Biography
Luke Franz is an attorney in the land use practice of Jackson Walker’s Dallas office. His work with the group focuses on the representation of land owners, real estate developers, and nonprofits in a variety of land use and real estate development issues.
Luke has assisted the land use group in representing developers and property owners on issues such as zoning changes, specific use permits, and planned development districts. He often works on matters related to compliance with development regulations and counseling clients with regard to land use entitlements and permitting issues, land use due diligence, annexation, vested rights, comprehensive planning, and affordable housing.
Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Luke worked as a corporate & investment banking analyst for BBVA Compass, where he conducted extensive market research, generated credit evaluation models, and performed corporate finance analyses for corporate clients. Luke went on to serve as a mathematics and ESL (English Second Language) teacher in the Houston Independent School District where he developed and employed a hands on “classroom economy” program that equipped over 90 students with the tools to practice financial responsibility.
A leader in his community, Luke has founded and led nonprofits and awareness campaigns such as the Young Catholic Professionals (Houston chapter), The Aruna Project, and Seeking the Need.
While in law school, Luke focused his studies on state and local government law. He worked for the Notre Dame mediation clinic in which he became a certified mediator in the state of Indiana. Additionally, he was elected to serve as the President of the Student Bar Association.
Luke was a summer associate at Jackson Walker in 2017 and 2018.
Luke’s pronouns are he/him.
Education
B.S., Texas A&M University
J.D., magna cum laude, Notre Dame Law School
Bar Admissions
Texas, 2019
- Assisted a software company focused on Robots as a Service (RaaS) in the search and negotiation to relocate its corporate headquarters to McKinney, Texas.
- Texas Real Estate Council (TREC), Young Guns Member, 2019-Present
- Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC), Public Policy Committee, 2020-Present
- Notre Dame Club of Dallas
- Young Catholic Professionals, Founder & President of Houston Chapter, 2014-2016
June 15, 2021
Client ResultsLuke Franz Leads Representation of Robin Autopilot in Relocation to McKinney, Texas
Following its acquisition of North Carolina-based Mowbot, Robin Autopilot, a leader in robotic mowing technology and the robotics as a service (RaaS) platform, will consolidate its corporate headquarters and relocate to McKinney, Texas, thanks to a grant from the McKinney Economic Development Corporation’s Innovation Fund.
April 7, 2020
InsightsHow DFW Planning Departments Are Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic
As North Texas counties issue “shelter-in-place” orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, cities are currently updating their procedures for development and zoning to shift most or all of their functions to be operational online.