Steven R. Martens

Partner, Austin
512.236.2322
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Biography

Steven R. Martens represents lenders, borrowers, developers and owners in commercial real estate and lending transactions.

Steve listens to his clients and understands their challenges and concerns. As an attorney who has practiced in real estate for more than 30 years, he solves problems with experienced counsel. His team approach to client representation combines experience with efficiency to provide effective legal work and exceptional service.

Steve represents financial institutions in the structuring, documenting, closing and the due diligence required for commercial real estate acquisition, development, construction, and term loans. Steve has recently represented lenders and borrowers in multiple significant construction loans in Texas and other states for apartment, office building, retail, and hotel projects and in development loans for residential communities. He regularly represents lenders in guidance and borrowing base lines of credit to builders.

Steve represents buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of commercial real estate, and owners and developers in residential, condominium and commercial real estate construction projects.

Steve has significant experience providing opinion letters as borrower’s counsel in financing transactions and as local counsel opinion provider in multi-state loan transactions.

Steve counsels lenders and borrowers in loan workout, modification, note sale, and foreclosure transactions. He is experienced in representing lenders in the sale of foreclosed properties and was primary outside counsel to a financial institution that sold a billion-dollar real estate owned (REO) portfolio.

Education

B.B.A., with honors, University of Texas at Austin
J.D., University of Texas School of Law

Bar Admissions

Texas

Professional Certifications

Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law

  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in a $58,525,125 construction loan for a 320,000 square foot retail development to be known as Belterra Village Retail Center in Dripping Springs, Texas
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in a $47,950,000 construction loan for a 206 unit senior living facility to be known as The Village at the Triangle in Austin, Texas
  • Representation of national bank as lender’s counsel in $40,000,000 construction loan for a 354-unit apartment community known as The Edison on East Riverside Drive in Austin, Texas
  • Representation of national bank as lender’s counsel in $22,000,000 acquisition and construction loan for the development of a 97,298 square foot office building located at 316 W. 121th Street in Austin, Texas
  • Representation of national bank as lender’s counsel in $35,137,000 construction loan for 214,587 square foot office development and five level parking garage known as Rollingwood Center in Austin, Texas
  • Representation of national bank as lender’s counsel in $37,410,000 construction loan for 166,374 square foot office development known as Lamar Central in Austin, Texas
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $29,000,000 revolving development loan for multi-phase Middlebrook and Santa Rita subdivisions containing approximately 2,000 acres in Williamson County, Texas
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $12,700,000 revolving development loan for multi-phase Liberty Parke subdivision in Liberty Hill, Williamson County, Texas
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $27,000,000 revolving development loan for multi-phase Deerbrooke subdivision in Leander, Williamson County, Texas
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $33,000,000 construction loan for 194 room Granduca Hotel in suburban Austin, Texas
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $29,800,000 construction loan for 137,615 square foot, 4 story office building, and structured parking garage in Austin, Texas
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $58,240,000 term loan to national real estate company secured by 409,105 square foot office building located in downtown Fort Worth, Texas
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $35,500,000 construction loan for a 259-unit apartment community in West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Representation of national bank as lender’s counsel in $43,732,533 construction loan for a 321-unit apartment community in downtown Denver, Colorado
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $100,000,000 unsecured borrowing base line of credit to residential homebuilder
  • Representation of state bank as lender’s counsel in $80,000,000 secured borrowing base line of credit to residential homebuilder
  • Representation of national bank as agent’s counsel in $100,000,000 credit facility secured by tax lien note portfolio
  • Representation of real estate development company as seller’s counsel in sale of self-storage facility portfolio in Austin, Texas
  • Representation of real estate development company as purchaser’s counsel in the acquisition of two office buildings containing approximately 301,118 square feet of office space in San Antonio, Texas

  • Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1995-Present
  • AV Rated, Martindale Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2006-2025
    • Lawyer of the Year – Austin, Real Estate Law, 2010, 2018
    • Real Estate Law, 2006-2025
  • “Texas Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2004, 2008

  • The Real Estate Council of Austin
  • Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, Church Elder and Deacon
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Travis County Bar Association – Real Estate, Banking, and Construction Law Sections
  • Texas Bar Foundation
  • Texas Association of Bank Counsel

Best Lawyers 2025 edition graphic - 306 attorneys recognized, 81 specialty areas, 75 Ones to Watch, and 9 Lawyers of the Year

August 15, 2024
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

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August 17, 2023
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

Jackson Walker elevator bank logo

October 27, 2022
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Expands Real Estate Practice With the Addition of Henry Gilmore and Justin Meyer

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the addition of Henry Gilmore in the Austin office and Justin Meyer in the San Antonio office as senior counsel in the Real Estate practice.

August 18, 2022
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.

December 17, 2021
Insights

Texas Real Estate Outlook: Boom Unlikely to Bust in 2022 | Texas Lawyer

Real estate in Texas’ major cities was booming in 2021. Jackson Walker has commercial real estate lawyers in all those cities, and they provide a snapshot for a few of these urban markets of what business has been and what to expect in 2022.

Jarrod Cone with Jackson Walker logo

November 15, 2021
Attorney News

Jarrod Cone Joins Jackson Walker’s Real Estate Group in Fort Worth

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the addition of Jarrod Cone as a senior counsel in the Fort Worth office. Joining our Chambers-ranked Real Estate group, Jarrod will assist clients with acquisition, disposition, financing, and leasing of commercial property, including office, retail, medical, and industrial projects nationwide.

City of Austin, Texas with Jackson Walker logo

October 29, 2021
Attorney News

John Stevenson III Joins Jackson Walker’s Real Estate Practice in Austin

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the addition of John Stevenson III as a senior counsel in the Austin office. Joining our Chambers-ranked Real Estate group, John will focus on real estate transactions primarily related to multi-family and mixed-use projects, office buildings, and raw land.

August 19, 2021
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.

Travis McNellie with Jackson Walker logo

January 22, 2021
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Expands Commercial Leasing Experience With Addition of Fort Worth Partner Travis McNellie

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the addition of Travis W. McNellie as a partner in the Fort Worth office. Joining our Real Estate practice, Travis boosts the Firm’s experience handling commercial leases, particularly involving office and industrial properties, across Texas and the United States.

Steve Martens and Argy Saccopoulos QOZ Tax Update Webinar (December 9_ 2020)

December 9, 2020
Webinars

“Qualified Opportunity Zone Tax Update”

Austin attorneys Steve Martens and Argyrios Saccopoulos present tax updates related to qualified opportunity zones.

More Attorney News

Steve is state-wide chair of Jackson Walker’s real estate practice group, which includes approximately 52 lawyers in five offices. He also serves on the Firm’s opinion letter committee. He is active in the recruitment, hiring, training and mentoring of associate attorneys.

Steve has been a frequent speaker at the State Bar of Texas Advanced Real Estate Drafting Course and has made presentations at the University of Texas Mortgage Lending Institute and the Travis County Bar Association’s Land Development Seminar.