Charles Black Mcfarland
also known as Charles B. McFarland
About Charles
Biography
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
2
Practice Areas
31 years | 150 cases
31 years | 150 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
33%-40%
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Texas for 30 years
State: Texas
Acquired: 1995
No misconduct found
Location
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
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Charles Black Mcfarland's Reviews
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Charles Black Mcfarland's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Mcfarland takes his work very serious and worked with my collegues to get issues settled quickly and fairly."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. Mr. Mcfarland is a scholar in his main area of practice."
Litigation lawyer
Experience
Honors
2016
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Best Lawyers in America
2015
Super Lawyer, Texas Monthly Magazine
2015
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
Keeton Fellow, The University of Texas School of Law
2003
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law , Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Work Experience
2015 - Present
Founder, McFarland PLLC
2009 - Present
Partner, Joyce, McFarland + McFarland
1900 - Present
Managing Partner, McFarland PLLC
2005 - 2009
Partner, Vinson & Elkins, LLP
1995 - 2004
Associate, Vinson & Elkins, LLP
Associations
2012 - Present
Texas Bar FoundationMember
2010 - Present
Damages Subcommittee, Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of LitigationChair
2008 - Present
State Bar of TexasFellow
2006 - Present
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate SpecialistsMember
2004 - Present
Houston Bar FoundationMember
1995 - Present
Houston Bar AssociationMember
1995 - Present
State Bar of TexasMember
2013 - 2014
Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate SpecialistsPresident
2008 - 2011
American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use CommitteeEditor, Annual Review
1995 - 2016
American Bar AssociationMember
Sample of Legal Cases
$682,000 jury verdict in favor of client property owner
$1.4MM settlement in favor of client property owner
$2MM+ jury verdict in favor of client property owner
Verdict for Plaintiff
Education
1995
Juris Doctorate
1991
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2012
The Larger Parcel
2010
Exclusion of Experts in a Condemnation Case
2009
2008
2007
Hot Topics in Condemnation Law: The Project Influence Rule
2006
2004
Errors And Omissions In A Condemnation Case: Legal Malpractice Issues For Condemning Authority And Property Owner Representations
2002
Proximity Damages - From Carpenter to Schmidt and Back Again: The Interstate Northborough Case
2000
The Separate Economic Unit: Smaller or Larger than the Whole?
Publications
2009
2008
2007
2007
2007
2005
2005
2004
2004
2002
2000
Languages
English
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Can I be forced to comply with a city ordinance that was introduced AFTER I purchased the house
08 Dec 2025
Puc issued an order to centerpoint to use my property as a substation site CenterPoint doesn’t want to pay me what I asked for?
05 Feb 2025
We have a roadway easement on my neighbor’s property but it’s grass, can we put in gravel to drive through the easement to house
29 Aug 2024