Education
  • The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. 1993 – Associate Editor, Texas Law Review
  • The University of Texas at Austin, B.A. 1990 – 2nd Speaker at the National Debate Tournament
Professional Experience
Current
  • Partner, Ryan Law
Previous
  • Rosas Hugin, PLLC, Managing Member, 2015-2018
  • Popp Hutcheson, PLLC – 2005-15
  • Winstead, P.C., – 2000-2005
  • Office of the Attorney General of Texas – 1999-2000
  • Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP – 1994-1999
  • The Honorable John Cornyn, Justice, Supreme Court of Texas – 1993-94

David Hugin has been practicing law for more than twenty-five years and has focused exclusively on representing property owners in ad valorem tax litigation for more than fifteen years. He has tried numerous property tax cases to successful outcomes, both to the bench and in jury trials in Texas and has also litigated as counsel pro hac vice in other states, including New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Oklahoma. He has represented and served as lead trial counsel for owners of oil refineries, computer manufacturing facilities, office buildings, hotels, mineral deposits, electrical grid control centers, student housing, and premium residential estates. Prior to devoting his time to property tax litigation, David clerked for Justice John Cornyn at the Supreme Court of Texas, spent years practicing complex commercial litigation and handling class action defense with Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal and Winstead P.C, and in public service as an Assistant Attorney General. David has even tried two criminal cases, including defense of a first-degree murder trial.

A frequent author and sought after expert, David has spoken at many tax-focused organization’s seminars including the Council on State Taxation, the Institute for Professionals in Taxation and the Texas A&M Real Estate Center. He has been quoted in Inc. Magazine, the Austin American Statesman, and CNN’s Money website and has authored the Commercial Litigation chapter in the second edition of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Texas’ Doing Business in Texas, as well as the Prosecuting a Property Tax Appeal chapter in the Institute for Professionals in Taxation’s fourth edition of Property Taxation.

David grew up in Plano, Texas, and attended Plano Senior High School, where after his senior year he was the National Forensic League National Champion in United States Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking. David first came to Austin in 1988 and attended law school at The University of Texas School of Law where he competed in three mock trial competitions, winning two and placing second in the other, and “Am Jur’d” two classes, including Property Law. He has lived in either the Dallas area or Austin for most of his life. He lives and dies with the Dallas Cowboys.

Areas of Expertise

Property Tax
Admitted to Practice
  • State of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Courts of the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
Professional Affiliations
  • Sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, 2017
  • State Bar of Texas
  • 2023 Recipient, Peveto Award, Annual Legal Seminar on Ad Valorem Taxation