Jack E. Fields
Partner
Jack represents clients in all aspects of real estate practice. He advises sellers, buyers, lessors, lessees and developers of commercial and recreational real estate of all types. He also counsels real estate developers in connection with office, multi-family, retail, and industrial projects, and assists land owners with agricultural tax planning matters. Jack also represents mortgage servicers and real estate lenders, including several major insurance companies, foundations, banks, and pension funds.
His practice includes representing developers of, and builders in, residential and mixed use subdivisions and sales and acquisitions of farm and ranch properties. Among specific projects, Jack headed the effort to acquire all the lots and houses and negotiated the release of the underlying mortgages for a very large subdivision (approx. 500 houses) in connection with environmental/tort litigation and development of another large master planned subdivision with ongoing mineral development activities involving negotiation of numerous Drill Site and Surface Waiver Agreements. He has also represented several lessees/users in connection with off-balance sheet lease financing of large headquarter facilities.
Jack has substantial experience in foreclosures of all types of commercial properties, including shopping centers, industrial complexes, condominiums, apartments and raw land. Among other foreclosure matters, he represented the FSLIC and the RTC in the takeover of one of the largest failed savings and loan associations in the country which resulted in hundreds of foreclosures in numerous counties in the State of Texas.
Jack has achieved board certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the Real Estate-Commercial and Real Estate-Farm and Ranch areas. He is also a member of the firm's Legal Opinion Committee, and is an expert on Texas title insurance.
Publications
- "A Topic of Interest: An Analysis of the Status of the Usury Law of Texas" 19 South Texas Law Journal, 525 (December 1978)
Events
- Traps for the Unwary (Or Things You Don't Want to Learn the Hard Way) (April 9, 2007)
- Resolving Conflicts between Surface and Mineral Development (March 14, 2006)
- Jack has spoken on real estate topics at several seminars and at the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Law Course, including topics on "Real Estate Deeds and Warranties" and "Granting and Reserving Easements."
Professional Recognition
- "Leading Lawyers in Real Estate," Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers (2003-2011)
- "The Best Lawyers in America," 25 consecutive years (1983-2012)
- Profiled as one of the leading Real Estate lawyers in the Central region, The US Legal 500 (2010)
- "Houston's Top Lawyers," H Texas Magazine (2009)
- “Who’s Who,” Honors Edition for Executives and Professionals (2008-2009)
- "Texas Super Lawyer," Texas Monthly (2003-2008)
- “Guide to the World’s Leading Real Estate Lawyers,” Expert Guides (2008)
- "Best Lawyers in America - Houston, Texas Metro Area," Inside Houston
- "Texas' Top-Notch Lawyers," Texas Lawyer - Go To Guide (October 2002)
