FBT Gibbons Adds Former In-House Construction Counsel Christopher A. Villa as Dallas Real Estate Partner

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FBT Gibbons is continuing the strategic growth of its Real Estate practice group and Dallas office with the addition of Christopher A. Villa as a partner. Villa brings a rare combination of in-house design-build experience and private-practice disputes work, further strengthening the firm's ability to advise clients from the earliest project decisions through execution and dispute resolution as it expands its development and construction work across Texas and nationwide.

Villa joins the firm from The Beck Group, where he served as senior counsel supporting the company's construction, architecture, and design-build operations. He advised project teams on contracts, risk allocation, project delivery, and disputes.

Before moving in-house, Villa spent more than eight years in private practice, including as lead counsel in complex construction and professional liability matters involving significant development, infrastructure, mixed-use, educational, retail, and manufacturing projects.

"Dallas continues to attract significant development and industrial investment, and the decisions made at the beginning of these projects can have consequences throughout design, construction, and delivery," said Christina M. Sprecher, practice group leader of FBT Gibbons' Real Estate Practice Group. "Chris understands that entire continuum. He can help clients address risk when contracts are being negotiated, follow those decisions through project execution, and anticipate where issues may develop before they become disputes. That is exactly the kind of capability we want to continue building coast to coast."

Villa's practice spans both transactional and disputes work involving construction and development projects. He advises owners, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, and other project stakeholders on contract drafting and negotiation, project delivery, risk allocation, claims management, and dispute resolution. His experience includes infrastructure, mixed-use developments, educational and athletic facilities, retail properties, manufacturing facilities, and other significant construction projects.

"What stood out to me about FBT Gibbons is the combination of a deep real estate bench, a growing presence in Dallas, and a national platform that reflects how sophisticated development projects actually get done," Villa said. "These projects rarely stay within one discipline or one market. Having colleagues across practices and geographies creates an opportunity to look at the broader picture and bring the right people to the table as a client's needs evolve."

Villa also has authored and presented on construction-law issues and is active in the State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section and the Dallas Bar Association's Construction Law and Corporate Counsel sections.

FBT Gibbons' Real Estate team includes more than 100 attorneys and represents developers, owners, equity investors, home builders, lenders, government entities, and other real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate ownership, finance, development, management, and disposition. It has a deep understanding of the real estate business and strives to provide clients with sound legal counsel and practical solutions.

About FBT Gibbons

FBT Gibbons LLP is a national law firm focused on serving companies operating and investing in the middle market. With nearly 800 lawyers across 26 offices, the firm is positioned to support clients ranging from large multinationals to mid-sized businesses and growth-oriented startups across the United States. FBT Gibbons provides legal counsel enriched with valuable business and market context, particularly in corporate, litigation, and regulatory matters within the energy, finance, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors. The firm is committed to delivering excellent service to its clients, colleagues, and the communities in which it operates. To learn more, visit FBTGibbons.com.