Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr announced this morning that former Dallas councilwoman and attorney Angela Hunt has joined the firm’s Dallas office as a shareholder.

Hunt, who was most recently at Farrow-Gillespie & Heath, will be instrumental in launching Munsch Hardt’s zoning and land use practice.

“Munsch Hardt has an incredible reputation as a law firm,” she said. “I was looking for an established real estate team.”

A four-term City Council member, Hunt is credited with helping revitalize the Lower Greenville area. She also led the creation of the Trinity Skyline Trial, a 4.6 mile bike path along the Trinity River.

Most recently, Hunt represented Alamo Manhattan on a development called the Bishop Arts Gateway, a $57 million project in Oak Cliff. She helped the company secure $11.25 million in tax-increment financing (TIF) funds from the city.

She points to this project as an example of using her understanding of the political process and the interests of neighborhood and community groups to help her client. She says it is critical to get neighborhood support and buy-in when zoning changes are on the horizon.

“I’m a big believer in putting all cards on the table. There can be a lot of mistrust, so it is important to build a win-win situation,” she said. “We received a standing ovation at the last community meeting [for the Bishop Arts Gateway project].”

Hunt is currently in the process of getting approval from the city for a drive-thru Starbucks at the intersection of Oak Lawn and Congress. She says this project is unique because it will have a pedestrian-oriented streetscape.

By: Brooks Igo