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David’s clients are owners
of rural land – interested in conserving its rural character.
In addition to legal counsel, he provides practical advice
and innovative solutions. David sets the firm’s high
standards for client satisfaction, while promoting its unique
approach and “can-do” style. Clients benefit from
his leadership of Plateau, an ecological consulting group,
and from his success in the non-profit conservation community
– both of which can be brought on team to help clients.
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Education
- Doctor of Jurisprudence, The University
of Texas School of Law, 1987
- Bachelor of Arts, Biochemistry, The University
of Texas, 1982
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Experience
- Founder of Braun & Associates, a
law firm representing various clients – individuals,
families, corporations and developers – who are owners
of rural land.
- Co-Founder, CEO of Plateau
Land & Wildlife Management, an ecological consulting
company, employing teams of biologists and property tax
consultants, dedicated to helping clients protect and enhance
their land through wildlife management planning, services
and products.
- Founder, Braun Consulting Services (1995-2000)
to provide strategic planning, organizational development,
marketing training and fund raising consulting to various
private, public and not-for-profit institutions.
- Texas State Director and International
Vice President, The Nature Conservancy (1988-1995) of one
of the world’s premier land conservation organization.
(See articles from Austin American-Statesman:
AAS-01 and AAS-02.)
- Staff attorney, Texas Parks & Wildlife
Department on cases involving environmental, water and land
use issues. (1987 – 1988)
- Field Biologist for the following institutions:
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Louisiana State University
Museum of Natural Science; The Smithsonian Institute; The
American Museum of Natural History.
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Client
Services
- Buying and Selling Rural Land
- Securing Conservation Easements
- Purchasing of Development Rights
- Conservation Development
- Fighting Condemnation and Takings
- Reducing Property Taxes
- Limiting Your Liabilities
- Benefiting from Mitigation
- Working with Land Trusts
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Presentations
& Publications
Presenter Engagements:
Southwest Land Trust
Conference, San Antonio, Texas (UPCOMING)
- May 2-4, 2006
Co-Presenter “Conservation Easements 101”
National Land Trust Alliance Rally
- Oct. 2005
Co-Presenter with Stephen J. Small, Esq. – “Running
the Numbers: Tax & Financial Issues for Land Trusts”
- Oct. 2004
Co-Presenter with Stephen J. Small, Esq.– “Running
the Numbers: Tax & Financial Issues for Land Trusts”
- Oct 2002
“Complex Conservation Projects”
State Wide Conservation Organizations
- June 2005
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Panelist at
“Selling and Buying Development Rights Seminar”
- Sept. 2004
Bexar Land Trust – “Conservation Easements:
An Overlooked Tool for Financial & Estate Planning”
- Sept. 2004
The Nature Conservancy of Texas – “Running the
Numbers: Tax and Financial Issues for Land Trusts”
- Feb. 2004
Texas Land Trust Council – “Running the Numbers:
Tax and Financial Issues for Land Trusts”
- March 2002
Texas Land Trust Council – “Conservation Toolbox”
- Feb. 2002
Pines and Prairies Land Trust – “Tax Benefits
for Land Conservation”
- Nov. 2003
Net Impact 2003 Conference – “Conservation Development”
Maximizing Social & Economic Returns”
Texas Bar and Continuing Legal Education
(CLE)
- April 2004
State Bar of Texas 2004 Agricultural Law Seminar –
“Ad Valorem Taxation & Wildlife”
- Nov. 2001 12th Annual Advanced Drafting
– “Estate Planning & Probate: Conservation
Easements”
Publications:
- Strategies
for Using Conservation Easements. Braun, David,
Probate and Property, The Journal of the Center
for American and International Law, Nov/Dec. 2002.
(Link to Attached Publication)
- Molecular Population Genetics of
Tufted and Black-Crest Forms of Parus BiColor. Braun,
David, Kitto, G.B. & Braun, M.J., The Auk
101:170-173, 1984.
- Winter Observations of Dendroica
Chrysoparia in Mexico. Braun, M.J., Braun, David &
Terrell, S.H., American Birds. Fall 1986.
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Community
Involvement
Current:
- Advisory Board, The University of Texas
College of Natural Science Foundation
- Board of Director for Envision Central
Texas
Past:
- Westcave Preserve, Vice Chairman, Board
of Trustees (until 1998)
- Texas Audubon Society, Vice President,
Board of Trustees (until 1997)
- Texans for the Environmental Defense
Fund
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Personal
David is a native Texan who
has been interested in natural sciences and conservation from
an early age.
One of David’s main interests is bird
watching – From 1979 - 1986, he was a nature tour guide
for two of the first U.S. bird watching companies - Victor
Emanuel Nature Tours and Field Guides, Inc. - leading various
tour groups in different regional areas between Texas and
Venezuela.
David has worked and traveled extensively
throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. He
currently enjoys various social, educational, and recreational
activities.
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