David M. Berman
DAVID M. BERMAN
Equity Partner
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Berman started his legal career with the firm as a law clerk in 1983 while a student in law school and has devoted the entirety of his career to the firm. He has been an equity partner since 1990. His municipal service has involved representing dozens of cities in various capacities. His larger city clientele has included service as the city attorney for Farmers Branch and Rowlett, and the provision of legal services for large capital projects in Allen and Richardson. Mr. Berman serves as defense counsel for a number of cities through appointment by the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool in litigation involving civil rights, employment/labor law and tort claims in both state and federal courts. He currently serves as the firm’s internal litigation compliance attorney, responsible for the internal supervision/oversight of all litigation. He has successfully represented several cities in high-profile litigation in the areas of inverse condemnation, eminent domain, contract actions, and annexation.
Successfully represented several municipalities in high-profile civil litigation, including cases for inverse condemnation, eminent domain, breach of contract, and annexation. Instrumental in Rowlett’s Bayside/Sapphire Bay Project, involving the acquisition and transfer of land and territorial jurisdiction, and the economic development, of the former Elgin Robertson Park area, involving an economic development project valued at over $1 billion.
PRACTICE AREAS
- Municipal Law Litigation & Appeals
- Economic Development Substandard Building Enforcement
- Land Use and Zoning
CLASSES/SEMINARS TAUGHT
- Land Use Law; Current Issues in Subdivision, Annexation, and Zoning, National Business Institute
- Plat and Subdivision Law in Texas, Lorman Education
- Planning and Zoning, Lorman Education
- Planning and Zoning, American Planning Association
- Open Meetings and Public Information Act, Texas Municipal League
- Public Works, CLE International
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- El Centro College, Instructor, Business Law, 1985 – 1994
- State Bar of Texas – Member
- Member, Texas City Attorneys Association
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
KMS Retail v. City of Rowlett, 593 S.W.3d 175 (Tex. 2019); Rowlett/2000, Ltd. v. City of Rowlett, 231 S.W.3d 587 (Tex.App.–Dallas 2007, pet. den. ); Five Land, Ltd. V. City of Rowlett, 293 S.W.3d 917 (Tex.App-Dallas, 2009); Hubert v. Davis, 170 S.W.3d (Tex. App.–Tyler 2005, pet. den. ) Simmons v. Kuzmich, 166 S.W.3d 706 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2005 ); In re Porter, 126 S.W.3d 708 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2004); Hartsell v. Town of Talty, 130 S.W.3d 325 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2004, pet. den. ) City of Balch Springs, Tex. v. Lucas, 101 S.W.3d 116 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2002, no pet. ) George A. Fuller Co. of Tex., Inc. v. Carpet Services, Inc., 823 S.W.2d 603 (Tex.1992 ) Commerce, Crowdus & Canton, Ltd. v. DKS Const., Inc., 776 S.W.2d 615 (Tex. App.–Dallas 1989, writ ref’d, n.r.e. )
EDUCATION
- Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas, 1984 J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
- State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, 1981 M.S., Master of Science Major: Policy Analysis and Public Management
- State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, 1981 B.A., Bachelor of Arts Major: Sociology
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Texas
- 1984 U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- 1984 U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
- 1984 U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- 1984 U.S. Supreme Court