Peter G. Smith
PETER G. SMITH
Equity Partner
BIOGRAPHY
Peter G. Smith handles Firm legal matters related to economic development. Mr. Smith has a rating of “AV Preeminent” by Lexis Nexis, which is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. He is a recognized expert in municipal law, economic development, zoning, and land use, and ad valorem taxation and enjoys a statewide reputation. He frequently lectures on land use, economic development, ad valorem taxation, and other municipal matters. Currently, Mr. Smith is City Attorney for the Cities of Richardson, DeSoto, Allen, Farmers Branch, and Sachse. He is also general counsel and/or litigation counsel for the appraisal districts in Atascosa, Camp, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hunt, Kaufman, Parker, Red River, Tarrant, Upshur, and Williamson counties.
Mr. Smith is an approved liability defense counsel for the TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool. He has extensive experience in tax abatement, Type A and Type B economic development sales tax incentives, tax increment financing, and Chapter 380 agreements and serves as legal counsel for the Firm’s Type A and B development corporation clients.
PRACTICE AREAS
- Municipal Law Municipal Litigation & Appeals
- Economic Development Substandard Building Enforcement
- Land Use and Zoning
- Fire, EMS
- Law Enforcement Bankruptcy
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
City of DeSoto v. White, 232 S.W.3d 379 (Tex. App.- -Dallas 2007 )City of Seagoville v. Lytle, 227 S.W.3d 401 (Tex. App.- -Dallas 2007 )Dallas Cent. Appraisal Dist. v. 1420 Viceroy Ltd. Partnership, 180 S.W.3d 267 (Tex. App.- -Dallas 2005 )Berry v. City of Reno, 107 S.W.3d 128 (Tex. App.- -Fort Worth 2003 )Cent. Appraisal Dist. of Rockwall County v. Lall, 924 S.W.2d 686 (Tex. 1996 )Smith v. Travis County Educ. Dist., 968 F.2d 453 (5th Cir. 1992 )Dallas Cent. Appraisal Dist. v. Seven Inv. Co., 835 S.W.2d 75 (Tex. 1992 )
EDUCATION
- Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas, 1976 J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence Honors
- Member of Advisory Board of the Institute for Local Government Studies Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 1974
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts Major: Government
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Texas, 1977 U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1981
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1997
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1981
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 1979
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1992