Christopher J. Oddo exclusively focuses on representing individual and corporate landowners throughout Texas in eminent domain and condemnation matters. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is recognized by Best Lawyers in America for eminent domain and condemnation law and litigation for land use and zoning matters. Mr. Oddo has also been recognized by Austin Monthly as one of Austin’s top eminent domain attorneys.
Mr. Oddo is a partner with Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo, PLLC, joining the firm in 2015. Prior to joining Barron, Adler, Clough and Oddo, he was a partner with McGinnis Lochridge where he created and served as Chair of the Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation Practice Group. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Oddo served as an Assistant Attorney General. He is an experienced litigator having tried more than 30 cases to conclusion.
Mr. Oddo also serves as an assistant Adjunct Professor for the University of Texas School of Law as an Advocacy Specialist. He has previously served as President of the Austin Bar Association, Director on the Board of Directors for the State Bar of Texas, Vice-Chair of the Land Use and Environmental Group of the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Law section, and Chair of the Austin Bar Foundation. He is also a longstanding member in the Lloyd Lochridge American Inn of Court.
Accolades & Experience
Mr. Oddo has broad eminent domain experience from pre-offer planning to final judgment and appeal, representing landowners in complex and high-dollar road and highway takings, as well as pipelines, powerlines, and special use takings. He represents individual landowners, corporations, real estate investment trusts and Fortune 100 companies in governmental and quasi-governmental public-use takings involving commercial, industrial, large rural ranches and special use properties. Mr. Oddo’s practice covers every corner of the state of Texas, including Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso and Lubbock metro areas, as well as rural counties throughout the Texas Hill Country, and Central, South and East Texas.
Mr. Oddo graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 1996, and a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1999. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice law in the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Speaking Engagements & Publications
- Presenter and Author, 24th Annual Changing Face of Water Law, State Bar of Texas (San Antonio, February 2024)
- Co-Author and Speaker, Recent Condemnation Issues; Compensation in powerline and pipeline cases — new thoughts on an old subject and U.S./Mexico border wall: the past, the present, and what may come, 41st Annual Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference (Austin, 2017)
- Author, President’s Column, Austin Lawyer (Austin, 2013)
- Panelist and Speaker, The Effective Advocate: 30 Days Out and Now What?, Austin Bar Civil Litigation Section (Austin, 2013)
- Interview with Austin Bar President Chris Oddo, Austin Lawyer (2013)
- Speaker and Author, Nuts and Bolts of Collection Law, National Business Institute (Austin, 2008)
- Co-Author, How to Make the Condemnation Process Work for You, Flick Report (Dec. 2007/Jan. 2008)
- Speaker, 30 Days Out 19th Annual Advanced Evidence and Discovery Course, State Bar of Texas (2006)
- Moderator, Austin’s Ultimate Trial Notebook Seminar, Austin Bar Association Litigation Counsel (2004)
- Co-Author, Challenging Experts and Preparing Experts for a Robinson/Daubert Challenge, Litigation and Trial Tactics CLE Seminar, University of Houston Law Foundation (2003)
Community Involvement
In his free time, Mr. Oddo is a dedicated community volunteer, having served as the Executive Chair of the St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Board of Trustees, Board Member of the Friends of the Sterling C. Evans Library at Texas A&M University, Board Member of the Thinkery (Austin Children’s Museum), Advisory Council of Volunteer Legal Services, Board Member of the Capital Area Private Defender Service, and Executive Board Member of the Knights of the Symphony. He is also a graduate of Leadership Austin Class of 2007.
- Austin Bar Association
- Board Member, 2001 – Present
- Immediate Past President, 2014 – 2015
- President, 2013 – 2014
- President-Elect, 2012 – 2013
- Secretary, 2011 – 2012
- Treasurer, 2010 – 2011
- Director, 2005 – 2007, 2008 – 2010
- Lloyd Lochridge American Inn of Court, Member, 2010 – Present
- Friends of the Sterling C. Evans Library at Texas A&M University, Board Member, 2014 – Present
- Austin Bar Association, Judicial Affairs Committee, Chair, 2007 – 2008
- Leadership Austin, Class of 2007
- Austin Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section
- Chair, 2005 – 2006
- Vice-Chair, 2004 – 2005
- Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court, Member, 2004 – 2009
- Austin Bar Association, CLE Chair, 2003 – 2004
- State Bar of Texas, Director
- Volunteer Legal Services, Advisory Council
- Austin Children’s Museum, Board of Directors
- Capital Area Private Defender Service, Board Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Austin Assembly
- Heritage Society of Austin
- Knights of the Symphony