William S. Dahlstrom

Partner, Dallas & Fort Worth
214.953.5932
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Practice Experience Recognition & Accolades Community Involvement Client Results Attorney News Career Highlight

“William Dahlstrom offers strength handling the zoning aspects of hotel, mixed-use, and office projects for his developer clients. One client noted, 'He is a very fine lawyer.'”

— Chambers USA

Biography

William “Bill” Dahlstrom combines the practical knowledge learned as a professional land planner with his legal training to provide a most unique approach to land use matters. He focuses his practice on all areas of land use and incorporates a planning problem solving process in land use and land development issues.

Bill has spoken at numerous seminars on land use law, including programs at the University of Texas School of Law Land Use Law Conference, State Bar of Texas Advance Real Estate Law Course, PESI Land Use Law Seminar, CLE Eminent Domain Conference, TXAPA Conferences, The Institute for Local Government Studies Short Course.

Education

B.U.P., University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Architecture, Art & Planning
J.D., University of Texas School of Law

Professional Designation
Fellow, College of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP)

Bar Admissions

Texas

Land Use Areas

  • Zoning
  • Subdivision
  • Annexation
  • Economic development
  • Development agreements
  • Signage
  • Ordinance drafting
  • Transportation
  • Comprehensive planning
  • Utilities
  • Special districts
  • Development fees
  • Conservation
  • Master planned developments

  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use – Texas, 2016-2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2006-2025
    • Lawyer of the Year – Dallas/Fort Worth, Land Use and Zoning Law, 2016, 2018, 2025
    • Lawyer of the Year – Dallas/Fort Worth, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, 2017, 2019, 2022
    • Land Use and Zoning Law, 2007-2025
    • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, 2011-2025
    • Real Estate Law, 2006-2025
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2007-2016, 2019-2020, 2023-2024
  • “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List, D Magazine, 2008-2009, 2011-2025
  • The Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers (Real Estate, Land Use), 2024
  • Named to Hall of Fame for ranking as a “Best Lawyer in Dallas” for 15+ years, D Magazine, 2022
  • President’s Award, Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association, 1991
  • Associate Professor of the Practice, College of Architecture at Texas A&M University, 2022

  • American Planning Association
    • Former Board Member, Texas Chapter
    • Former Chair, Texas Planning and Law Division
  • American Institute of Certified Planners
    • College of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP), Fellow
  • UT Law Land Use Conference and Fundamentals, Planning Committee and Conference Faculty
  • The Real Estate Council
  • Urban Land Institute, Member
  • Greater Dallas Home Builders Association, 2000-2006
  • Connemara Conservation Foundation, Former Member Advisory Board of Directors
  • Greater Dallas Planning Council, Former Board Member
  • Board of Directors for the Dallas Habitat for Humanity, Former Board Member
  • Ursuline Academy of Dallas, Board Member, 2008-2014

Chambers USA Guide 2025 announcement

June 5, 2025
Spotlight

Chambers and Partners Releases 2025 USA Guide Featuring 79 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 28 Ranked Departments

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 79 attorneys and 28 departments for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 29 departments, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 9 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 12 recognized for the first time.

Dallas Texas skyline

April 25, 2025
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2025 “Best Lawyers in Dallas”

Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2025. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.

Texas Super Lawyers 2024

September 17, 2024
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2024

Jackson Walker proudly announces the selection of 71 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2024 “Texas Super Lawyers” list.

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.

Best Lawyers 2025 edition graphic - 306 attorneys recognized, 81 specialty areas, 75 Ones to Watch, and 9 Lawyers of the Year

August 15, 2024
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

August 12, 2024
Attorney News

Six Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s List of 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the selection of Priya Coffey, William Dahlstrom, L Suzan Kedron, C. Bradford Lowry, Travis McNellie, and Alfred Meyerson to the first-ever “Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers” list.

USA flags

June 6, 2024
Spotlight

Chambers and Partners Releases 2024 USA Guide Featuring 67 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 23 Ranked Departments

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 67 attorneys and 23 departments for inclusion in the 2024 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 27 departments, with 3 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 8 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 15 recognized for the first time.

Best Lawyers in Dallas 2024 D Magazine

April 19, 2024
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates 23 Attorneys Named Among 2024 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

Jackson Walker congratulates the 23 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2024. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.

March 8, 2024
Speaking Engagements

William Dahlstrom to Serve on Planning Committee for 28th Annual UT School of Law Land Use Conference; Leonard Dougal to Present on “Practical Water Law Considerations”

Jackson Walker partner William “Bill” Dahlstrom served on the planning committee for The University of Texas School of Law’s 28th Annual Land Use Conference. Additionally, Jackson Walker partner Leonard H. Dougal will be a presenter on Friday, April 5.

Flags flying at the Texas Capitol

September 19, 2023
Attorney News

Jackson 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.

USA flags

August 17, 2023
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

More Attorney News

Bill was named as a Fellow in the College of the American Institute of Certified Planners in 2014. Bill was also a former Adjunct Faculty Member for “Legal Issues in Sustainable Development” at the Southern Methodist University-Lyle School of Engineering.