Atty. Christopher D. Bowers
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.
Profile Summary
About Christopher D. Bowers at a glance
Christopher D. Bowers is an Of Counsel based in Plano, Texas, practicing at The Suster Law Group, PLLC. They have 37+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1989. Their practice focuses on real estate, zoning, estate litigation, and government. Admitted to practice in Texas Texas Northern District Court Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals US Supreme Court (1989). Educated at Cornell Law School (J.D., 1989) and Texas A & M University (B.S., 1986). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in Plano, TX and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- 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
- Pro-Bono Activities Chair, Legal Ethics Committee, Dallas Bar Association, 2025-Board of Directors, Fair Park First, 2021-Board of Trustees, Preservation Dallas, 2019-2025Board of Directors, Gateway of Grace, 2018-Chair, Government Law Section, Dallas Bar Association, 2010City of Plano Heritage Commission, 1999-2002Chair, National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, 1999-2001 Past Positions Dallas City Attorney’s Office First Assistant City Attorney (including supervisor of all litigation undertaken by the City Attorney’s office)Interim City Attorney for the City of Dallas Published Works Author, Laws Affecting the Restoration and Preservation of Historical Buildings, 15 CONSTRUCTION LAW J. 37 (Winter 2019)
- Speaker, Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick: Tips for Getting Your Client’s Project Through the Development Maze, Dallas Area Real Estate Lawyers Breakfast Discussion Group, Dallas, TX, 2018
- Author & speaker, Obtaining Damages for an Illegal Demolition of a Landmark: a Dallas Case Study, National Preservation Law Conference, National Trust for Historic Preservation and Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC, 2017Author & speaker, Hot Topics in Land Use Law, 19th Annual Land Use Conference, University of Texas School of Law, Round Rock, TX, 2015
- Author, Asking for Trouble When Turning History Into Rubble: How Dallas Razed Cain, LOCAL VIEWPOINT, State & Local Government Law Section, Federal Bar Association (Winter 2012)
- Author & Speaker, Historic Preservation Law, Best Practices for Public Sector Lawyers Seminar, Government Lawyers Section of State Bar of Texas, Austin, TX, 2011
- Co-speaker, Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings, Annual Conference, Texas Chapter of American Planning Association, Addison, TX, 2007
- Author, Historic Preservation Concerning Private Property, 30 THE URBAN LAWYER 405 (Spring 1998) (cited as one of four best articles on historic preservation in 1998 by Stuart L. Deutsch & A. Dan Tarlock, Annual Survey of Land Use Literature, 22 ZONING & PLANNING LAW REPORT 56 (June 1999))
- Speaker, Sign Regulation and the First Amendment, Challenges Facing Local Governments, Dallas Chapter of Federal Bar Association, Dallas, TX, 1994 Honors Best Lawyers in Dallas (land use/zoning), D Magazine, 2021-2022 Texas Verdicts Hal
Practice Areas Explained
Christopher D. Bowers's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Christopher D. Bowers handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Christopher D. Bowers is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Texas →
Christopher D. Bowers is one of 40,226 zoning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse zoning attorneys in Texas →
Christopher D. Bowers is one of 20,023 estate litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate litigation attorneys in Texas →
Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.
Christopher D. Bowers is one of 132,225 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in Texas →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Texas
Practicing law in Texas. Legal matters in Texas are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Plano are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Texas state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Texas brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Texas courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Texas attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Plano or all attorneys in Texas.
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