Luke Ellis - Austin, TX

Overview

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

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Luke Ellis included in a Super Lawyers® list

Education

• Legal Education

  • The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 2002
    J.D.
    Honors: With Honors
    Law Review: Texas Law Review, Member

• Non Legal Education

  • The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 1997
    B.A.
    Honors: With Honors
    Major: Political Science
  • La Universidad de Pais Vasco, San Sebastian, Spain, 2001
  • La Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2002

Current Employment Position(s)

• Partner

Past Positions

• Texas Supreme Court, Law Clerk, 2002 - 2003

Languages

• Spanish

Classes and Seminars

• University of Texas School of Law – “Eminent Domain and Condemnation” – Adjunct Professor (2021; 2020; 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016)
  
• Advanced Oil Gas and Energy Resources Law Course 2020, “Eminent Domain from the Landowner’s Perspective”, September 24, 2020 (Virtual Event)
  
• “Protecting property owners’ rights among RM 620 condemnations,” Lake Travis View- Austin American Statesman, September 1, 2020
  
• 3rd Annual Eminent Domain Houston Conference, August 6, 2020 (Virtual Event)
  
• 2020 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting, “Eminent Domain and Texas: The Tension between Demographic Growth, Infrastructure Projects, and Protecting Private Property Rights”, June 25, 2020 (Virtual Event)
  
• Texas Land Conservation Conference, “Conservation Easements and Eminent Domain”, February 28, 2020 (Austin, Texas)
  
• Central Texas Private Property Rights Coalition (CTPPRC) Meeting, “Overview of Current Eminent Domain Laws in Texas, and Legislative Session Updates”, October 9, 2019 (Fredericksburg, Texas)
  
• IRWA Seminar on Texas Eminent Domain Legislative Reform Efforts, September 6, 2019 (San Marcos, Texas)
  
• Beef & Cattle Short Course Presentation on Texas Eminent Domain: Practices and Procedure, August 6, 2019 (College Station, Texas)
  
• “Eminent Domain & Condemnation: Valuation Issues for Shopping Center, Retail, and Commercial Use Properties” – International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), October 27, 2017
  
• “The Border Wall and Federal Eminent Domain Power”, Presentation to Laredo Bar Association, October 20, 2017
  
• “Inverse Condemnation Claims Against Army Corp of Engineers/U.S. Government Due to Intentional Release of Hurricane Harvey Floodwaters” – Town Hall Meeting, October 4, 2017 (Houston, Texas)
  
• “Texas Eminent Domain & Condemnation: Strategies and Solutions for Property Owners” – hosted by the Texas Land Conservancy and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, September 29, 2017 (Fort Worth, Texas)
  
• “Inverse Condemnation Claims Against Army Corp of Engineers/U.S. Government Due to Intentional Release of Hurricane Harvey Floodwaters” – Town Hall Meeting, September 13, 2017 (Houston, Texas)
  
• “Commercial Real Estate and Texas Condemnation: Legislative Reform Efforts” – Austin Commercial Real Estate Society (ACRES), September 13, 2017 (Austin, Texas)
  
• “Texas Eminent Domain Legislative Reform – Summary of 2017 Legislative Session” – International Right of Way Association (IRWA), September 8, 2017 (San Marcos, Texas)
  
• “Texas Eminent Domain and Condemnation – Roadways, Pipeline & Utility Easement Conference” – hosted by the Williamson/Milam County Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office, September 7, 2017 (Georgetown, Texas)
  
• “Recent Developments in Texas Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law” – Texas Agricultural Law Conference, May 25, 2017 (Lubbock, Texas)
  
• “Texas Eminent Domain & Condemnation” – Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Annual Conference, April 1, 2017 (San Antonio, Texas)
  
• “Evaluating Risk in Highway Condemnation Takings — the Little Elm case” — Texas Condemnation & Eminent Domain Super Conference, February 9, 2017 (Austin, Texas)
  
