Luke J. Ellis

Luke Ellis represents property owners when private property is taken by the government and other condemning authorities. Texas Super Lawyers has recognized Luke as one of Texas’s top trial lawyers concentrating on eminent domain and condemnation (2015-2021). 

Luke is a trial lawyer with experience—having led trial teams and personally conducted voir dires, opening arguments, witness examinations, and closing arguments. In addition to his trial work, Luke has personally handled countless special commissioners’ hearings and contested hearings. Luke has obtained successful results in complex condemnation and eminent domain cases across major metropolitan areas of Texas, including greater Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, El Paso, Rio Grande Valley (McAllen/Brownsville/Harlingen), Waco, and Wichita Falls. Additional communities where Luke has defended property owners against land takings include Addison, Bastrop, Corpus Christi, Fredericksburg, McKinney, and Tyler, Texas to name a few. Luke has also appeared in condemnation and eminent domain lawsuits in Bastrop County, Bexar County, Dallas County, Hays County, Guadalupe County, Tarrant County, Travis County, and Williamson County among many others. Luke has offices in Austin and Houston (by appointment only).

Luke is an honors graduate of both the University of Texas and the University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of the Texas Law Review. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk on the Texas Supreme Court. He is admitted to practice in Texas, New York, and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Texas.

Luke has actively contributed to his community during his years as a lawyer. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Austin Parks Foundation. He served on the board of directors for Austin Habitat for Humanity for seven years (2006-2012) and served two terms as board president. He participated in a post-tsunami home building project in Sri Lanka with Habitat for Humanity International and is a founding member, former chair, and advisory board member of Austin Habitat Young Professionals. He previously served as a co-chair and guest lecturer for the People’s Law School, an annual Austin Bar Association event designed to teach people about their legal rights. A 2007 graduate of Leadership Austin, Luke served on the advisory committee for the first ever Leadership Austin Emerge class. Luke is the author of the Austin Chronicle’s “The Common Law,” an informational monthly column about everyday legal issues, and for five years he hosted News8Austin’s weekly television news segment of the same name.

Mr. Ellis has received several awards recognizing both his exceptional abilities as an eminent domain lawyer and his substantial contributions to the community.