Wallace & Philbin, L.L.P. specializes in governmental representation, municipal finance, and land development as legal counsel to special purpose districts and the real estate community in the Greater Houston Area and Gulf Coast Region.

Originally founded in 2001 by partners specializing in this practice area since 1972, our firm has extensive experience working with neighboring water districts, developers, and state and federal agencies to construct public water and sewer utilities, roadways, parks, detention facilities, and other unique construction projects. As general counsel and bond counsel to local governments, we provide practical solutions to issues faced by water districts and other special districts inherent in financing public utilities.

John R. Wallace, Managing Partner

John R. Wallace is the managing partner of the law firm of Wallace & Philbin, L.L.P. specializing in the representation of municipal utility districts and other special purpose districts. Mr. Wallace serves as general counsel and bond counsel to these entities and is experienced in all aspects of the representation of local governments. Prior to founding Bacon & Wallace, L.L.P. in 2001 with Paul Bacon, Mr. Wallace was a partner at the firm of Winstead, Sechrest & Minick, P.C. in its Houston office.

Mr. Wallace has served for the past 14 years as a Trustee and Vice President of the John S. Dunn Foundation, a Houston-based philanthropy that is active in numerous medical research projects in the Texas Medical Center, as well as providing funding for local medical clinics, nursing schools, special needs schools and other related charitable organizations in the Greater Houston Area. Mr. Wallace is a former member and past President of the “C” Club of Houston. He has also been involved in local politics through his past tenure as a Trustee of the Houston Realty Business Coalition. Mr. Wallace also serves as a volunteer leader and is an active supporter of Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Wallace received a B.B.A from The University of Texas at Austin in 1981, and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1984.

Dax W. Philbin, Partner

Dax Philbin’s practice focuses on public finance and municipal law matters, having served as bond counsel, general counsel, disclosure counsel and delinquent tax attorney for special districts. Dax has represented municipal utility districts, emergency services districts and school districts. He also represents real estate developers and landowners in the creation of special districts.  Additionally, he has represented clients in various real estate matters.

 Education:

• 1993 B.A. The University of Texas at Austin

• 1997 J.D. South Texas College of Law

 Affiliations:

• State Bar of Texas

• Houston Bar Association

Landon T. Gerlich, Senior Associate

Landon Gerlich is a licensed attorney with the State Bar of Texas. His practice area focuses primarily on general counsel and bond counsel matters for Texas special districts. Prior to joining Wallace & Philbin, L.L.P., Mr. Gerlich worked as a corporate tax attorney specializing in federal tax credits for research and development activity.

Mr. Gerlich received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Loyola University New Orleans where he double majored in Finance and Economics. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law Houston, where he was an active member of the community and a member of the Dean’s Honor List. Mr. Gerlich also co-authored and edited published legal articles with retired Judge Mark Davidson. Mr. Gerlich enjoys spending his free time hiking, hunting, fishing, traveling, and enjoying live music and sporting events with friends and family.

Tristan L. Horton, Associate

Tristan L. Horton is an Associate attorney at Wallace & Philbin, L.L.P., where he focuses on municipal law, land development, and public infrastructure.  He brings a strong work ethic and a team-oriented mindset to his legal practice, shaped by his experience as a former student-athlete at Texas A&M University.

Mr. Horton earned a B.S. from Texas A&M University, where he played football for the Aggies.  He went on to earn his J.D. from South Texas College of Law Houston, where he was an active member of the Real Estate and Construction Law Society and served as a student editor, concentrating on legal issues related to real estate and construction in the Houston area.  Outside the office, Mr. Horton enjoys spending time with his family and hunting along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Terrie L. Sechrist, Of Counsel

Terrie concentrates on the practice of public finance and serves as general, bond and disclosure counsel in the representation of municipal utility districts, management districts and other municipalities. She also represents individuals, corporate entities and municipalities in connection with land use and development, construction contracts and annexation issues. She has represented clients before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality  and the Cities of Houston, Rosenberg, Seabrook, and Texas City.

Terrie began the practice of law at Vinson & Elkins LLP from 1986 to 1999, where her practice areas were litigation and public finance. She worked at Schwartz, Page & Harding representing municipal utility districts until starting her own practice with Jeanne McDonald in 2001.  She formed Sechrist•Duckers LLP in 2008 and joined Wallace & Philbin, L.L.P. as Of Counsel in January 2026.

Contact Information:

• tsechrist@s-dlawfirm.com

• 346.833.6171 (D)

Education:

• 1986 — J.D., cum laude, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas (Order of the Lytae, Order of the Barristers and Phi Delta Phi)

• 1979 — B.A. Criminology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania

Affiliations:

• Houston Bar Association

• Texas Bar Association

Volunteering:

• Board of Directors, Houston Chapter - Texas Association of Sports Officials (2018-2023)

• Board of Directors, St. Pius X High School (2005-2015)

• Board of Directors, Annunciation Orthodox School (2002-2006)

• President, South Texas College of Law Alumni Association (2000-2001)

Legal Assistants

Penny McDonald
Alexis Walker
Connie Wenske
Mary Bertrand
Madeline James

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