About David Todd
The Todd Law Firm's founder, David Todd, is one of the most recognized attorneys in our area. Based in Austin, he represents clients throughout Texas.
David Todd has always rooted for the underdog. He went to law school to help the little guy get a fair shake against the big and the powerful. A trial lawyer since 1989, David began his legal career practicing criminal defense and successfully trying many criminal jury trials. This experience taught him how to present a compelling case to a judge and jury under difficult circumstances. He has also helped many injured Texans recover from damages caused by the negligence of others.
Since changing his focus to representing Texans in eminent domain condemnation cases, his trial experience and willingness to take cases to court have been key to obtaining excellent results for hundreds of commercial, industrial, special-use and large-tract rural landowners, either in settlement or at trial.
He is still fighting for the underdog by helping businesses and individual landowners defend their rights against the government and corporations and achieve full and fair compensation for what is being taken from them by these powerful interests. David Todd has been recognized for his continued pursuit of excellence as an attorney and for the tremendous results he achieves for his clients.
David is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. This prestigious group includes the top trial lawyers in America and is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Fewer than 1% of lawyers in the United States are members of this exclusive society. For more information on this honor click here.
David has been chosen as a Texas Super Lawyer every year since 2014 by Super Lawyer Magazine. The 10-years Super Lawyer designation is an honor given to less than 5% of the attorneys in Texas. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The only way to become a Texas Super Lawyer is by vote of fellow Texas attorneys. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. To learn more about why you should choose a Texas Super Lawyer for your case, click here.
David has received the highest possible rating (superb) from Avvo.com., the premiere website for attorney ratings from clients and other attorneys. To see this Avvo.com rating and learn more about why this matters for your case, click here.
David is also a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, an honorary society of lawyers who are among the best trained attorneys in Texas. Members are qualified attorneys who are interested in both high ethical standards and improved training for all Texas attorneys. The College recognizes Texas lawyers who attend at least double the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) required by the State Bar of Texas. To learn more about why this is important to your case, click here.
David is also a Certified Mediator. His mediation training helps him negotiate the best outcome for clients who decide to settle rather than proceed to trial.
Review our website (especially our client testimonials), download our free legal guides, watch our helpful videos and contact us today to learn how the Todd Law Firm can help you win the result you want and deserve.
David was born in Dallas, Texas, the youngest four children. His mother was a medical laboratory technician and "domestic engineer" and his father was an obstetrician/gynecologist surgeon who specialized in advanced microsurgery and fertility work. David was active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning his Eagle Scout rank at age 13 then continuing to serve as an assistant Scoutmaster and work at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico as a Ranger. He graduated from St. Mark's School of Texas in 1982. He attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergraduate studies and earned a BA degree in Honors Liberal Arts (the "Plan II" program) with highest honors, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1986. He earned his JD from the University of Texas School of Law in 1989, where he served on The Review of Litigation. He founded the Todd Law Firm in 1989 and has practiced law in Austin and throughout Texas ever since. He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association and the Eminent Domain Section of the Austin Bar Association.His focus is representing commercial, industrial, special-use and large-tract rural landowners facing eminent domain condemnation. Each case receives personal, attorney attention (not just paralegal work) and he takes pride in making sure the client stays informed about and involved with their case every step of the way. By focusing on the few cases that meet his standards for acceptance, he is able to devote the time and effort needed to obtain the best possible results.
Although many of his cases settle, David Todd has tried many cases including jury trials. He uses this experience to get the best results for our clients by preparing every case from day one as if it were going to trial. That allows clients to negotiate settlements with confidence and get the best result in court if negotiation doesn't resolve the case.
After years of litigating ases, David Todd created free legal guides and provides them free of charge on his website to help Texans learn how to avoid common mistakes and protect their landowner rights so they can resolve their case and get on with their business and their lives.
The Todd Law Firm focuses on "making a difference, one case at a time".
Education:
J.D.: The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas, 1989; Texas Review of Litigation, 1988 - 1989 B.A.: with Highest Honors, Plan II Honors Liberal Arts Program, University of Texas, Austin, 1986; Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1986; St. Mark's School of Texas, 1982; Eagle Scout, 1977
Professional Honors & Activities:
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Texas Super Lawyer - Super Lawyer Magazine - 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Certified Mediator
Advanced Mediation Training
Member - College of the State Bar of Texas
Eminent Domain Section of the Austin Bar Association
Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Capitol Area Trial Lawyers Association
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
Bar Admissions:
State Bar of Texas, 1989
Court Admissions:
All Texas state courts, 1989 and U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 1999