Robert C. Wendland
Contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819;
ahatch@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — Jan. 13, 2014
(DALLAS) — Members of the Dallas County Community College District’s board of trustees approved the hiring of a new general counsel, Robert C. Wendland, most recently a shareholder in and president of the firm of Rapier, Wilson and Wendland, PC, based in Allen, Texas. Wendland will join the district as its new legal counsel on Jan. 27, 2014, when Robert Young, after more than 35 years of service, retires from that position.
“We welcome Rob Wendland to the district as we also bid farewell and our thanks to Robert Young as he retires,” said Jerry Prater, chair of the DCCCD board of trustees.
“I am delighted to join the Dallas County Community College District, an institution that is committed to increasing participation in higher education in Dallas County and that has a long history of equipping its students for success,” said Wendland. “I always have viewed higher education as absolutely vital to a vibrant local, national and world economy. I look forward to bringing the skills and experience I have developed during more than 30 years of practicing law to help the district advance that critical mission.”
A native of Green Bay, Wis., Wendland has practiced law in the state of Texas since 1983, representing a diverse group of clients, from governmental entities and educational institutions to large companies and banks, as well as individuals and small businesses.
Wendland and his partners established the firm of Rapier, Wilson and Wendland, PC, in 2004; the firm specializes in local government representation, school law, banking, litigation, employment, utility and public finance matters. During that time, he represented the Allen Independent School District in matters related to the financing, design, construction and development of a $60 million multipurpose stadium facility and a $27 million performing arts center and career and technology facility.
Wendland also represented the Collin County Community College District board of trustees as special counsel in litigation matters as well as the college and its student housing foundation in a variety of matters. He previously represented the town of Northlake concerning matters related to several major development projects that involved multiuse agreements for water and wastewater service, plus land use and related development matters.
DCCCD’s new general counsel also served as a partner with Sewell and Anderson, LLP, from 2002 to 2004; as an attorney with Vial, Hamilton, Koch and Knox, LLP, from 1985 to 2002 (and as partner from 1989 to 2002); and as senior assistant city attorney for the city of Arlington from 1983 to 1984. He has received an AV (“pre-eminent attorney”) rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Wendland, a resident of Allen, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and his Juris Doctor from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University. Currently, he serves on the city of Allen’s planning and zoning commission (which he has chaired since 2005); is past president of the Allen Sunrise Rotary Club; is a past board member and current legal counsel for the Foundation for Allen Schools; and is a past board member and current legal counsel for the Allen Arts Alliance. He also helped establish the annual Allen Jazz Invitational. Wendland has been married to his wife, Pam, for 30 years; they have two children.
For more information, contact Ann Hatch in the DCCCD office of public and governmental affairs at (214) 378-1819 or at
ahatch@dcccd.edu.
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