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Charles Black Mcfarland

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also known as Charles B. McFarland
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About Charles

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

Land use and zoningLitigation
  1. Litigation: 50%

    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

  2. Land use and zoning: 50%

    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

Contact

811 Louisiana St., Suite 2520
address map

McFarland PLLC

811 Louisiana St., Suite 2520
Houston, TX, 77002

McFarland PLLC

One Arts Plaza
1722 Routh St., Suite 900
Dallas, TX, 75201

McFarland PLLC

201 W. 5th St., Suite 1100
Austin, TX, 78701

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
TXEligible To Practice In Texas 199512/05/2020
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers17
Legal guides1
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Eminent Domain and Condemnation LawBest Lawyers in America2016
Super LawyerTexas Monthly Magazine2015
AV Preeminent RatedMartindale-Hubbell2015
Keeton FellowThe University of Texas School of Law2006
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization2003
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
FounderMcFarland PLLC2015 - Present
PartnerJoyce, McFarland + McFarland2009 - Present
PartnerVinson & Elkins, LLP2005 - 2009
AssociateVinson & Elkins, LLP1995 - 2004
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
Texas Bar FoundationMember2012 - Present
Damages Subcommittee, Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of LitigationChair2010 - Present
State Bar of TexasFellow2008 - Present
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate SpecialistsMember2006 - Present
Houston Bar FoundationMember2004 - Present
Houston Bar AssociationMember1995 - Present
State Bar of TexasMember1995 - Present
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate SpecialistsPresident2013 - 2014
American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use CommitteeEditor, Annual Review2008 - 2011
American Bar AssociationMember1995 - 2016
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
CLE International Eminent Domain Super ConferenceRepresenting the Property Owner2009
CLE International Eminent Domain ConferenceLessons (To Be ) Learned from PR Investments and FKM Partnership2008
Litigation Magazine - American Bar AssociationProtecting Private Property Rights After the Public Use Ship Has Sailed2007
Proof Newsletter of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation's Trial Evidence CommitteeListening and Matching, the Keys to Witness Examination2007
CLE International Eminent Domain ConferenceHot Topics: The Project Influence Rule2007
Trial EvidenceExpert Witnesses, the Hearsay Rule, and the Unidentified, Out-of-Court Declarant2005
Trial EvidenceTeaching the Rules of Evidence Through Objections2005
CLE International Eminent Domain ConferenceErrors And Omissions In A Condemnation Case: Legal Malpractice Issues For Condemning Authority And Property Owner Representations2004
Trial EvidenceGood Exhibit, Good Argument2004
International Right of Way Association’s Eminent Domain SeminarProximity Damages - From Carpenter to Schmidt and Back Again: The Interstate Northborough Case2002
International Right of Way Association’s Eminent Domain ConferenceThe Separate Economic Unit: Smaller or Larger than the Whole?2000
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
University of Texas School of LawJuris Doctorate1995
University of Texas at AustinBA - Bachelor of Arts1991
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
Eminent Domain Super ConferenceThe Larger Parcel2012
Eminent Domain SuperConferenceExclusion of Experts in a Condemnation Case2010
Eminent Domain SuperConferenceRepresenting the Property Owner in a Condemnation Case2009
Eminent Domain ConferenceLessons (To Be ) Learned from PR Investments and FKM Partnership2008
Eminent Domain ConferenceHot Topics in Condemnation Law: The Project Influence Rule2007
Eminent Domain ConferenceTrial Tactics2006
Eminent Domain ConferenceErrors And Omissions In A Condemnation Case: Legal Malpractice Issues For Condemning Authority And Property Owner Representations2004
International Right of Way Association’s Eminent Domain SeminarProximity Damages - From Carpenter to Schmidt and Back Again: The Interstate Northborough Case2002
Eminent Domain ConferenceThe Separate Economic Unit: Smaller or Larger than the Whole?2000
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
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

Reviews

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Attorney endorsements

(2)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

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.

Cost

RATES
      RATES
      • Contingency A contingency fee is the percent of the final award a lawyer will receive as compensation. For some of these cases, lawyers will only be paid if there is a successful outcome.33%-40%