About

Ortiz McKnight PLLC is a team of dedicated professionals, uniquely qualified to support the growth and development of San Antonio and beyond.

Providing Exceptional Legal Services

We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional legal services tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. We specialize in assisting developers and property owners with land use planning, economic incentives, zoning, permitting, policy and entitlements in San Antonio and Bexar County. From our office location on the River Walk to our relationships at City Hall, we understand San Antonio’s unique and historic landscape. With over thirty years combined experience, our team is uniquely qualified and fully prepared to represent you before all municipal, county, and utility governing bodies to support the growth and development of San Antonio and beyond.

Daniel Ortiz

SHAREHOLDER

Daniel Ortiz is a founding member of Ortiz McKnight PLLC and has been practicing municipal land use planning, zoning, public law, and development permitting in San Antonio and South Texas since 2004. Formerly serving as President of a boutique land use firm in San Antonio, Daniel has overseen medium-to-large scale projects aiming to establish progressive development patterns through entitlement and public/private financing processes. Notably, he was a member of the consultant team that implemented the 500-acre “Preserve” Development, which involved negotiating non-annexation agreements, development agreements, and the creation of a Public Improvement District with the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. Additionally, Daniel played a crucial role in developing a master plan for the Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone area in San Antonio as part of the consultant team hired by the San Antonio River Authority. Furthermore, he provided firsthand entitlement experience for the Economic Redevelopment Advisory and Program Implementation Team, evaluating existing economic development policies, programs, and departments; reviewing potential economic strategies and implementation plans to ensure compliance with local development codes and state law; and offering valuable insights into local stakeholder issues, including outreach in Spanish as necessary.

James McKnight

SHAREHOLDER

James McKnight is a founding member of Ortiz McKnight PLLC. James practices land use, planning and zoning in San Antonio. Prior to joining the firm, James served as a Managing Partner of a boutique land use law firm in San Antonio. Prior to his law practice, James worked as an architect designer and project manager for Adolph Ziemba, AIA & Associates in Burbank, California specializing in public school and multi-family residential design and construction administration. Additionally, he spent several summers teaching architecture design studio at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and has taught Planning and Land Use Law and Land Use Policy courses for the College of Public Policy graduate program at The University of Texas at San Antonio. James has spoken at multiple UT Land Use Conferences, including a presentation in 2019 on the Hays Street Bridge Project. James graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2011 and the University of Southern California in 2003 with a B. Arch (Cum Laude) in Architecture, AIAS Member. He is a member of the San Antonio Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, Urban Land Institute, and served as the Chair of the San Antonio Bar Environmental Law Section from 2012-2017.

Our team

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Kevin DeAnda

associate

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Matthew Gilbert

associate

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Anisa Schell

project manager

Experienced Legal Services For You

Contact us today to discuss your legal needs.