Brian Cassidy is the Managing Partner of the Austin Office. His practice focuses on the development of transportation and utility infrastructure by regional mobility authorities and other public and private entities. He advises clients on complex procurements, public private partnerships, regulatory compliance, and all aspects of the planning, design, financing, operation and approvals required for major infrastructure projects. He has been involved in the development of toll roads and non-tolled highways throughout Texas, and has been at the forefront of development of legislation authorizing the use of Transportation Reinvestment Zones to fund infrastructure projects.
Mr. Cassidy also works with clients in matters related to government contracting and procurement and regulation of business operations. He is Board Certified in Administrative Law and has considerable experience involving state agency rulemakings, contested case hearings, open government matters and judicial appeals of agency decisions.
Education
- J.D., with honors, The University of Texas School of Law, 1986
- B.S., with distinction, University of Arizona, 1983
Bar Admissions
Representative Experience
Transportation Infrastructure
Mr. Cassidy represents several regional mobility authorities (RMAs) in Texas. RMAs are multi-modal transportation entities created by local governments in various regions of the state. Mr. Cassidy has worked extensively on legislation governing the operations of RMAs and the procurement and financing options available to these entities He is actively involved in the legislative process related to transportation policy and funding, and has been invited to testify in legislative hearings on a variety of topics. His work with RMAs involves all phases of project development, including financing, procurement (including through design/build and public/private partnerships), environmental clearance (and related litigation) and compliance with various state and federal requirements related to project financing and approvals. Some of the projects he has worked on include:
- SH 130, Loop 1 and SH 45 North- Central Texas Turnpike System (Williamson and Travis Counties)
- US 183-A (Williamson County)
- US 290E Manor Expressway (Travis County)
- Loop 1 Mopac Managed Lanes- MoPac Improvement Project (Travis County)
- Toll 49 (Smith County)
- SH 550 Toll Project (Cameron County)
- US 281/Loop 1604 Interchange (Bexar County)
- US 281 (Bexar County)
- Loop 1604 (Bexar County)
- SH 289 (Grayson County)
- Loop 375 Cesar Chavez Border Highway Managed Lanes Project (El Paso)
- Loop 375 at I-10 Interchange –Americas Interchange Project (El Paso)
- Loop 375 (Joe Battle Blvd) at FM 659-Zaragoza Project (El Paso)
- Loop 375 (Northeast) Mainlane Extension-Transmountain Northeast Project (El Paso)
- I-10 Aesthetics Highway Improvements Program (El Paso)
- Spur 601(El Paso)
- Loop 571 (Rusk County)
- SL 79 (Val Verde County)
In connection with project development and financing, Mr. Cassidy negotiates financial assistance agreements, project development agreements, state infrastructure bank loans, pass-through financing agreements, TIFIA funding and financing involving Transportation Reinvestment Zones (TRZs). He has been one of the primary advocates for TRZs, and has had extensive involvement in the development of the TRZ legislation and in advancing projects which have utilized a TRZ as a component of project financing.
On the private sector side Mr. Cassidy works with clients to implement projects developed on behalf of state and local governments, including those using pass-through financing, bond financing, TRZs and project implementation with innovative risk sharing structures.
General Infrastructure Development
Mr. Cassidy assists clients seeking to partner with state and local government in developing other infrastructure projects, including electric transmission lines, telecommunications infrastructure, water and wastewater treatment facilities and mixed use public/private facilities. He is familiar with various project delivery methods available for infrastructure projects, including public/private partnerships based on legislation recently passed by the Texas Legislature.
Government Regulation and Disputes
With a thorough working knowledge of government procurement requirements, Mr. Cassidy consults with clients regarding procurement processes, potential procurement challenges, protection of information submitted in response to procurements and governmental actions taken in the context or procurements. He has also worked on a myriad of Attorney General opinion requests, Public Information Act disputes, and application of the Open Meetings Act to various actions.
Publications & Presentations
Professional History
- Partner, Locke Lord LLP
- Managing Partner, Locke Lord LLP's Austin office (2011-)
- Partner/Associate, Brown McCarroll & Oaks Hartline (1986 - 1995)
Professional Affiliations & Achievements
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Administrative and Public Law Section
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section
- Government Section
- Public Utility Law Section
- Member, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Administrative Law Exam Commission
- Member, Austin Bar Association
- Past-Chair, Administrative Law Section
- Real Estate Law Section
- Real Estate Council of Austin
- Board and Executive Committee Member
- Transportation Committee Chair (2009)
- Board Member, Capital Area Transportation Coalition
- Member, San Antonio Mobility Coalition
- Member, International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
- Member, Texas General Counsel Forum
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
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Related Practice Areas
Board Certifications
Administrative Law by Texas Board of Legal Specialization
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