During the 22nd Annual Texas Eminent Domain Conference, Jackson Walker partners Susan Dillon Ayers and Noah M. Galton will share their insights related to ethics and cutting-edge eminent domain issues. Presented by CLE International’s Eminent Domain Institute, the two-day conference takes place April 13-14, 2023, at the Austin Country Club.
“Common Ethical Dilemmas: 2022-2023 Edition”
Sue Ayers will present the first ethics session of the conference. The presentation will focus on common ethical dilemmas in eminent domain law and provide a framework for addressing the most up-to-date ethical challenges that may arise in eminent domain matters. The presentation will also provide guidance on how to effectively communicate with clients and other stakeholders about ethical issues in eminent domain cases. Attorneys attending the presentation will gain a deeper understanding of the ethical considerations that arise in eminent domain law and learn practical strategies for addressing them.
Sue represents litigants in all manner of civil litigation in state and federal courts. Sue has represented plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving Constitutional due process and freedom of speech, the Texas Public Information Act, wrongful death and personal injury, breach of contract, and an equitable receivership in a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme. For the past three years, Sue has represented a protestant in a wastewater permitting matter at SOAH.
As a member of Jackson Walker’s eminent domain practice group, Sue assisted in the acquisition of right of way for an electric transmission line project selected as one of the Top 10 Infrastructure Projects in the nation in 2013 by the International Right of Way Association. Sue was the condemnation lawyer for Union Pacific Railroad’s largest capital project in the 165 year company history, the Brazos Yard in Robertson County. Sue has been on the trial team for one of the most significant transportation infrastructure projects in Central Texas in decades, the expansion of Highway 183 South by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. Sue has recently been on JW teams that condemned over 700 miles in more than 30 counties for a variety of public infrastructure projects: an electric transmission line, a waste water pipeline, and a natural gas liquids pipeline. She has represented landowners all over Texas in condemnations for highway and road improvement projects, as well as “The Wall” on the southern Texas border.
She is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a sought-after speaker and writer on eminent domain issues. Outside of her practice, Sue actively serves on the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation and is a mentor for the UT Law School Women’s Law Caucus.
“Cutting-Edge Eminent Domain Issues: Point/Counter-Point”
Noah Galton will co-present with Nicholas Laurent (Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo) as they cover the latest developments and challenges in the field of eminent domain law. The presentation will focus on the emerging issues in eminent domain law and the challenges posed by innovation. Attorneys attending the presentation will gain valuable insights into the latest developments in eminent domain law and learn how to effectively represent their clients in eminent domain cases.
Noah focuses on commercial litigation, including eminent domain, real estate litigation, energy litigation, litigating issues surrounding governmental/sovereign immunity, and general business litigation. Noah has prosecuted numerous lawsuits to jury verdict, including in both state and federal court, and has appeared in dozens of administrative hearings. Noah has a truly statewide practice, with experience in over 40 Texas counties.
In his eminent domain practice, Noah has represented river authorities, electricity providers, oil/gas midstream companies, railroads, municipal utility districts, municipalities, and independent schools districts in the acquisition of real property rights for extensive public projects aimed at expanding critical infrastructure in the State of Texas. In addition, Noah represents landowners in seeking just compensation under the Texas Constitution and protecting their property rights.
He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and has been recognized as a “Texas Rising Star” by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers since 2019, among the “Up-and-Coming 100” list of Texas Rising Stars since 2022, and by Austin Monthly in its “Austin’s Top Attorneys” list for Eminent Domain since 2021. He serves on the Development Committee of the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy (formerly, the Waller Creek Conservancy) and chairs the Austin Bar Association’s Eminent Domain Section.
The conference will feature 16 plenaries and a special commissioners’ panel, where experts will share their experience and provide feedback. Other programs will include discussions on mediation, county changes, renewable energy, and much more. For more information, visit the conference website.
