The attorneys of RMWBH have created a foundation that clients have depended on for over 40 years. A building block for that foundation, and a person crucial to the firm’s future success, is Shareholder Jane Janecek. Jane has risen through the RMWBH ranks, initially joining the firm as an Associate Attorney at Butler Hailey. After leaving Butler Hailey and spending 10 years in Tyler working for a local real estate firm, she rejoined the newly formed RMWBH in 2016 as Senior Counsel. Fast forward to today and Jane is a Shareholder and leader on our Real Estate Development team. We recently sat down with Jane to discuss the aspects of real estate law that continue to motivate her and where she thinks real estate development in Texas may be heading.

Jane serves a wide array of clients at RMWBH across our community association law, real estate development and real estate transaction practices. Her practice involves assisting developers with the acquisition of land, negotiating lot sales with builders, drafting CC&Rs and related documents for new commercial and residential developments, forming and advising boards of single-family and condominium communities and everything that arises in between. Jane enjoys seeing projects through from start to finish. With such a wide range of clients, no two days are alike for Jane.  “Every day there is a new issue and new challenge,” said Jane. She added, “when we draft development documents for a residential or commercial project, each project has unique features. We keep that in mind as we strive to help our clients implement their vision for a community. In my experience, developers are “big ideas” people. They don’t like to get bogged down in the details of legal documents, but they understand the need for clarity and the importance of good drafting. My job is to facilitate the developer’s ideas, while implementing best practices and complying with applicable laws. It’s like putting together a puzzle. It takes creative thinking and sometimes novel solutions to make the pieces fit well.”  Jane’s interest in real estate law has evolved over time in her legal career.  After spending her initial years as an attorney practicing insurance defense litigation, Jane was introduced to real estate-related work as an Associate Attorney at Butler Hailey. “I realized I enjoy the nuances of title problems, the interpretation of restrictive covenants, the details of easements, and all things related to “dirt law.”  I also learned that transactional work is more my forte than litigation,” Jane said.

Jane strives to continually expand her base of knowledge in real estate law and stays motivated by taking on a variety of development projects and commercial acquisitions. “Since 2020, we have seen a steady increase in residential communities that are farther from downtown areas, due to the rise of remote work opportunities. But there also remains a need for new living spaces in urban areas, which seem to be in demand from young professionals and empty nesters who prefer to be close to activities, dining and nightlife. As a result, each development project has a unique flair, and it’s rewarding to see them come to fruition.” Given changes in the economy and real estate market since the pandemic, Jane cautions real estate developers to maintain flexibility when making plans and acquiring land for development. We’ve seen market changes between the time acreage is acquired and the commencement of development, so it is essential to be aware of the current economic conditions to have a Plan B. Additionally, Jane maintains it is essential for a developer to get legal counsel early in the planning stages of a project to discuss the overall vision and formulate a plan for getting from point A to point Z in the most efficient way possible. It is much easier to work through an issue in the planning stages than after documents have been recorded and lots have been sold.

As a dedicated real estate attorney, Jane remains steadfast in her commitment to adapting and evolving with the dynamic landscape of real estate development.  With a keen eye on the changing needs of her clients, she embraces the opportunity to enhance her skills, ensuring she remains at the forefront of industry trends. Jane stands ready to serve as a trusted partner for her clients in navigating the complexities of real estate development for years to come.