Messer Fort | Senior City Attorney

Clear Career Professionals; Frisco (TX); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Messer Fort in Frisco, Texas, is seeking a senior attorney to lead district and development finance work for North Texas projects. You will handle PIDs, TIRZs, and Chapter 380 agreements, collaborating with partners to develop robust incentives and services for cities across the state.

The ideal candidate will bring Texas licensure, seven+ years in municipal law, and a track record with city governance and public finance tools, operating effectively in a partner-led firm culture.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor and Texas law license in good standing.
• Seven+ years in municipal/public/local government law.
• Experience representing Texas cities or other political subdivisions.
• Demonstrated experience with Texas economic development or public finance tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead PID and TIRZ projects from petitions to bond issuances.
• Draft project and financing plans, including assessments and reimbursement agreements.
• Negotiate development agreements with private developers for cities.
• Provide city attorney services including ordinances, resolutions, and contracts.
• Attend council meetings and advise on Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act.

Skills

Municipal law

Negotiation

Open meetings act

Public finance

Education

Juris Doctor

Texas license

Tools

Public finance tools

Job description

North Texas is building faster than almost anywhere in the country, and the cities managing that growth turn to Messer Fort for the district and development finance work that makes it possible. The firm is hiring a senior attorney to take a lead role in that practice.

The work spans public improvement districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, and Chapter 380 agreements across a client base concentrated in North Texas, where this activity is heaviest in the state.

You will work directly with the two partners who lead this work, on a practice that continues to grow with the firm's client base. This is a practice where you can build a career.

Texas licensure and Texas land use experience are required.

Core Responsibilities:

• Public improvement districts: creation and administration of PIDs under Chapter 372 of the Texas Local Government Code, including petitions, service and assessment plans, assessment ordinances and annual updates, reimbursement and financing agreements, and coordination with bond counsel and financial advisors on PID bond issuances.
• Tax increment financing: creation and administration of tax increment reinvestment zones under Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code, including project and financing plans, TIRZ board support, and participation and development agreements.
• Economic development: negotiation and drafting of Chapter 380 economic development agreements and related incentive structures.
• Developer negotiations: representing cities in negotiations with developers over district structures, including alternatives to municipal utility districts. The firm does not represent MUDs, but much of this work involves negotiating development agreements that give cities preferred outcomes instead of a MUD, so a working understanding of how MUDs operate is valuable.
• General city attorney work: ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and counsel to city councils and staff, including attendance at council meetings and compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act.

The Ideal Candidate:

This role suits an attorney who has taken districts from petition through bond issuance and can run that process independently. Development finance fluency matters: service and assessment plans, increment projections, reimbursement agreements, and how those instruments interact with city budgets and debt. So does negotiation strength against sophisticated developer counsel, and comfort at the council table in open session and executive session alike. The firm is looking for an established Texas practitioner with a service mindset and a collaborative style that fits a partner led environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor and a Texas law license in good standing. Texas licensure is required at hire.
• Seven or more years of experience in municipal, public, or local government law.
• Direct experience representing Texas cities or other political subdivisions, including advising governing bodies.
• Demonstrated experience with Texas economic development or public finance tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands on experience creating and administering PIDs and TIRZs.
• Experience negotiating development agreements with private developers on behalf of a city.
• Familiarity with MUD structures and consent negotiations from either side of the table.
• Public finance experience, including work alongside bond counsel on assessment backed or increment backed debt.
• TCAA, IMLA, or similar professional involvement.

Location and Compensation:

Based in the firm's Frisco office, with remote arrangements considered for the right candidate. Messer Fort serves clients across Texas, and the attorney may work on matters statewide. Compensation is dependent on qualifications and experience and is supported by a robust benefits package.