Jim Spivey

Jim Spivey is passionate about landowner rights and represents developers, business, farm and ranch owners in eminent domain and condemnation matters. Jim has represented landowners in condemnation jury trials and nearly 100 Special Commissioners’ hearings in road expansion, high voltage transmission line, school district, pipeline, drainage easement and railroad condemnation cases throughout Texas.  Jim is also a strong advocate in oil and gas litigation matters.

A recognized trial lawyer licensed to practice law in the State of Texas since 1995, Jim also represents clients in select civil litigation matters and has tried cases in state and federal court and before arbitration tribunals.  Jim holds the pre-eminent rating of "A.V." from Martindale-Hubbell.

Jim has represented property owners in the following Texas Counties:

Andrews
Atascosa
Austin
Bandera
Bastrop
Bee
Bell
Bexar
Blanco
Bosque
Brazos
Brown
Burnet
Caldwell
Callahan
Cameron
Coleman
Collins
Colorado
Comal
Dallas
Denton
Dimmit
Duval
Eastland
El Paso
Erath
Fayette
Fisher
Galveston
Gillespie
Goliad
Gonzales
Guadalupe
Hamilton
Harris
Hardin
Hays
Hidalgo
Hill
Jackson
Jim Hogg
Jim Wells
Karnes
Kendall
Kenedy
Kerr
Kimble
Lampasas
La Salle
Lee
Liberty
Live Oak
Madison
Maverick
McLennan
McMullen
Medina
Mills
Montgomery
Navarro
Nueces
Presidio
Reeves
Refugio
San Patricio
San Saba
Smith
Tyler
Tom Green
Uvalde
Val Verde
Victoria
Waller
Washington
Webb
Wharton
Williamson
Wilson
Zapata
Zavala

Education

• The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1995
• Texas A&M University, B.S., magna cum laude, 1992

Admitted to Practice

• Texas, 1995
• United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit
• United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas

Work Experience

• Co-Owner, Spivey Valenciano, PLLC, May 2012 to present
• Shareholder, Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated, 2001-May 2012
• Associate, Cox & Smith Incorporated, 1995-2001

Professional Recognition

• Selection for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation, a publication by Woodward/White, Inc. (honored consecutively since 2010)
• Selection for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 – Eminent Domain, a Thompson Reuters Service
• Selection for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers, 2003-2004; 2014-2018 Commercial Litigation, a Thompson Reuters Service
• Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent TM Peer Review Rating
• S.A. Lawyers: Best of 2014 (Eminent Domain, Business Litigation, Real Estate Litigation) a publication of the San Antonio Scene Magazine
• S.A. Lawyers: Best of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (Eminent Domain) a publication of the San Antonio Scene Magazine
• Chambers USA, Leader in their Field, 2006-2007 and 2009-2012

Publications/Speaking Experience

• "Eminent Domain and Compensation," Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Ag Law in the Field Podcast, hosted by Tiffany Dowell Lashmet
• "Texas Tour: Preparing for Condemnation and Protecting Your Property Rights" (with Soledad Valenciano, Refugio, San Antonio, Brackettville, Cotulla and Alice, Texas, November 2019)
• "Eminent Domain for Texas Land Owners" (Texas Farm Credit Lunch and Learn Seminar, Gonzales, Texas, August 2019)
• "Eminent Domain for Texas Land Owners" (Texas Farm Credit Lunch and Learn Seminar, Pleasanton, Texas, August 2019)
• "Because It's Your Land" (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service seminar series “Owning Your Piece of Texas: Top Laws Texas Landowners Need to Know," Palo Alto College, San Antonio, Texas, June 2019) 
• "Texas Tour: How to Protect Your Rights When Facing Eminent Domain," (with Soledad Valenciano New Braunfels, McAllen, Round Rock, 2018)
• "Protecting Your Land from TxDOT" (with Soledad Valenciano, Schertz, Texas, December 2017)
• "TxDOT and SH 46" (with Soledad Valenciano, Bulverde, Texas, February 2017)
• "Because It's Your Land," (with Soledad Valenciano, Goliad, Texas, June 2016)
• "AEP Texas: PUC Routing and Eminent Domain" (with Soledad Valenciano, Goliad, Texas, July 2015)
• “Cross Examination Of Experts In Eminent Domain Cases” (CLE International, 2013 Annual Eminent Domain/Condemnation Seminar, Austin, Texas, March 2013)
• “Towers, Trenches and TxDot: Strategies from the Landowner’s Perspective” (with Soledad Valenciano to San Antonio Real Estate Discussion Group, January 2012)
• “Recent Developments in Eminent Domain Proceedings” (with Soledad Valenciano at 10th Annual Gas and Power Institute, Houston, Texas, September 2011)
• “Coming Soon to a Town Near You: Eminent Domain, the CREZ Project, the Shale Oil and Gas Boom and Other Takings” (with Soledad Valenciano to San Antonio Bar Association Natural Resources Section, September 2011)

Professional Activities

• San Antonio Bar Association, 1995 – Present
• San Antonio Bar Foundation
• Texas Land & Mineral Owners Association, 2012 – Present
• William S. Sessions American Inn of Court, Member, 2002-2010
• Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Director, 2008-2011
• State Bar of Texas, Antitrust and Business Litigation Section, Chair, 2002-2003
• State Bar of Texas, Council of Chairs, Vice Chair, 2002-2003
• San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, Director, 2000-2002
• Defense Counsel of San Antonio, Director, 1999-2003

Interests

Jim Spivey is an avid hunter and fisherman and loves kayaking. He spends his free time with his family on their Texas Hill Country ranch or with his buddies fulfilling their hunting/fishing bucket lists.