David & Stephens LLP
You work for the public.
We work for you.
Public service requires counsel who know how government actually works. We are outside counsel dedicated to Texas governmental entities; across policy, land, and constitutional litigation, we bring the depth of public law to the work that serves communities.
When Texas grows, public entities carry the weight.
Building the infrastructure. Securing the resources. Defending the decisions that move communities forward. It is demanding work, done under statutes that leave little room for error, and a single legal position can shape a neighborhood or an entire region. We understand what is at stake in that responsibility.
Our Approach
Our Focus
Three pillars of
public sector counsel.
Policy Advice
Guiding public leaders through the statutes, codes, and constitutional limits that govern how government acts.
Land Acquisition
Securing the land that public progress requires, fairly and lawfully, with respect for every community affected.
How We Work
Operating principles.
Legal Expertise
Decades of public law experience, from trial courts to the Supreme Court. When the stakes reach the highest levels, so does our work.
Government Fluency
Our attorneys have served as government lawyers, elected officials, and agency heads. We know public institutions from the inside, because we've worked within them.
Focus
We do public law. No competing priorities, no divided attention, no learning your world on your time.
Representative Work
Proof in the Public Record.
Constitutional Litigation
Defending a County Against Federal Civil Rights Claims
Injunctive relief denied. Case dismissed.
A federal challenge sought to halt operations across the county's justice system. We served as outside counsel, took on the entire defense, and protected the county's ability to function.
Land Acquisition
Securing Right-of-Way for Utilities and Flood Control
Every parcel secured. Ahead of time and under budget.
Hundreds of contested parcels stood between a critical flood-control project and the communities it protects. We handled acquisition end to end, from negotiation through resolution.
Policy Advice
Navigating a Conflict Between Municipal and State Authority
Full compliance. No interruption.
A special district faced conflicting mandates from the state and a local municipality. We built the legal architecture that let the district comply with both and keep operating.
Stay informed on the legal and policy developments affecting Texas public entities.
David & Stephens' legal alerts will keep you informed on the issues impacting your operations.
Sign Up for Legal Alerts