Our Practice Areas
Real Estate & Land Use
Baker Robertson & O’Brien represents clients in both areas of real estate law -- transactional and litigation work. A comprehensive real estate practice allows us to help clients from start to finish. On the transactional side, we handle sales contracts and leases, title insurance matters, construction concerns (including lien matters), subdivision and condominium creation, and 1031 exchanges. Our real estate litigation cases involve fraud, contracts, evictions, HOA disputes and deed restrictions, water and mineral rights, and more. For more than thirty years, the Firm has regularly represented property owners, purchasers, developers, builders, lenders, and municipalities in the purchase, sale, and residential and commercial development of land.
Municipal
Laura and Rex III have an abundance of experience in managing civil matters for cities. For twenty years, Laura has assisted cities through various roles, including her role as Assistant General Counsel at the Texas Municipal League, outside counsel for multiple Central Texas cities, and for five years as City Attorney for the City of Dripping Springs. Laura has also provided training to thousands of city and other government officials through the Texas Municipal League, Texas Municipal Courts Education Center, Bannon PIA training, and the Texas City Attorneys Association. This experience enables her to represent clients in negotiations with various political subdivisions as well as assist in compliance with new legislation. Rex previously served as City Attorney for the City of Dripping Springs and the City of Horseshoe Bay. Their experience helps them represent firm clients in negotiations with other governmental entities, including Hays County.
Mediation
Most litigation matters are resolved before trial through an agreement of the parties. Dan assists local attorneys and their clients by providing mediation and arbitration services in Hays County. Since 2009, Dan has been qualified to hear conduct mediations in general civil and family law matters. As a former trial judge and appellate law clerk, he is uniquely positioned to help parties resolve cases in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Corporate & Banking
Baker Robertson & O’Brien has extensive experience handling legal matters for corporate organizations. Our firm represents local banks in commercial loan transactions, preparing loan documents and researching title and corporate issues. Our attorneys also consult with clients starting new businesses and complete all required documents for forming various business entities, including limited liability companies and limited partnerships. Our attorneys can also assist companies with transactions after formation, including mergers and acquisitions and drafting letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, and related transactional documents.
Appellate
A successful trial practice requires an understanding of the litigation process from start to finish, including the appeals process. The trial and appeals processes are drastically different in how the respective courts operate, what they may consider, and the types of relief they may provide to litigants. Our attorneys include former trial judges and appellate court law clerks. With involvement in numerous appeals, Baker Robertson & O’Brien has the necessary experience to effectively represent clients in civil appellate matters.
Wills, Estate Planning & Probate
An estate plan is much more than a will or a trust. Our estate planning attorneys have extensive experience counseling clients concerning effective and appropriate planning that takes into consideration each client’s goals, family situations, and assets. We work to understand our clients’ specific situations and intentions so that we can offer cost-effective, practical solutions. We strive to make the planning experience one in which our clients know that all options have been considered and the final results accurately reflect their wishes. When the time comes to administer an estate, our attorneys have the necessary experience to guide executors and administrators in the probate process in a cost-efficient manner. We also assist trustees in administering trusts and trust beneficiaries in making sure they are being treated fairly. As a former probate judge, Dan O’Brien draws on his experience handling hundreds of probate proceedings.
Premarital and Postmarital Agreements
Couples often consider premarital or postmarital agreements, sometimes within the context of estate planning. Premarital agreements, also known as prenups, offer couples a practical way of outlining the assets they bring into the marriage and establish methods for managing these assets if the marriage ends due to death or divorce. During their marriage, spouses may want to establish specific guidelines to manage the assets and debts they have acquired together. A postmarital, also known as a partition and exchange agreement, allows spouses to legally adjust their financial arrangements after marriage. Our attorneys are experienced at guiding clients when they enter into these agreements to ensure they address important issues and reach an agreement that is fair to both parties.
Litigation
Baker Robertson & O’Brien strives to help its clients attain their goals in the most efficient and productive manner possible. However, there are times when disputes arise and litigation is unavoidable. Our experience in business and civil litigation helps identify resolutions before litigation ensues, limits the time and expense associated with prosecuting or defending a lawsuit, and helps clients understand the costs and benefits of a lawsuit and potential resolution. We have experience in real estate, contract, trade secret, non-competition, fraud, and other types of cases in both state and federal court.
Because of our many years of experience practicing in the area, our attorneys also serve as local counsel for matters pending in Hays County.