Jackson Walker represented Velocis, a private equity real estate manager, in a contentious land use and development dispute with the City of Bee Cave, Texas, culminating in a favorable settlement and the profitable sale of the development to aerospace company CesiumAstro.
The matter arose in 2024, when the City of Bee Cave and multiple intervenors sued to halt construction of Velocis’s light industrial development, known as the West Austin Business Park, located in the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The plaintiffs sought to shut down the project entirely, triggering fast-moving, complex, and contentious litigation.
Following a two-day temporary injunction hearing, the Travis County District Court ruled in Velocis’s favor, allowing construction to continue, and rejected the City’s effort to stop the project. That early litigation victory proved pivotal, preserving the viability of the development while the case proceeded toward trial.
After months of difficult and complicated negotiations, Jackson Walker helped Velocis reach a settlement with the City that allowed Velocis to finalize the sale of the property to CesiumAstro, a fast-growing space and satellite communications company that recently announced a $470 million growth capital raise and plans to establish a major manufacturing and headquarters presence at the site. The settlement enabled Velocis to realize a significant return on its investment while resolving the dispute on favorable terms.
Jackson Walker’s litigation team was led by Scott Weatherford and Connor Kidd, who represented Velocis throughout the injunction proceedings, dispositive motion practice, and settlement negotiations. The team also included Pamela Madere, Christopher Bradford, and Cade Satterfield.
For more information, see CesiumAstro’s press release, Governor Abbott’s press release, and article by the Austin Business Journal.
Meet Jackson Walker
Founded in 1887, Jackson Walker is the largest firm in Texas with over 500 attorneys across six offices, 30% of whom practice litigation. Our firm has garnered significant accolades, including as an Intimidating Opponent in BTI Consulting Group’s list of the firms “Most Feared in Litigation,” as a top Texas firm in the area of Litigation: General Commercial in the recently released Chambers USA Guide, and among the Best Law Firms® by Best Lawyers with 27 national and 142 metropolitan rankings in the 2026 edition. To explore the firm’s experience, visit the Trial & Appellate Litigation practice page.
