Jim Mathews is a founding partner of Mathews & Freeland, LLP. Jim has practiced law in Texas since 1973. His practice focuses on environmental issues, particularly those related to water and air quality, as well as water rights and water utility issues. He represents both public and private clients with an emphasis on serving Texas municipalities. He is admitted to practice in Texas and before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Ninth and District of Columbia Circuits, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Much of Jim’s experience is with water rights and water quality matters. He represented the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies with regard to EPA’s review of the Texas surface water quality standards. He also represented the Texas Cities Coalition on Stormwater, and the Cities of Abilene and Irving regarding stormwater permitting issues.

Jim also serves as counsel for the North East Texas Air Care in its negotiations with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding an Early-Action Compact to avoid the unnecessarily placing the North-East Texas region in non-attainment of the Federal standards for ozone.

Prior to entering private practice, Jim served as a Staff Attorney for the Texas Air Control Board, an Assistant Attorney General and the Chief of the Environmental Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office. He holds a B.A. degree from North Texas State University and a J.D from the University of Texas.

C. Joe Freeland is a founding partner of Mathews & Freeland, LLP. Joe has practiced law in Texas since 1989. His practice focuses on issues relating to water rights, the regulation and deregulation of public utilities, and to regulation of environmental quality. He represents both public and private clients. He is admitted to practice in Texas and before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Prior to entering private practice, Joe worked as civil engineer with Freese and Nichols, Inc., in Fort Worth, Texas. He holds a B.S. Civil Engineering degree from Rice University and a J.D from the University of Texas.

Papers/Presentations:

Rate Appeals at the PUC, State Bar of Texas, Changing Face of Water Law Seminar (2020).

Public Utility Commission Update, State Bar of Texas, Changing Face of Water Law (2019).

CCN Updates Panel Alternative Provider/Municipal Perspective, TRWA/TWCA Water Law Seminar (2017).

Update on ASR and Brackish Groundwater Production Zones, State Bar of Texas, Changing Face of Water Law (2016)

PUC Update on CCN Decertifications – Landowner Perspective, 2015 Texas Water Law Institute

Potential ERCOT-Like” Improvements to Texas Water Policy, UTCLE, Texas Water Law (2014).

Overview of EPA’s Final Phase II Storm Water Regulations for Small MS4s, Texas Municipal League, Texas City Attorneys Association (2000).

Federalism Issues Associated with the Permitting of Municipal Storm Water Discharges, Mid-Year Seminar, International Municipal Lawyers Association (1999).

Ben Mathews advises clients across the spectrum of water, natural resources, environmental, and public utility law. He assists municipalities, utilities, private corporations, property owners’ associations, political subdivisions, and individual landowners in administrative and judicial matters—including all aspects of environmental permitting, compliance, and enforcement processes. Ben handles matters before the TCEQ, PUC, EPA, and State and federal courts, including securing and amending permits, water rate disputes, compliance counseling, environmental remediation, and transmission line routing cases. In addition, Ben litigates environmental claims and provides transactional support in negotiations involving significant environmental permits, liabilities, or risks.

Ben holds both a B.A. and M.A. from Trinity University. He clerked for the Environmental Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas and interned for Judges Orlando Garcia and Xavier Rodriguez at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas while earning his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, in addition to serving on the Editorial Board of the St. Mary’s Law Journal.

Ben volunteers as an Officer of the Administrative Law Section of the Austin Bar Association, and serves on the Planning Committee for the annual Texas Bar CLE “Changing Face of Water Law” course.

Ben is a member of the endangered species family known as “Native Austinite.”  Before practicing law, he spent seven years teaching public school.  Outside of work, Ben enjoys fishing, hunting, and searching for the best BBQ ribs in Texas.

Papers/Presentations:

• Speaker and Author, Case Law Update, State Bar of Texas Changing Face of Water Law (Virtual, 2021).
• Speaker and Author, Water Rights and Regulation, Legal Issues for Civil Engineers (Austin, 2018).
• Speaker and Co-author, 2016 Case Law Update, CLE International Texas Water Law Conference (San Antonio, 2016).
• Editor, 2015 Case Law Update, CLE International Texas Water Law Conference (San Antonio, 2015).
• Author, Potential Tort Liability for Personal Use of Drone Aircraft, 46 St. Mary’s L.J. 573 (2015).

Mark Walker has over 30 years of experience in electric utility law, including regulatory proceedings, competitive markets, governmental affairs, energy transactions, and corporate management. Mark provides legal counsel and advocacy, offering solutions rooted in a deep knowledge of regulatory structures and complex laws governing utilities and other market participants. He holds a B.A. degree from Baylor University and a J.D from the University of Texas, and he is licensed to practice law in Texas and New Mexico.   Prior to his utility and energy law career, Mark served as Briefing Attorney for Chief Justice Harland “Tod” Weaver of the Texas Court of Appeals, Fort Worth, Texas. Mark has served as counselor and advocate for:

• Xcel Energy Services, Inc. – Assistant General Counsel – Supported Xcel Energy subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Company in regulatory proceedings before the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, and in state and federal courts; achieving successful outcomes in rate cases, transmission line and new generation asset approvals, and enforcement actions; also provided legal counsel and strategic support on regulatory, commercial, and legislative matters.
• NRG Energy, Inc. – Vice President of Regulatory Affairs – Led the regulatory team in multiple states and served as counsel; developed and managed regulatory and legislative strategy for NRG companies in wholesale and retail competitive markets, commercial matters and utility cases; achieved successful outcomes with high commercial value while advancing competitive electric market policy; elected to ERCOT Board of Directors as an alternate generator sector representative and as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee.
• Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) – Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel – Member of the 2001 startup team for the initial ERCOT fully competitive market; served as lead counsel for ERCOT in proceedings before the PUCT; supervised governmental affairs and communications departments; provided support and direction to other attorneys regarding dispute resolution, commercial issues, litigation, and other matters.
• Lower Colorado River Authority – Associate General Counsel – Served as lead counsel for Transmission Division in PUCT proceedings (facilities certification, rate cases, rulemakings); led legal support for state open records matters and air and water quality compliance and permitting.