Attorney
Christopher M. Clough
Managing Partner
Chris Clough is the Managing Partner of the Austin Office of Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo, PLLC, the largest eminent domain firm in the State focused solely on defending landowners in statutory and inverse condemnation cases. Chris joined the predecessor firm of Barron & Adler, PLLC, in 2008 and became Managing Partner in 2014. Prior to joining the firm in 2008, Chris spent four years with the Transportation Division of the Attorney General's office where he worked from 2004 to 2008, representing the State of Texas predominantly in eminent domain matters, focusing primarily on the massive Katy Freeway expansion project in Houston.
Chris serves as condemnation counsel in Texas for numerous major institutional clients and nationally traded companies, including McDonald’s, H.E.B., 7-Eleven, Weingarten Realty, Simon Property Group, and Life Storage among many others. He has tried numerous condemnation cases to jury verdict, handled hundreds of special commissioners’ hearings and has multiple published appellate court decisions.
Chris was recently admitted as a Counselor of Real Estate (C.R.E.). CRE is a prestigious international membership organization of approximately 1,000 top real estate leaders, nominated by their peers, as individuals who provide intelligent, unbiased and trusted real estate advice on the toughest real estate issues facing their employers and clients.
ADMISSIONS AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- State Bar of Texas, 2004
- Counselors of Real Estate (C.R.E.), 2019
AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS
- Lloyd Lochridge American Inn of Court
- Robert Calvert Inn of Court
EDUCATION
- University of Texas at Austin (J.D. with Honors, 2003)
- Columbia University (B.A. with Honors, 1999)
COMMUNITY
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Covenant Presbyterian Church, Austin”
Speaking Engagements
Chris is a respected expert within the local and legal community on eminent domain issues. He is a frequent contributor to ALI and ABA eminent domain section, the International Right of Way Association and has served as Program Co-Chair for the Annual Eminent Domain Super Conference in Texas for the past 10 years. Recent professional engagements include:
- Panel Discussion, IRWA Bluebonnet Chapter 74, Appraising in a Post SB 18 Word: When is Direct Access Materially Impaired? (2013)
- Lecturer, 4th Annual Eminent Domain Conference in Houston, Case Law Update, New Developments and Pending Cases 2012-2013 (2013)
- Lecturer, 12th Annual Super Conference, Eminent Domain, Case Law Update, Review and Analysis of Eminent Domain Cases from 2012 (2013)
- Program Co-Chair, 11th Annual Super Conference, Eminent Domain (2012)
- Lecturer, 11th Annual Super Conference, Eminent Domain, Case Law Update, Emerging Issues and Trends (2012)
- Lecturer, IRWA North Texas Chapter 36, Senate Bill 18 and Other Hot Topics in Condemnation Law (2012)
- Program Co-Chair, 10th Annual Super Conference, Eminent Domain (2011)
- Lecturer, 10th Annual Super Conference, Eminent Domain, SB 18 – Changes to Eminent Domain Laws and the State of Access Law Under the New Statutory Regime (2011)
- Lecturer, 2nd Annual Eminent Domain Conference in Houston, Legislative Update, SB 18 – Changes to Eminent Domain Laws and the State of Access Law Under the New Statutory Regime (2011)
- Program Co-Chair, 9th Annual Super Conference, Eminent Domain (2010)
- Program Co-Chair, 8th Annual Super Conference, Eminent Domain, The Highest and Best Use of Your Time and Money (2009)
- Lecturer, 8th Annual Super Conference, Eminent Domain, Case Law Update, Emerging Issues and Trends (2009)
Personal
Chris is married to Elizabeth and has two daughters, Lucy and Clara. He is an active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and active in Brykerwoods Elementary School (with Elizabeth serving as president of the PTA). Chris enjoys spending time outside, playing golf when able, attending baseball games, cooking, travel and live music.
Chris is a member of the Texas Young Lawyers Association. He also provides voluntary legal services.”