Biography
Sue Ayers represents condemnors in all aspects of land acquisition, including negotiation of easements and crossing agreements, the purchase of real property in fee simple, condemnation, and appeal.
Sue has been a member of Jackson Walker’s eminent domain practice group since 2010. During the 2017 Legislative Session, Sue advised clients in several industries regarding bills that would impact condemnation generally. For the past two years, she has been the lead condemnation counsel for Union Pacific Railroad for its new 1,800-acre railyard in Robertson County, Texas. Sue tried seven cases to jury verdict on behalf of Lone Star Transmission for its CREZ project, which crossed eleven counties. During the first several years of her practice she gained broad trial and appellate experience representing municipalities, chemical manufacturers, railroads, telecommunications companies, casinos, and accounting firms.
Sue has appeared in state and federal court in cases involving land use issues, eminent domain, personal injury, wrongful death, toxic tort, free speech, and professional malpractice. Before joining Jackson Walker, she represented and advised the Court-appointed Receiver in one of the largest Ponzi scheme cases ever filed by the SEC. Sue was briefing attorney to Justice Mack Kidd of the Texas Court of Appeals for the Third District of Texas in Austin in the 2000-2001 term. Sue is a licensed teacher in Texas and has nine years of teaching experience.
Education
B.A., with honors, Michigan State University
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Houston Law Center
Bar Admissions
Texas, 2000
Court Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims
- United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western District of Texas
Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2007
- “An Eminent Domain Primer,” Austin Lawyer: Official Publication of the Austin Bar Association, Vol. 28, Number 6, July 2019
- “The Brazos Yard (UPRR): A Case Study in Condemnation Under Rule 71.1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” 2019 IRWA Transportation Symposium, IRWA Ch. 74 From Survey to Construction – How Fast Can You Go?, 2019
- “Ethical Considerations in Safeguarding Client Data Using Common Sense Security,” 18th Annual CLE International Eminent Domain SuperConference, 2019
- “Conflicts of Interest & Other Important Considerations for Your Practice,” CLE International Eminent Domain SuperConference, City of Austin Law Department, Austin, 2017
- “Challenges in Valuation of Utility Easements,” CLE International Eminent Domain Conference, Houston, 2015
- “Unique Challenges Facing Condemnor’s Counsel Today: Tall Tales From An Easement Out West,” BlueBonnet Chapter IRWA, Austin, 2013
- “Texas Courts of Appeals Update – Procedural,” Appellate Advocate, Winter 2008
- “Texas Courts of Appeals Update – Procedural,” Appellate Advocate, Winter 2007 (Scott Powers, co-author)
- “Texas Courts of Appeals Update – Procedural,” Appellate Advocate, Spring 2007 (Mark Emery and Joe Price, co-authors)
- Co-author, “Damages in Business Cases” presentation, Texas College for Judicial Studies, April 29, 2004
- Panelist, “Mold, Insurance and Tort Reform Update,” Texas Bar CLE, March 2004
- “Healing the Sacred Yoni in the Land of Isis: Female Genital Mutilation Is Banned (Again) in Egypt,” Houston Journal of International Law, Winter 2000
- Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation, Fellow, Board Member, Secretary, President-Elect, 2013-2019
- Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Austin Bar Association
- Development Council of Literacy First, 2006-2011
- General Counsel Forum, Board Member, 2013-2016
- Literacy Champions Tutor, 2006-2007
- Secretary on the Walnut Creek Elementary School’s Campus Advisory Council, 2003-2005
- State Bar of Texas
- Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association, Life Member
- Mentor, UT Law School Women’s Law Caucus, 2011 – Present
Jackson Walker Client Featured in Right of Way Magazine
January 24, 2014
Union Pacific Begins Brazos Yard Construction in Texas
February 2, 2018