Partner Steven A. Waters – San Antonio civic leader, 36-year veteran of Haynes and Boone, LLP, and current head of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group – has accepted a position as general counsel and chief legal officer for USAA Real Estate Company effective Oct. 16.

Lamont Jefferson, San Antonio office administrative partner, said the departure of Mr. Waters is bittersweet. 

“Steve has been a close personal friend and mentor to so many in the Haynes and Boone family, it is going to be hard to live without him in our daily work lives,” Mr. Jefferson said. “At the same time, we are elated that he’s not moving far, that he’s found a bright new future with a great firm client and that the community will continue to benefit from his thoughtful leadership.”

Added firm Managing Partner Terry Conner: “I will not try to recount all of Steve’s accomplishments and contributions at Haynes and Boone, the San Antonio community and professional organizations. I will simply say that he has been one of the best lawyers in the country, one of our firm’s most loyal and dedicated servants, and one of the best partners and friends that anyone could have. We will miss him.”

Mr. Waters, a San Antonio native, held pioneering roles for Haynes and Boone’s expansion into both the Austin and San Antonio markets. Firm management selected him to open the Austin Haynes and Boone outpost in 1986 after he had completed stints as head of recruitment and a member of the management committee. As partner in charge, Mr. Waters commuted from Dallas to Austin several days each week to supervise the new operation.

San Antonio-based business connections developed by Mr. Waters helped convince Haynes and Boone partners to open the firm’s San Antonio office in November 1987 by combining with the firm of McGown and McClanahan.

“Steve embodies so many of the traits that have made our firm successful over the years,” Mr. Jefferson said. “His selfless devotion to the greater good – both in his professional and civic life – will always serve as an inspiration.”

Mr. Waters leaves the firm as a member of its board of directors responsible for attorney development.

Highly-regarded as a legal expert in real estate transactions, Waters is known for excellence in client management and relationship development.  In addition, Waters is active in professional, community and philanthropic activities.  He is the co-chair of the Capital Markets and Real Estate Finance Committee of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and vice chair of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation.

Past positions include president of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio, chair of the State Bar of Texas Business Law Section, chair of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and president of the Alamo Heights School Foundation.

Waters has been recognized by the prestigious law-rating Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in Real Estate, and was elevated to top-tier Band 1 in 2011.  He was also named the San Antonio Real Estate Lawyer of the Year (2011) by Best Lawyers in America, the oldest and a highly-respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.