Charles represents property owners in securing just compensation when government takes private property for public use. While his experience has included takings projects for highway expansion, pipelines, electric transmission lines, and flood control, Charles’s principal practice is focused on highway and roadway widening projects impacting retail, commercial, industrial, and special-use properties. Charles has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice area of Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law and Texas Super Lawyers for Eminent Domain. Charles additionally has the AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell's highest possible rating for both ethical standards and legal ability.
Charles has obtained successful jury verdicts and commissioners’ awards for clients in condemnation cases across the State, including Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Waller County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Williamson County, Dallas County, Matagorda County, Wharton County, Angelina County, Austin County, and Val Verde County.
He has handled appeals of condemnation cases and other matters in the First, Fourth, Sixth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals and in the Texas Supreme Court. Charles was formerly a partner in the Condemnation and Land Use Litigation practice group of Vinson & Elkins LLP. He has been board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law since 2003.
Specialties: Eminent domain, condemnation, and land valuation litigation
Practice areas
Focus is on the representation of private property owners in eminent domain and condemnation matters filed by the government and quasi-governmental entities.
26 years, 150 cases
Focus is on the representation of private property owners in eminent domain and condemnation matters filed by the government and quasi-governmental entities.
26 years, 150 cases
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
TX | Eligible To Practice In Texas | 1995 | 12/05/2020 |
Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
---|---|---|
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law | Best Lawyers in America | 2016 |
Super Lawyer | Texas Monthly Magazine | 2015 |
AV Preeminent Rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 2015 |
Keeton Fellow | The University of Texas School of Law | 2006 |
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law | Texas Board of Legal Specialization | 2003 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Founder | McFarland PLLC | 2015 - Present |
Partner | Joyce, McFarland + McFarland | 2009 - Present |
Partner | Vinson & Elkins, LLP | 2005 - 2009 |
Associate | Vinson & Elkins, LLP | 1995 - 2004 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Texas Bar Foundation | Member | 2012 - Present |
Damages Subcommittee, Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation | Chair | 2010 - Present |
State Bar of Texas | Fellow | 2008 - Present |
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists | Member | 2006 - Present |
Houston Bar Foundation | Member | 2004 - Present |
Houston Bar Association | Member | 1995 - Present |
---|---|---|
State Bar of Texas | Member | 1995 - Present |
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists | President | 2013 - 2014 |
American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee | Editor, Annual Review | 2008 - 2011 |
American Bar Association | Member | 1995 - 2016 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
CLE International Eminent Domain Super Conference | Representing the Property Owner | 2009 |
CLE International Eminent Domain Conference | Lessons (To Be ) Learned from PR Investments and FKM Partnership | 2008 |
Litigation Magazine - American Bar Association | Protecting Private Property Rights After the Public Use Ship Has Sailed | 2007 |
Proof Newsletter of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation's Trial Evidence Committee | Listening and Matching, the Keys to Witness Examination | 2007 |
CLE International Eminent Domain Conference | Hot Topics: The Project Influence Rule | 2007 |
Trial Evidence | Expert Witnesses, the Hearsay Rule, and the Unidentified, Out-of-Court Declarant | 2005 |
---|---|---|
Trial Evidence | Teaching the Rules of Evidence Through Objections | 2005 |
CLE International Eminent Domain Conference | Errors And Omissions In A Condemnation Case: Legal Malpractice Issues For Condemning Authority And Property Owner Representations | 2004 |
Trial Evidence | Good Exhibit, Good Argument | 2004 |
International Right of Way Association’s Eminent Domain Seminar | Proximity Damages - From Carpenter to Schmidt and Back Again: The Interstate Northborough Case | 2002 |
International Right of Way Association’s Eminent Domain Conference | The Separate Economic Unit: Smaller or Larger than the Whole? | 2000 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
University of Texas School of Law | Juris Doctorate | 1995 |
University of Texas at Austin | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1991 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Eminent Domain Super Conference | The Larger Parcel | 2012 |
Eminent Domain SuperConference | Exclusion of Experts in a Condemnation Case | 2010 |
Eminent Domain SuperConference | Representing the Property Owner in a Condemnation Case | 2009 |
Eminent Domain Conference | Lessons (To Be ) Learned from PR Investments and FKM Partnership | 2008 |
Eminent Domain Conference | Hot Topics in Condemnation Law: The Project Influence Rule | 2007 |
Eminent Domain Conference | Trial Tactics | 2006 |
---|---|---|
Eminent Domain Conference | Errors And Omissions In A Condemnation Case: Legal Malpractice Issues For Condemning Authority And Property Owner Representations | 2004 |
International Right of Way Association’s Eminent Domain Seminar | Proximity Damages - From Carpenter to Schmidt and Back Again: The Interstate Northborough Case | 2002 |
Eminent Domain Conference | The Separate Economic Unit: Smaller or Larger than the Whole? | 2000 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
State of Texas v. Valley Ranch Town Center, Ltd. | |
State of Texas v. Target Corporation | $682,000 jury verdict in favor of client property owner |
State of Texas v. Putt Putt Golf Courses of Houston, Inc. | $1.4MM settlement in favor of client property owner |
State of Texas v. Putt Putt Golf Courses of Houston, Inc. | $2MM+ jury verdict in favor of client property owner |
RGM Constructors LP v. Tribble & Stephens Co. | Verdict for Plaintiff |
Angelina Zinn, Litigation Attorney on Aug 4, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Mcfarland takes his work very serious and worked with my collegues to get issues settled quickly and fairly.
Richard Weaver, Land use and zoning Attorney on Jul 31, 2009
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer's work. Mr. Mcfarland is a scholar in his main area of practice.