Attorney Profiles

Attorney Thomas T. Downer is a native Charlottean. He graduated from Central High School and served in the Unites States Air Force. He has an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a law degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.  While there, he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.  He has been practicing law in Charlotte for 40 years and concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and workers' compensation.  Attorney Thomas Downer was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1967. Attorney Thomas Downer was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the State of North Carolina. He is a member of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the North Carolina Bar Association.

He has been married to his wife, Gretchen, for 41 years and has three grown children.  Gretchen graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 1965 with a double major in English and Spanish.  She taught English and Spanish at South Mecklenburg High School for several years before going into the antique business with attorney Thomas Downer's mother.

His daughter, Morgan, graduated from Columbia University and Fordham Law School in New York City.  She practices law in New York City. His daughter, Peyton, lives in Los Angeles and is a graphic/web designer.  His son, Andy, lives in Charlotte and is a business major at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. They have two cats, Ashes and Babette.

Attorney Thomas T. Downer enjoys relaxing and playing the saxophone.  His wife is an accomplished pianist and they often get together with friends to have a "music night."  They have a home at Pawley's Island, South Carolina, and enjoy listening to beach music and going out shag dancing.  Attorney Thomas Downer also enjoys reading about military history and collecting classic cars.  His sport is tennis.