Christopher D. Bowers

Christopher D. Bowers

Chris helps developers and other property owners with their legal issues.
  • Gov & Administrative Law, Real Estate Law, Municipal Law ...
  • Texas
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Biography

Chris counsels and represents developers and other landowners in a broad range of complex litigation, appellate, transactional, and administrative matters involving property.

Since entering private practice five years ago, Chris has represented companies such as Clear Channel Outdoor, Ewing Properties Texas, Centurion American, Davis Development, and many others. For example, he 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 $350,400 refund in the other. In addition, he persuaded a Dallas suburb’s officials to reverse a planning department’s decision and allow a substance abuse treatment center. And he convinced the Dallas Board of Adjustment to reverse the building official’s decision to revoke a permit.

Before entering private practice, 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 responsibility as first assistant was supervising all Dallas’ civil litigation and criminal prosecutions. 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. Highlights included:
• Authoring a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court in a tow truck regulation case, which the Court granted and thereafter reversed the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Persuading the Texas Supreme Court to reverse the Dallas Court of Appeals and the trial court and upholding the board of adjustment’s denial of a zoning variance
• Convincing the Dallas Court of Appeals to reverse a $6.4 million judgment in a taking case

Chris has favorably resolved numerous federal and state lawsuits through trial and mediation. He also has successfully handled appeals in multiple appellate courts.

Education
Cornell Law School
J.D. (1989) | Law
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Honors: • Who's Who Among American Law Students, 1989 • Silver Key Award, American Bar Association/Law Student Division, 1989
Activities: • President, Cornell Law Student Association (student government), 1988-89 • Member, Cornell International Law Journal, 1987-89 (selected in writing competition)
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Texas A&M University - College Station
B.S. (1986) | Political Science
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Honors: National Merit and McFadden Scholar
Activities: Chair, M.S.C. Open House Vice Chair, M.S.C. Spring Leadership Trip Peer Advisor
Texas A&M University - College Station Logo
Professional Experience
Of Counsel
The Suster Law Group, PLLC
- Current
Of Counsel
Miklos Cinclair, PLLC
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First Assistant City Attorney
City of Dallas
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Chief of Litigation
City of Dallas
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Chief of General Litigation
City of Dallas
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Assistant City Attorney
City of Dallas
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Laws Affecting the Restoration and Preservation of Historical Buildings
Construction Law Journal
Asking for Trouble When Turning History Into Rubble: How Dallas Razed Cain
State & Local Government Law Section, Federal Bar Association
Historic Preservation Concerning Private Property
The Urban Lawyer
Supreme Court Declares RFRA Unconstitutional
The Alliance Review
Is Owner Consent Objectionable?
The Alliance Review
Is Your Preservation Commission Procedurally Correct?
The Alliance Review
Speaking Engagements
Boarding Homes, 28th Annual Business & Education Conference, Austin
Code Enforcement Association of Texas
What’s New with What’s Old—Historic Preservation, Land Use Teleconference
International Municipal Lawyers Association
Historic Preservation Law, Best Practices for Public Sector Lawyers Seminar, Austin
Government Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas
Soft Speak, Big Stick: Successful Strategies for Enforcing Preservation Ordinances, 2010 National Preservation Conference, Austin
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Mr. Mayor, Tear Down This Old House: Challenges to Demolishing Nuisance Structures, International Municipal Lawyers Association Top 50 Meeting, Dallas
International Municipal Lawyers Association
Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings, Annual Conference, Addison
Texas Chapter of American Planning Association
Legal Issues in Historic Preservation, ,” Missouri Certified Local Government Forum, Columbia
Missouri Certified Local Government Program
The Moratorium: A Tougher Tool for Texas Cities?, 3rd Annual Conference on Land Use Planning Law, Austin
University of Texas School of Law
Social Regulation Through Zoning, Annual Conference, Corpus Christi
Texas Chapter of American Planning Association
Sign Regulation and the First Amendment, Challenges Facing Local Governments, Dallas
Dallas Chapter of Federal Bar Association
Missouri Commissions Assistance Program, Regional Training & Assessment Conference, Lee's Summit
NAPC and Missouri Historic Preservation Program
Conflict Resolution in Historic Districts, 50th National Preservation Conference, Chicago
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Enforcement: Putting Teeth into Preservation Ordinances, 49th National Preservation Conference, Fort Worth
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Property Rights Concerns and Legal Challenges, NAPC National Commission Forum, Denver
Takings and Due Process Challenges to Historic Preservation Ordinances, NAPC National Commission Forum, Pittsburgh
National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
Preservation Commission Short Course, Los Angeles
National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and National Trust for Historic Preservation
Lex Occupare: Constitutionally-Protected Expression and the Policing of Public Property in Dallas, Dallas
Dallas Bar Association Government Law Section
Concrete Ways to Improve Your Legal Drafting, Texas City Attorney’s Association Summer Conference, South Padre Island
Texas City Attorneys Association
Hot Topics in Land Use Law, 19th Annual Conference on Land Use Planning Law, Round Rock
University of Texas School of Law
The Big E comes to Big D: The Legal Issues Raised by Efforts to Contain an Ebola Outbreak, Colleyville
Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association
Obtaining Damages for an Illegal Demolition of a Landmark: a Dallas Case Study, National Preservation Law Conference, Washington, D.C.
National Trust for Historic Preservation and Georgetown University Law Center
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick: Tips for Getting Your Client’s Project Through the Development Maze, Dallas
Dallas Area Real Estate Lawyers Breakfast Discussion Group
Post-Disaster Regulation, 22nd Annual Conference on Land Use Planning Law,, Austin
University of Texas School of Law
Awards
Best Lawyers in Dallas
D Magazine
Land use/zoning category
Best Lawyers in Dallas
D Magazine
Land use/zoning category
Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame
Texas Lawyer
Magna Stella award for excellence in leadership and management for a non-profit or government agency
Texas General Counsel Forum
Presidential Citation
Dallas Bar Association
Texas Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
Texas Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
Texas Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
Texas Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
AV rating
Martindale Hubbell
Heritage Award
Black Dallas Remembered
Certificate of Appreciation
Dallas Landmark Commission
Professional Associations
Texas State Bar  # 02731300
Member
- Current
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Dallas Bar Association
Chair, Government Law Section
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Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court
Barrister
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College of the State Bar of Texas
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Texas
State Bar of Texas
ID Number: 02731300
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5th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    My hourly rate is $450 per hour for most matters. I strive to work efficiently and minimize costs to clients when possible. My goal is to earn your repeat business and favorable recommendation.
Practice Areas
    Gov & Administrative Law
    Administrative Law, Election Law, Legislative & Government Affairs
    Real Estate Law
    Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Neighbor Disputes
    Municipal Law
    Landlord Tenant
    Evictions, Landlord Rights
Additional Practice Areas
  • Other
  • HIstoric preservation
Websites & Blogs
Website
Contact & Map
The Suster Law Group, PLLC
Plano
1316 Village Creek Drive
Suite 500
Plano, TX 75093
Telephone: (972) 380-0130
Monday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 6 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Notice: Often the best way to reach me is by email to chris@susterlaw.com. Thank you!