DIRECT PHONE: 512.480.5736
DIRECT FAX: 512.480.5837

About

Bill Locke is Board Certified in Commercial, Residential and Farm and Ranch Real Estate Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His practice areas include representing buyers, sellers and developers of land and income producing property, including land being developed as residential or commercial projects; addressing environmental issues associated with land ownership or development, including endangered species, wetlands, and contamination issues; representation in land development including governmental approvals associated with land subdivision, site plan, and zoning approval; negotiation of transaction documents, including contracts, leases, and development agreements; and representing lenders and borrowers in connection with real estate secured loans.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

  • Admitted to bar, 1972, Texas.
  • Board Certified in Commercial, Residential and Farm and Ranch Real Estate Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Education: Del Mar College (A.A., with honors, 1967); University of Texas (B.A., 1969; J.D., with honors, 1972). Phi Delta Phi. UT Law Quizmaster.
  • Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Condominiums

  • Representation of developers in to-be-built office condominiums and formation of commercial property owners associations and residential condominium associations.
  • Representation of developers of to-be-built medical office condominium including construction, sales and condominium documentation.

Construction

  • Representation of a Junior College District in negotiation of architect, consultant and construction contracts for $100 million expansion.
  • Negotiation of construction contracts for office buildings, apartment projects, and land development.

finance

  • Representation of borrower on large synthetic lease including rendition of legal opinion.
  • Negotiation and drafting of loan documentation for various banks.
  • Representation of lenders in foreclosures and workouts.

insurance and risk management

  • Representation of a regional transit authority in negotiating an inter-local agreement with another regional transit authority for rail service between two cities, including risk management and insurance issues.
  • Representation of owners in determining risk management approaches for developments, including preparation of insurance specifications and indemnities.
  • Assisted a large condominium project in evaluating potential mold contamination and claims upon its insurance carriers.

sales

  • Representation of shopping center investment syndicator in purchasing and selling shopping centers.
  • Representation of apartment project developers in the acquisition of various sites for the construction of multi-family apartment projects.
  • Representation of an office building owner in the sale of an office building with multiple tenants to an out-of-state income-producing property holding partnership.
  • Representation of a seller of lead-contaminated property to an industrial building acquisition partnership.
  • Representation of numerous developers in acquisitions of tracts for single and mixed-use developments, including master planning, permitting, and zoning.
  • Representation of Mexican business interests in acquisition of U.S. real estate.

government

  • Representation of rock quarry owner in negotiating development agreement with home-rule city in connection with voluntary annexation under threat of involuntary annexation.
  • Representation of a municipality in obtaining a lease from the School Land Board of the State of Texas of 600 acres of upland and submerged land for the construction of a container port.
  • Representation of a manufacturer in relocating its operations into a to-be-constructed industrial park, including negotiation of tax incentives from the city’s economic development corporation.
  • Representation of property owners in negotiations with TCAD contesting ad valorem tax valuations.

leases

  • Representation of a subtenant in negotiating a sublease in a to-be-finished out shell building.
  • Representation of landlords in negotiating and drafting office leases for newly built high-rise office building.
  • Representation of developers in negotiating and drafting ground leases.

farm and ranch

  • Representation of landowners granting conservation easements to qualifying conservation associations.
  • Representation of ranchers in ranch-related matters, including buying and selling ranches, negotiation of pipeline easements, seismic options and oil and gas leases.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Austin Bar Association (Real Estate Section).
  • Corpus Christi Bar Association (Past President).
  • American Bar Association (Real Property Section).
  • State Bar of Texas (Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section; Real Estate Forms Committee).
  • Texas College of Real Estate Attorneys (Founding Director).
  • Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation.
  • Fellow Member and 35-Year Maintaining Member, College of the State Bar of Texas.

AWARDS AND HONORS

COMMUNITY

  • Founder of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program of Austin, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that provides counseling for adolescents and their families seeking to live a drug and alcohol-free life.
  • Member of the Downtown Austin Alliance (Economic Development Committee).
  • Member of the Real Estate Council of Austin, Inc. (Regional Issues Committee).
  • Graduate of Leadership Austin Class 25 and Leadership Corpus Christi Class 13.
  • Member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas.
  • Previous Chairman of the Zoning and Planning Commission of the City of Corpus Christi.
  • Previous Chairman of the Corpus Christi Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Condominiums

construction

finance

Foreclosure

Insurance and risk management

See Insurance and Risk Management articles listed in the other topics.

Sales