Biography
Sue Ayers is an experienced trial lawyer. While she has handled hundreds of eminent domain cases in the last 10 years, she has also represented clients in a wide variety of civil matters ranging from breach of contract and fraudulent inducement to civil rights violations and wrongful death.
Sue has helped clients acquire thousands of parcels of property required for some of the most important infrastructure projects in Texas, including the first CREZ electric transmission line, the largest capital project in the history of Union Pacific Railroad, and the expansion of U.S. Highway 183 South in Austin. Her condemnor clients include municipalities, irrigation districts, river authorities, mobility authorities, electric transmission companies, Class I railroads, utilities, and common carrier pipelines.
Sue has also represented landowners all over Texas against the federal government and Texas Department of Transportation. She has helped churches, family-owned businesses, homeowners, and irrigation districts whose property was taken for the Border Wall, new road construction, or highway expansion.
In a 20+ year career, Sue has represented a varied and interesting clientele, including the court-appointed Receiver in an international Ponzi scheme, a chemical manufacturer, nursing home operators, a nature conservancy, and a Las Vegas casino. Sue is often invited to speak at legal conferences on effective trial practices and legal ethics.
Education
B.A., with honors, Michigan State University
J.D., magna cum laude, University of Houston Law Center
Bar Admissions
Texas
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
- Condemnation counsel for Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority on expansion of U.S. Highway 183 South.
- Condemnation counsel for River Authority constructing new water and wastewater pipeline projects in Central Texas.
- Condemnation counsel for municipality constructing new electric transmission lines in northeast Texas.
- Condemnation counsel for common carrier’s 719 mile-long natural gas liquids pipeline, crossing 29 counties.
- Condemnation counsel for longest single-certificated electric transmission line in Texas, crossing 671 parcels in 11 counties; project completed under budget and ahead of schedule, and selected as Top 10 Infrastructure Project in the United States by International Right of Way Magazine.
- Lead condemnation counsel for Union Pacific Railroad’s largest capital improvement project in the company’s 150-year history.
- Represented family owned business condemned by TxDot for highway expansion in Dallas County.
- Represented Irrigation District condemned by federal government for Border Wall.
- Represented Church of God when Parker County loop road project took several acres, including office building housing statewide headquarters, RV park, and parsonage.
- Represented Class I railroad in appeal of multi-million-dollar judgment in wrongful death case.
- Represented Big Four accounting firm in breach of fiduciary duty / malpractice case in which non-profit sought hundreds of millions in damages.
- Represented equitable Receiver appointed by federal district court to take over all assets of 165 entities on 4 continents to unwind multi-million dollar, decades’-long Ponzi scheme.
- Represented engineering company in defense of civil rights claims (42 U.S.C. 1983).
- Represented Protestant at State Office of Administrative Hearings in waste water permitting case involving over 20 experts in hydrodynamic modeling, ecotoxicology, and marine ecology/biology.
- Represented Texas Central Railroad and Infrastructure, Inc. in its efforts to develop a first-of-its-kind high-speed railway between Dallas and Houston.
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2021-2023
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers – Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters, 2007
- Mo Money Mo Problems: Lawyers & Clients Suing Over Fee Agreements (Again), CLE International Eminent Domain Seminar (Austin 2023), IRWA Spring Seminar (Mansfield 2023), Highland Lakes Bar Association (Marble Falls 2023)
- “Making and Responding to Objections at SOAH,” Texas Department of Public Safety (Austin 2023), UT Advanced Administrative Law Seminar (September 2022)
- “Effective Cross-Examination at SOAH: I Fought the Law…And the Law Won,” UT Advanced Administrative Law Seminar (September 2021)
- Mo Money Mo Problems: Lawyers & Clients Suing Over Fee Agreements (Still), IRWA Spring Seminar (Mansfield 2021)
- “Eminent Domain Primer,” TexasBarCLE 38th Annual Advanced Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Course (September 2020)
- Author, “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
- Mo Money Mo Problems: Lawyers & Clients Suing Over Fee Agreements (Again), CLE International Eminent Domain Seminar (Austin 2018)
- “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, 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 – 2020
Union Pacific Begins Brazos Yard Construction in Texas
February 2, 2018
Jackson Walker Client Featured in Right of Way Magazine
January 24, 2014
September 19, 2023
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2023
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
April 10, 2023
Speaking EngagementsSue Ayers to Speak on Fee-Related Lawsuits at IRWA Chapter 36 Spring Seminar
Sue Ayers will present “Mo Money Mo Problems: Lawyers & Clients STILL Suing Each Other Over Fees” at the IRWA Chapter 36 Spring Seminar focusing on the ongoing issue of lawyers and clients suing each other over fees.
April 6, 2023
Speaking EngagementsSue Ayers and Noah Galton to Discuss Ethics and Emerging Issues at Texas Eminent Domain Conference
During the 22nd Annual Texas Eminent Domain Conference, Sue Ayers and Noah Galton will share their insights related to ethics and cutting-edge eminent domain issues.
November 17, 2022
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – November 2022
View Jackson Walker’s November 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
September 21, 2022
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 64 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2022
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
October 5, 2021
NewslettersJW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – October 2021
View Jackson Walker’s October 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
September 22, 2021
Attorney NewsJackson Walker Congratulates Its 57 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2021
Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
September 10, 2021
Speaking EngagementsSue Ayers to Share Tips for Cross-Examination at SOAH During Advanced Texas Administrative Law Seminar
During the 16th Annual Advanced Texas Administrative Law Seminar, Sue Ayers will share how teaching English in alternative high schools prepared her for a career as a trial attorney, and will provide attendees with 10 tips for “winning” at cross-examination.
December 2, 2019
SpotlightIn Memoriam: A Tribute to Legal Trailblazer Carla Cox
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our friend and retired partner Carla J. Cox on November 29, 2019. Carla was a trusted and fearless lawyer on behalf of her clients, a leader at Jackson Walker, and a trailblazer for women in the legal profession.
August 1, 2019
InsightsSue Ayers Authors “An Eminent Domain Primer” in “Austin Lawyer” Following 86th Texas Legislature
As eminent domain reporting increases following the recent Texas legislative session, Susan Dillon Ayers authored an article in Austin Lawyer summarizing some of the fundamental steps involved in a condemnation case.