• “Texas Condemnation of Commercial / Retail Properties: Legislative Reform Initiatives”– Central Texas International Right of Way Association (IRWA), November 7, 2016 (Austin, Texas)
  
• “Texas Eminent Domain Legislative Reform Initiatives” – Town Hall hosted by Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, November 15, 2016 (Bastrop, Texas)
  
• “Texas Eminent Domain Legislative Reform Initiatives” – Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Public Policy Conference, September 29, 2016 (Austin, Texas)
  
• “High-Speed Rail & Centerpoint Power Line – Right to Take and Valuation Challenges in a Texas Eminent Domain Case,” hosted by the Waller County Advocacy Group, February 27, 2016
  
• “Eminent Domain – High-Speed Rail & Centerpoint Power Line,” hosted by the Waller County Advocacy Group, January 13, 2016
  
• “Property Owner and Land Rights Conference,” College Station, May 9, 2015
  
• “Texas Pipeline Easement Condemnations – Issues to Consider,” PUG Permian Basin Oil & Gas Conference, Fort Worth, May 19, 2015
  
• Texas Legislature — Testimony In Support of S.B. 474 (March 9, 2015) Find testimony for SB 474 here. (Testimony on SB 474 begins at the 19:45 minute mark)
  
• “Texas Condemnation: Problems and Solutions from the Property Owner’s Perspective,” 13th Annual Policy Orientation for Texas Legislature, Austin, January 8, 2015
  
• “STEC Electric Powerlines—The Fundamentals of Eminent Domain,” Town Hall Meeting, Cotulla, January 7, 2015
  
• “Rio Grande Valley—The Fundamentals of Eminent Domain,” McAllen, January 6, 2015
  
• “TRWD Water Pipelines and Eminent Domain,” Mansfield, December 16, 2014
  
• “High Voltage Power Lines and Eminent Domain from the Landowner’s Perspective,” Hill Country Alliance Workshop, Fredericksburg, September 6, 2014
  
• “Legal Issues for Texas Civil Engineers – Eminent Domain and Condemnation,” Austin Civil Engineers Presentation, August 13, 2014
  
• “The Fundamentals of Eminent Domain,” Hidalgo County Bar Association Meeting, July 2, 2014
  
• “Property Rights and Eminent Domain,” Hood County Bar Association Meeting, Granbury, May 23, 2014
  
• “Property Rights and Eminent Domain,” Somervell County Meeting, Glen Rose, May 24, 2014
  
• “Land Ownership as a Keystone Right: Five issues in Condemnations for Pipeline Easements,” co-presented with Justin Hodge, Dallas Bar Association Luncheon, Dallas, June 18, 2013
  
• “Landownership as a Keystone Right: Eminent domain and easements,” San Antonio Bar Association-Natural Resources Section Luncheon, San Antonio, January 9, 2014
  
• “Texas Condemnation the Good and The Bad: From the Landowner’s Perspective,” 12th Annual Policy Orientation for Texas Legislature, Austin, January 9, 2014
  
• “Eminent Domain 101—The Nuts and Bolts of How the Condemnation Process Works,” Flick Commercial Real Estate Report, Sept.–Oct. 2007
  
• Lecturer, CLE International – Texas Eminent Domain Conference (2007 & 2008)

Published Works

Articles

• Talking About My Generation: Assumption of Risk and the Rights of Injured Concert Fans in the 21st Century, 80 Tex. L. Rev. 607, 2002
  
• The Common Law, Austin Chronicle
  
• Power Lines and Community Damages
  
• “The Presidential Election, Texas Infrastructure and Private Property Rights,” co-authored with Justin Hodge, Texas Lawyer, October 30, 2020
  
• “Landownership as a Keystone Right: Eminent domain and easements,” San Antonio Bar Association-Natural Resources Section Luncheon, San Antonio, January 9, 2014
  

Bar Admissions

• Texas, 2003
• New York, 2002
• U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas

Other Affiliations

• State Bar of Texas (Member)
• State Bar of New York (Member)
• Travis County Bar Association (Member)
• Austin Young Lawyers Association (Member)