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Ruben R. Barrera

San Antonio, Texas Attorneys

745 E Mulberry Ave, Ste 700
San Antonio, Texas 78212
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Phone: (210) 736-6600
Fax: (210) 735-6889

Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:30pm

Attorney, Shareholder

Location(s)

San Antonio, Texas Attorneys

About Ruben R. Barrera

Ruben Barrera has an extensive background in municipal, administrative, real estate, land use regulation (zoning, platting, subdivision, annexation, extra-territorial jurisdiction, and other development controls), condemnation (including inverse condemnation), utilities (water, wastewater, water re-use and electric), construction, water, tort, economic development, public entity structure and governance, public finance disclosure, public contract and education law.

Mr. Barrera has extensive experience in representing governmental agencies and entities in their business and operations matters. He has also represented these governmental agencies and entities in litigation, appellate and administrative matters before various county, district and appellate courts in Texas, as well as before certain Texas administrative agencies.

Mr. Barrera has represented the Cities of Austin, Balcones Heights, Boerne, Brackettville, Cotulla, Dallas, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Floresville, Georgetown, Harlingen, Hill Country Village, Kerrville, Laredo, Mercedes, Pearsall, Pflugerville, Pharr, Pleasanton, San Antonio, San Marcos, San Saba, Schertz, Shavano Park, Wharton and Weatherford, as well as the Brownsville Public Utilities Board, CPS Energy of San Antonio, Eagle Pass Water Works System, the San Antonio Water System (including its predecessor agency, the San Antonio City Water Board) and its Board of Trustees. He has also represented El Metro (Laredo Transit Management, Inc.), Alamo Colleges (f/k/a Alamo Community College District), Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, Northside Independent School District, North East Independent School District, Judson Independent School District, Military Highway Water Supply Corporation, Timbercreek Municipal Utility District, Bexar County Water Control and Improvement District #10, San Antonio Housing Authority, Eagle Pass Housing Authority, Olmos Park Economic Development Corporation and Cibolo Economic Development Corporation.


Education

  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1982
  • Trinity University, M.A., 1979
  • Pan American University, B.A. cum laude, 1977

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of Texas

Court Admissions

  • United States District Court, Western District of Texas

Accolades

  • AV Pre-Eminent Attorney Rating by Martindale Hubbell – August 19, 1998 to present
  • Texas Super Lawyer (published by Thomson Reuters) in Cities and Municipalities – 2003 and 2004
  • San Antonio’s Best Lawyers (Scene in SA magazine) – 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (in the following practice areas: Cities and Municipalities; Public Utilities; Eminent Domain; Government and Administrative; Government Contracts; and Governmental Relations)
  • San Antonio Business Journal Outstanding Lawyer – 2019

Associations

  • State Bar of Texas
  • American Bar Association
  • San Antonio Bar Association
  • San Antonio Bar Foundation – Life Fellow
  • Texas Bar Foundation – Life Fellow
  • Texas Municipal League
  • Texas City Attorneys Association
  • Texas Community Colleges Attorneys Association

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Cases & Publications

Published Works and Presentations

Mr. Barrera has authored numerous legal outlines and/or been a speaker at continuing legal education courses sponsored by the State Bar of Texas, the Texas City Attorneys Association, the Texas Association of Community College Attorneys (“TACCA”), the University of Houston, and other organizations.

  • “Rights, Duties, Obligations and Limitations of Utility Management” presented at the 4th (2019), 5th (2020) and 6th (2022) annual South Texas Water & Wastewater Regional Annual Conference
  • “A River Runs Through It: Resolving the Rio Grande Water Dispute Between the United States and Mexico” (co-authored with Dan A. Naranjo), Texas Bar Journal, December 2017
  • “Resolving the Rio Grande Water Dispute” (co-authored with Dan A. Naranjo), San Antonio Lawyer, January-February 2017
  • “Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Resolving the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) Water Dispute” (co-authored with Dan A. Naranjo), 47 St. Mary’s Law Journal 461 (2016)
  • “The Procurement Process for College Districts: A Primer (Because Sometimes…It’s Good to Review the Basics),” written for the 16th Annual TACCA Conference (January 2014)
  • “Water Rights Condemnation Process and Valuation” (co-authored with Frank Ruttenberg), written for the 2008 Eminent Domain Seminar (September 2008)
  • “The Do’s and Don’ts of School Contracts” (written by Jeff Horner), presented to the Texas Association of School Business Officials (February 2009)
  • “What Every Administrator Needs to Know About the Texas Public Information Act” and “What Every Administrator Needs to Know About the Texas Open Meetings Act,” written for the Legal Conference for Education Leaders, Region One Education Service Center, August 2007
  • “Ten Drafting Tips for Agreements With Governmental Entities” (co-authored with Frank Z. Ruttenberg), written for the State Bar of Texas 15th Annual Advanced Real Estate Drafting Course, March 2004
  • “Water Rights Outline and Checklist for the Real Estate Practitioner,” written for the Texas Water Law Seminar 2001, Texas Water Law Institute, September 2001
  • “Water Rights for the Real Estate Practitioner” (co-authored with Kerrie Jo Quoltrough), written for the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Law Course, July 2001
  • “Hot Contract Topics,” written for the Real Estate and Construction Issues for Schools in Texas Seminar, sponsored by Lorman Education Services, April 2001
  • “Real Estate and Condemnation Law,” written for the Real Estate and Construction Issues for Schools in Texas Seminar, sponsored by Lorman Education Services, April 2001
  • “Water Rights Checklist for the Real Estate Practitioner,” written for the State Bar of Texas Changing Face of Water Rights in Texas Seminar, February 2001
  • “Where the Water Meets the Ground” (co-authored with Russell S. Johnson), written for the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Drafting Course, February 1999
  • “Zoning and Subdivision Issues,” written for the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Seminar, July 1994
  • “Water Law” (co-authored with Mary Q. Kelly), written for the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Law Seminar, July 1994
  • “Contracts/Indemnity,” written for the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Attorney Workshop, August 1993, and the Texas City Attorneys Meeting, November 1993
  • “Litigation Water Drainage,” written for the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Seminar, July 1992
  • “Municipal Utility Districts,” written for the University of Houston Advanced Real Estate short course, October 1997, 1998, November 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, and for the Texas Land Title Institute, December 1994
  • “Impact Fees: Senate Bill 336 and How It Works, ” an outline presented at Texas A&M University’s Stormwater Management Conference, May 1990
  • “Water Law,” written for the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Seminar, May 1989
  • “Development Controls,” written for the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Seminar, May 1987
  • “Platting, Zoning and Public Utilities,” written for the State Bar of Texas Institute on Real Estate Law and Municipal Utility Districts, June 1985

Personal Information

Languages

  • Spanish