Billy Coe Dyer

Top rated Eminent Domain attorney in Houston, Texas

McFarland PLLC
Billy Coe Dyer
McFarland PLLC

Practice Areas: Eminent Domain

Licensed in Texas since: 1985

Education: The University of Texas School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2006, 2008, 2013 - 2017, 2019 - 2024
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McFarland PLLC

811 Louisiana Street
Suite 2520
Houston, TX 77002 Visit website

Details

For over 35 years, Billy Coe Dyer has fought condemnation and eminent domain cases on behalf of the owners of retail, commercial, industrial, institutional, master-planned residential, multi-family, and special-use property. 

Dyer has achieved numerous notable victories against the government and other public-use entities, including the largest jury verdict ever awarded to a property owner in a condemnation case in Texas. He represented the landowner in the landmark case of Interstate Northborough in the Texas Supreme Court establishing the right of property owners to recover remainder damages resulting from the increased proximity of an interstate highway. Since the ruling, Interstate Northborough has been cited over 300 times, highlighting its significance.

At Trinity University, Dyer secured his B.A. in history and economics with summa cum laude honors in 1982. During his time there, he was part of Phi Beta Kappa and Omega Phi. In 1985, he received his Juris Doctor with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where he contributed to the Texas Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.

After finishing law school, Dyer served as his judicial clerk for the Honorable Homer Thornberry of the Fifth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. He is authorized to practice in all Texas state courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, and the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Southern Districts of Texas.

Board-certified as a specialist in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Dyer has been honored by The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA. He has also been named "Lawyer of the Year" in eminent domain and condemnation law in Houston twice by The Best Lawyers in America, most recently in 2024. 

Practice areas

Eminent Domain
  • 100% Eminent Domain

First Admitted: 1985, Texas

Professional Webpage: https://www.mcfarlandpllc.com/attorney/dyer-billy-coe/

Educational Background:
  • University of Texas Law School, J.D., with honors, 1985
  • Trinity University, B.A. in Economics and History, summa cum laude, 1982
Honors/Awards:
  • Judicial clerk to The Honorable Homer Thornberry, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Judicial Clerkship, Fifth Circuit, US Court of Appeals, 1986
  • Recognition for expertise in Eminent Domain, Texas Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2024
  • The Texas Law Review is a student-edited and -produced law review affiliated with the University of Texas School of Law. It ranks number 15 on Washington & Lee University's list, number 11 on Google Scholar's list of top publications in law, and number 4 in Mikhail Koulikov's rankings of law reviews by social impact., Texas Law Review, University of Texas School of Law, 1985
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Lawyer of the Year,” Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (Houston), Lawyer of the Year, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2017
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), “Lawyer of the Year,” Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (Houston), 2017, 2024, Lawyer of the Year, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2024
  • The Phi Beta Kappa Society is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity., Phi Beta Kappa, Trinity University, 1982
  • The Order of the Coif is an American honor society for law school graduates. The Order was founded in 1902 at the University of Illinois College of Law., Order of the Coif, University of Texas School of Law, 1985
  • The Texas Law Review is a student-edited and -produced law review affiliated with the University of Texas School of Law. It ranks number 15 on Washington & Lee University's list, number 11 on Google Scholar's list of top publications in law, and number 4 in Mikhail Koulikov's rankings of law reviews by social impact., Texas Law Review, University of Texas School of Law, 1983
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • CC Telge (State of Texas v.) - Jury verdict for $28.9 million, 2,223% above State’s offer of $1.3 million in a partial takings case for the Grand Parkway; the State took 40 acres out of a 613 acre tract being developed as a residential subdivision in Harris County, Texas, resulting in development changes yielding a lower value; this is believed to be the largest jury verdict for a property owner in a condemnation case ever in the State of Texas (The Texas Lawbook, February 7, 2018); the State appealed, and the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment for the property owner; subsequently, the Texas Supreme Court denied the State’s petition for review, 2018
  • 2015 SAC Self Storage, LLC (U-Haul) (State of Texas v.) - $19.9 million award, 2024
  • 2015 SAC Self Storage, LLC (U-Haul) (City of League City, Texas v.)  - Settlement for landowner with net recovery to client of $8.75 million on offer of $3.5 million, 2024
  • Felts v. Harris County, 915 S.W.2d 482 (Tex. 1996), 1996
  • State v. Northborough Center, Inc., 987 S.W.2d 187 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, rev. denied), 1999
  • State v. Whataburger, 60 S.W.3d 256 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. denied), 2001
  • Interstate Northborough Partnership v. State, 66 S.W.3d 213 (Tex. 2001), 2001
  • State v. Delany, 197 S.W.3d 297 (Tex. 2006), 2006
  • State v. Reina, 218 S.W.3d 247 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, no pet.), 2007
  • State v. Fiesta Mart, Inc., 233 S.W.3d 50 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2007, pet. denied), 2007
  • FKM Partnership, Ltd. v. Board of Regents of University of Houston, 255 S.W.3d 619 (Tex. 2008), 2008
  • State v. CC Telge Road, LP, 605 S.W.3rd 742 (Tex. App.-Hou. [1st Dist.] 2020, pet. denied), 2020
  • Settlement of $2.17 million for owner of vacant land on SH 288 in Brazoria County on offer of $358,357, a 605% increase, for taking of 8.7 acres out of a 46.1 acre tract, 2022
  • Jury verdict 265% above the State’s first offer – Jury trial for the owners of a restaurant and a veterinary clinic in whole taking, resulting in a judgment of $9 million, on an offer by the State of $3.4 million; the State appealed, and the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment for the property owner
  • Jury verdict 215% above the State’s offer for the owner of a shopping center in the State’s partial taking to widen the Katy Freeway, resulting in a judgment of $9.5 million on an original offer of $4.4 million; the State appealed and then dismissed its appeal
  • Jury verdict in 2017 for $11.5 million, 426% above State’s offer of $2.7 million –in a partial takings case for the Grand Parkway for the owner of retail pad sites in front of a big-box shopping center in Montgomery County, Texas; the State appealed and then dismissed its appeal, 2017
Special Licenses/Certifications:
  • Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1993, 2024
Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, 2024
Representative Clients:
  • Kagan Realty Investors, a highly regarded, Houston commercial real estate firm focused on creating and maintaining long-term tenant relationships and providing exceptional property management, 2024
  • Whataburger, an American regional fast food restaurant chain, headquartered and based in San Antonio, Texas, that specializes in hamburgers. Founded by Harmon Dobson and Paul Burton, it opened its first restaurant in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950, 2024
Industry Groups:
  • Real Estate Development
  • Real Estate Investment

These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.

“Billy is a longtime and trusted lawyer in the condemnation practice of law. His experience and trial skills are top notch. I am happy to recommend Billy for Super Lawyers this year.”

Office location for Billy Coe Dyer

811 Louisiana Street
Suite 2520
Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 844-877-9190

Selections

13 Years Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers: 2006, 2008, 2013 - 2017, 2019 - 2024

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