finance

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Former Bar Admissions

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Missouri

Illinois

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Education

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J.D., Boston University, 1989

M.C.R.P., Rutgers University, 1976

B.F.A., Syracuse University. 1971

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Tom received a B.F.A. in Design from Syracuse University, and a Masters in Planning from Rutgers University. He served over 18 years in urban planning as a consultant to local, state, and federal governments and was a charter member of The American Institute of Certified Planners. He received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of Boston University Legislative Services. 

 

Throughout his career, Tom excelled  in the areas of public finance, redevelopment, and local governmental law, by calling on his extensive experience in the use of economic incentives for development projects and capital financings for local governments and public agencies utilizing such financing tools as general obligation bonds, special obligation bonds, alternative revenue bonds, certificates of participation, leasehold revenue bonds, industrial revenue bonds, TIF Bonds, NID Bonds, Chapter 100 Bonds, 501(c)(3) Bonds and tax anticipation notes.   

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Tom was among the very few municipal lawyers listed as Sole Bond Counsel in The Bond Buyers Municipal Marketplace (the Red Book) for 20 years and participated in local government financings totaling nearly three quarters of a billion dollars.  

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Mr. Cunningham also had served as City Attorney for the cities of New Florence, Ste. Genevieve, Olivette, and St. Ann, and as Special Public Finance/Redevelopment Counsel to over 50 cities and special taxing districts in Missouri and Illinois.  He is a frequent lecturer statewide on the use of public incentives and redevelopment tools in Missouri and Illinois. He is the co-author of the Urban Redevelopment chapters of the Missouri Bar Continuing Legal Education Deskbooks on Real Estate Law and on Local Government Law. 

 

Tom’s career can best be summarized though by his loyal clients who often just said he was their favorite lawyer or one of the smartest they had ever met.   

Former Professional Affiliations

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  • The Missouri Bar

  • The Illinois Bar

  • American Institute of Certified Planners (Charter Member)

  • American Bar Association (State and Local Government Section)

  • National Association of Bond Lawyers

  • Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association

Selected Publications and Lectures

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  • Urban Development, Zoning and Planning, Subdivisions & Annexations, Co-Author, Missouri Bar CLE, 2011; CLE Guidebook Practice Series Seminar, 2012, 2017

  • Evolution of the NID Act and Neighborhood Improvement District Principals and Practices - an "illustrated History, Missouri Municipal Review, 2013

  • Development Financing, American Planning Association, Chancellor’s Certificate Program, 2006-2012.

  • Fundamentals of Redevelopment Agreements Webinar, American Planning Association, National Conference 2010.

  • Plays Well with Others, Getting Along in the Local Development Game, Missouri Municipal League – Annual Conference, 2009.

  • Nuts & Bolts of Planning & Zoning, Missouri Municipal League—Newly Elected Official Conference, 2007 and 2009.

  • Nuts & Bolts of Planning & Zoning PLUS, Missouri Municipal League—Annual Conference, 2007 and 2008.

  • Illinois Local Development financing, Illinois City Managers Association--Annual Conference, 2008.

  • Local Development Financing, Missouri Society of CPAs—Governmental Accounting Conference, 2008 & Osage Beach/Camden County—Leadership Camden County, 2008.

  • Illinois Local Development Financing, American Planning Association, Illinois Chapter—Citizen Planner Workshop, 2007& Illinois Downstate & Southwestern Illinois City Managers Association—Joint Fall Meeting, 2007.

  • Tax Incentives for Development, North Central Municipal Finance Forum, 2007.

  • Practical Redevelopment in a Post-Kelo World, Missouri Municipal League—Annual Conference, 2006.

  • Proposed Missouri State Constitutional Initiative:  The Tuohey "Eminent Domain" Amendment, St. Louis County Municipal League, 2006.

  • Legal Aspects of Planning & Zoning (Including Financing & Development Economics), American Planning Association, Module 6, 2004.

  • Comprehensive Review of Revenue Sources for Capital Improvements & Services, Missouri Municipal League, 2004.

  • Financing Neighborhood “Creation” Through the  Neighborhood Improvement District (“NID”) Act, Missouri Municipal Review, 2002.

  • Land Use and Planning – Legal Issues Involving Missouri Local Governments, National Business Institute, 2002.

  • Course Outline: Legal Aspects of Code Administration, Missouri Association of Building Officials/Inspection (MABOI), 2001.

  • Institute of Property Taxation: "Overview of Economic Development and Redevelopment Financing and Incentive Programs—Midwest Region (Missouri, Illinois, Kansas and Iowa)" address to Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida

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