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Christopher D. Bowers

Land use and zoning Attorney at Farmers Branch, TX

5.0   1 review
  • Licensed for 33 years
    State TX
    Acquired 1989
    Status
    Eligible to Practice in Texas No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Christopher

Learn Christopher’s areas of practice.

Chris counsels and represents developers and other landowners in a broad range of complex litigation, appellate, transactional, and administrative matters involving zoning, eminent domain, inverse condemnation, platting, permitting, land use, annexation, landlord/tenant, drainage, historic preservation, constitutional law, fair housing, open records, open meetings, and other property and regulatory matters.  Our firm does not represent residential tenants, however. 

Before joining Miklos Cinclair, Chris was an assistant city attorney for the City of Dallas for almost 27 years, including serving as first assistant city attorney for almost 10 years and interim city attorney for five months. His primary responsibilities as first assistant included supervising all Dallas’ civil litigation and criminal prosecutions and working on special projects.  In his last year with Dallas, it had the second lowest average litigation cost per resident of the 10 largest cities in the nation during the previous three years. 

Since joining Miklos Cinclair, Chris has: (1) filed two lawsuits challenging a Dallas suburb's parkland exaction ordinance as excessive and obtained a $2,053,695 fee reduction in one case and a reimbursement of $350,400 in the other; (2) persuaded a Dallas suburb's officials to reverse a planning department's decision and allow a substance abuse treatment center; and (3) convinced the Dallas board of adjustment to reverse the building official's decision to revoke a building permit. 

Chris has favorably resolved numerous federal and state lawsuits through trial and mediation. He also has successfully handled appeals in multiple appellate courts.

Contact Christopher

Miklos Cinclair PLLC
1800 Valley View Lane
Suite 360
Farmers Branch, TX, 75234

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  1 customer review
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Posted by Caryn | October 19, 2018
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Municipal law expert.
Mr. Bowers answered critical questions regarding municipal law which no one else has offered or been able to answer. Thank you.
Response from Christopher Bowers October 22, 2018
Thank you for your kind words.

Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 395-395 per hour
Payment methods
Check

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Of Counsel
  • Suster Law Group, PLLC
  • 2021 - Present
  • Of Counsel
  • Miklos Cinclair, PLLC
  • 2017 - 2021
  • Interim City Attorney
  • City of Dallas
  • 2016 - 2016
  • First Assistant City Attorney
  • City of Dallas
  • 2007 - 2017
  • Chief of Litigation
  • City of Dallas
  • 2005 - 2007
  • Section Chief, General Litigation Section
  • City of Dallas
  • 2004 - 2005
  • Assistant City Attorney, General Litigation Section
  • City of Dallas
  • 1995 - 2004
  • Assistant City Attorney, Zoning Section
  • City of Dallas
  • 1990 - 1995
  • Assistant City Attorney, Prosecution Section
  • City of Dallas
  • 1990 - 1990
View all work experience

Education

  • Cornell University
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1989
  • Texas A&M University, College Station
  • BS - Bachelor of Science
  • 1986

Legal Cases

  • City of Dallas v. Cole, 536 U.S. 936 (2002)
  • Client prevailed
  • City of Dallas v. Vanesko, 189 S.W.3d 769 (Tex. 2006)
  • Client prevailed
  • City of Dallas v. Currey, 2001 WL 1671160 (Tex. App.—Dallas Dec. 20, 2001, pet. denied), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 1030 (2002)
  • Client prevailed
View all legal cases

Associations

  • Dallas Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1998 - Present
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Member
  • 1989 - Present
  • Government Law Section, Dallas Bar Association
  • Chair
  • 2010 - 2010
  • College of the State Bar of Texas
  • Member
  • 2002 - 2002
  • Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court
  • Barrister
  • 2001 - 2004
  • Heritage Commission, City of Plano
  • Member
  • 1999 - 2002
  • National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
  • Chair
  • 1999 - 2001
  • National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
  • Board Member
  • 1993 - 2001
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Honors and Awards

  • Best Lawyers in Dallas (land use/zoning)
  • D Magazine
  • 2022
  • Best Lawyers in Dallas (land use/zoning)
  • D Magazine
  • 2021
  • Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame
  • Texas Lawyer Magazine
  • 2014
  • Magna Stella Award for leadership for non-profit/government
  • Texas General Counsel Forum
  • 2012
  • Presidential Citation
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • 2009
  • Texas Super Lawyer
  • Thomson Reuters
  • 2009
  • Texas Super Lawyer
  • Thomson Reuters
  • 2008
  • Texas Super Lawyer
  • Thomson Reuters
  • 2007
  • Texas Super Lawyer
  • Thomson Reuters
  • 2006
  • AV Preeminent rating
  • Martindale-Hubbell®
  • 2003
  • Heritage Award
  • Black Dallas Remembered, Inc.
  • 1992
  • Certificate of Appreciation
  • Dallas Landmark Commission
  • 1991
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Publications

  • The Alliance Review
  • Asking for Trouble When Turning History into Rubble: How Dallas Razed Cain When a Landmark Was Illegally Demolished
  • 2011
  • The Urban Lawyer
  • Historic Preservation Concerning Private Property
  • 1998
  • The Alliance Review
  • Is Owner Consent Objectionable?
  • 1997
  • The Alliance Review
  • Is Your Preservation Commission Procedurally Correct?
  • 1995
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Speaking Engagements

  • 22nd Annual Conf on Land Use Planning Law
  • Post-Disaster Regulation
  • 2018
  • Dallas Area Real Estate Lawyers Breakfast Discussion Group
  • Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick: Tips for Getting Your Client's Project Through the City's Development Maze
  • 2018
  • National Preservation Law Conference
  • Obtaining Damages for an Illegal Demolition of a Landmark: a Dallas Case Study
  • 2017
  • Monthly Meeting
  • The Big E comes to Big D: The Legal Issues Raised by Efforts to Contain an Ebola Outbreak
  • 2015
  • Summer Conference
  • Concrete Ways to Improve Your Legal Drafting
  • 2014
  • 28th Annual Business & Education Conference
  • Boarding Homes
  • 2013
  • Top 50 Meeting
  • Mr. Mayor, Tear Down This Old House: Challenges to Demolishing Nuisance Structures
  • 2010
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Farmers Branch Land use and zoning Lawyer Christopher D. Bowers
Christopher D. Bowers
Land use and zoning Attorney
Farmers Branch, TX
Licensed for 33 years