Brian began his career practicing antitrust law in Washington, D.C. in 2001 working specifically with mergers and acquisitions falling under the purview of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Act.  Some of the notable industries to which Brian gained exposure include computer tech and data storage, pharmaceuticals and crop science, RFID telecommunications, foodservice distribution, petrochemicals, and tobacco industries.  Brian’s work in the field also included counseling hedge funds and merger/risk arbitrage professionals as to regulatory risks associated with U.S. and European Antitrust Laws and the potential impact of these aforementioned risks on tradable securities.

In 2005 Brian joined Birmingham, Al-based Southern Coal & Land Company (“SC&LC”) as Vice President tasked with overseeing the purchase, sales, and distribution of thermal, metallurgical, and specialty coal products with a specific eye on addressing market and performance risks through structured contracts.  Upon being promoted to President of the company in 2007, a position he held for 15 years, Brian assumed principal responsibility for developing and managing a portfolio of domestic and international coal purchases and sales of approximately $25mm annually.  Representative customers and supply partners included several of the largest publicly-traded regulated utilities and industrial plants, leading energy infrastructure companies, North American Class 1 Railroads, and barge lines and terminating and materials handling facilities.

In 2023 Brian became both a Principal and Officer of Highland Energy (“Highland”), an Alabama-based natural resources and land development company owning over 8,000 surface and mineral acres of high grade thermal and metallurgical coals.  Highland also controls substantial leased coal holdings and operates conventional surface mines as well as reserves susceptible to highwall and auger mining methods.  

In addition to the foregoing duties Brian also serves as the Vice President of Sales for RJR Mining, Inc., one of Southern Appalachia’s largest surface producers of premium mid-vol metallurgical coals.

Over the past twenty years Brian has accumulated a wealth of experience originating and managing shipments of bulk goods both domestically and internationally.  His education and experience offer a keen awareness and perspective on both the practical commercial challenges and also the legal challenges associated with materials handling, storage, and distribution.