Ms. Higbie has the unique qualifications of being both a licensed professional (civil) engineer (1982) and lawyer (1984), State of Texas, having practiced as an engineer for Exxon Chemical Company (1977-1984) and subsequently, for over 20 years, as an attorney and Partner of the prominent Houston firm, Schlanger, Mills, Mayer & Silver, L.L.P. Ms. Higbie also has a L.L.M. in environmental law and has handled numerous real estate and business-related environmental matters.
Real Estate and Construction Law: Ms. Higbie is well-versed in real estate, development, construction and real estate-related environmental matters, representing a select clientele of real estate owners, lenders, developers, contractors, subcontractors and property management companies. Ms. Higbie has a wide-range of experience in all types of residential and commercial real estate developments, including residential subdivisions, Section 42 low-income housing, apartments, condominiums, hotels and resort properties, golf courses, office buildings, retail shopping centers, power centers and malls. Her law practice is primarily focused on leasing, finance, development and construction.
Environmental Law: Ms. Higbie has a Master of Law degree in Energy and Natural Resources Law and both her studies and master’s thesis concentrated on real estate contamination and the various theories of legal liability imposed upon owners and operators. Her experience in this area includes TCEQ voluntary clean-ups, representation of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) in EPA proceedings, pre-closing due diligence and clean-up activities, and owner-directed remediation, including evaluation of environmental insurance and construction and disposal issues.
ADR: Extending her expertise in the real estate and construction industries and other areas, Ms. Higbie has served as a mediator and arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for more than 15 years. She is presently appointed to the AAA’s Panel of Neutrals for the following categories of cases: Commercial, Construction, Consumer, CRAV (real estate appraisal), International and Sports (U.S. Track & Field and Olympic Anti-Doping Grievances). Background: University of Florida (B.S.C.E., 1977, With HighestHonors) University of Houston (J.D, 1984, Summa Cum Laude, Master of Law (L.L.M.), Energy and Natural Resources Law, 1999. Admissions: State Bar of Texas, 1984. Professional:Chair, Real Estate Section, Houston Bar Association (2002); President, Houston Engineering and Scientific Society (2002); President, Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Sam Houston Chapter (1996); American Bar Association Advisory Panel, Speaker, Houston Bar Association Public Speaking Board, Member, Houston Bar Foundation, Houston Bar Association, American Bar Association and Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism. Honorary Associations: Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, Order of the Coif.
