FREDERICK (FRED) J. BIEL, an Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP, partner since 1989, represents clients in all aspects of real property and personal property matters, including the sale and acquisition of improved and unimproved land, commercial and residential real estate development, mortgage lending, foreclosures and loan re-structurings, commercial retail, office and industrial leasing, residential and commercial construction, real estate brokerage and management, residential and commercial property owners associations, condominium development, government regulation and approval of residential and commercial subdivisions, farm and ranch matters, and entity formation and structuring. Prior to joining Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP, Fred’s practice included government service as general counsel to the Commissioner and Board for the Texas Department of Human Resources, County Attorney for Bee County, Texas, and Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Beeville, Texas.
In addition to certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Commercial Real Estate Law, Residential Real Estate Law and Farm and Ranch Real Estate Law, Fred is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Hidalgo County, Texas and American Bar Associations, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and the College of the State Bar of Texas. Fred is a Sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Texas Monthly, in each year since 2003, has recognized Fred as a Texas Super Lawyer in Real Estate Law.
Fred is a member of the Southwest Association of Bank Counsel Board of Directors; Texas Board of Legal Specialization Real Estate Law Advisory Applicant Screening Commission, having also served two prior terms on that Commission; the South Texas College Advisory Committee on Legal Assistants; the Hidalgo County Bar Association Real Estate Section (former Co-Chair); and his law firm’s Executive Committee. Fred is a former member of the: State Bar of Texas Real Estate Forms Committee (and former Vice Chair); Texas Board of Legal Specialization Real Estate Law Testing Commission; State Bar of Texas Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Council (and former Title Insurance Subcommittee Chair); Texas Board of Legal Specialization Real Estate Law Legal Assistants Advisory Applicant Screening and Testing Commission (and former Chair); and City of McAllen, Texas, Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals .
Fred has been an adjunct professor at South Texas College teaching a real property law course in the college’s two year legal assistant certification program. Fred has written articles and spoken on real and personal property issues at continuing legal education programs sponsored by the State Bar of Texas, The University of Texas Law School, and the Hidalgo County Bar Association, and he has served as course director for the State Bar of Texas’ Advanced Real Estate Law Drafting Course, Advanced Real Estate Law Course, and Advanced Real Estate Law Strategies Course.
Fred is a current board member of the Valley Symphony Orchestra; he has taught religion classes for children and adults at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in McAllen, Texas; he is a current member of his Church’s Finance Council; and he is a former member of his Church’s Pastoral Council. Fred has also represented local non-profit groups organized to facilitate home ownership, and he has been a volunteer for a local hospice program.
Fred received B.B.A. and J.D. degrees in 1973 from Baylor University. He was admitted to practice law in Texas in 1973.
- Areas of Practice:
- Real Estate Law
Sale and Acquisition
Commercial and Residential Real Estate Development
Mortgage Lending
Foreclosures
Loan Re-Structurings
Commercial Retail
Office and Industrial Leasing
Residential and Commercial Construction
Real Estate Brokerage and Management
Residential and Commercial Property Owners Associations
Condominium Development
Government Regulation
Approval of Residential and Commercial Subdivisions
Farm and Ranch Matters
Entity Formation and Structuring - Certification/Specialties:
- Board Certified, Commercial, Residential and Farm & Ranch Real Estate,
Texas Board of Legal Specialization - Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 1973
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1983
U.S. Supreme Court, 1982 - Education:
- Baylor University School of Law, 1971 – 1973, J.D.
Baylor University, 1968 – 1973, B.B.A. - Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Lecturer, Advanced Real Estate Law Courses, State Bar of Texas
Lecturer, Advanced Real Estate Drafting Law Courses, State Bar of Texas
Lecturer, Mortgage Lending Institute, University of Texas Law School
Course Director, 20th Annual Advanced Real Estate Law Drafting Course, State Bar of Texas, March 5, 2009 – March 6, 2009
Course Director, 32nd Annual Advanced Real Estate Law Course, State Bar of Texas, July 8, 2010 – July 10, 2010
Course Director, 10th Annual Advanced Real Estate Strategies Course, State Bar of Texas, December 1 – 2, 2016 - Honors and Awards:
- Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
2003 – Present, Texas Super Lawyer as awarded by Thompson Reuters and published in Super Lawyers/Texas Monthly magazine - Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Southwest Association of Bank Counsel Board of Directors, Member (2018 – )
State Bar of Texas, Real Estate Forms Committee (June 2000 – May 2019) [Vice Chair 2003 – 2005], Former Member
Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Council, State Bar of Texas, Member
Title Insurance Subcommittee, Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Council
State Bar of Texas, Former Member and Chair
Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Real Estate Law Advisory Applicant Screening Commission, Member (Also served two prior terms 2003 – 2008)
Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Real Estate Law Advisory Exam Commission, Former Member (2009 – 2014)
Texas Board of Legal Specialization Real Estate Law Legal Assistants Advisory Applicant Screening and Testing Commission, Former Member (Chair 1999 – 2005)
South Texas Community College Legal Assistants Advisory Committee, Member
Hidalgo Bar Association, Member
Hidalgo Bar Association, Real Estate Section, Member (Former Co-Chair)
American Bar Association, Member
State Bar of Texas, Member
American College of Real Estate Lawyers, Member
The College of the State Bar of Texas, Member
Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals, McAllen, Texas, Former Chair & Member, 2002-2007
- Past Employment Positions:
- General Counsel to Commissioner and Board for the Texas Department of Human Resources
County Attorney – Bee County, Texas; Municipal Prosecutor – City of Beeville, Texas
Partner – Morrill, Patton & Biel, Beeville, Texas, 1983 – 1987
- Pro Bono Activities:
- Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, McAllen, Texas, Member; Former President and Member, Pastoral Council; Member of Finance Council; Former Teacher of Religion Class
- Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Sorrows Council 12040, and Assembly 2851, McAllen, Texas, Member (Former Financial Secretary)
- Valley Symphony Orchestra, Member (Former Vice President and Treasurer)
- Birth Information:
- July 1, 1950, Bremond, Texas, United States of America
