Our Attorneys:

Connie Niemann Heyer

Connie is a native of Austin and graduated from The University of Texas, where she earned four degrees. She holds undergraduate degrees from UT-Austin in Plan II and in Honors Business. While attending UT she was inducted into several academic honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa. She also has an M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Business at UT-Austin, and a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law in Austin. While attending law school, she was the administrative editor of the Texas International Law Journal.

Connie serves as legal counsel and lobbyist for the Texas Self Storage Association and a board member of Texas Community Association Advocates. Connie is also a past lobbyist of Texas Community Associations Institute, a nation-wide non-profit trade organization representing the interests of property owners associations and their members. She is a former President of the Austin Chapter of the Community Associations Institute. Her practice focuses primarily on representation of property owners associations.

Connie also served as associate legal counsel to the Texas Apartment Association and Texas Building Owners and Managers Association for 10 years before retiring from this area of her practice to focus almost exclusively on representation of property owners associations.

Fred Niemann, Jr.

Fred Niemann, Jr. has been in continuous practice with Niemann & Heyer (and it s predecessor firm, Niemann & Niemann) since graduating from the University of Texas Law School in 1977. He has a legislative practice which concentrates on laws affecting the alcoholic beverage industry and the health care industry, specifically the profession of optometry. He serves as general counsel to several trade and professional associations, assisting with their day-to-day operations and their grass roots political efforts. He works closely with his clients and their legislative teams to monitor and influence legislative action affecting his clients. He currently is not seeking new clients.

Patrice (Patty) Arnold

Patty is a 1972 honors graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (Phi Beta Kappa) and received her J.D. from the University of Texas Law School in 1975.  She began law practice in Austin handling workers’ compensation and insurance defense cases, and within 3 years received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. In the late 1980’s Patty transitioned away from what she called “band-aid” law to a more general practice, advising individuals and small businesses on real estate, corporate, and estate planning matters.  She began representing homeowners’ associations in the late 1980’s, and now works exclusively in that field.

Patty was active in Community Associations Institute for over 20 years, serving two terms as president of the Austin CAI chapter in 2002-2004.  She was on the local grievance committee of the State Bar of Texas for six years, acting as chair for one year, and has been a member of the Austin Bar Association’s publications committee for over 15 years.

As a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation (an invitation-only group that each year offers membership to 1/3 of 1% of Texas lawyers) and member of the Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court, Patty has been recognized by her peers as a lawyer who exhibits integrity, ethics, and quality legal work.

Eric Hansum, Of Counsel

Eric Hansum represents clients in litigation concerning homeowner, condominium, or other property association matters as well as employment litigation and counseling in a variety of employment issues. He has frequently litigated cases in the state and federal courts throughout Texas.

Eric graduated cum laude from Trinity University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. During law school, he served as the Technical Editor for The Review of Litigation and was a member of the Order of Barristers. Eric previously served as the Assistant General Counsel and Vice President of Litigation for Harden Healthcare, LLC.

Eric has received an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating achievable, and also been recognized as a Texas Rising Star in employment litigation from 2011-2013. He is also a member of the Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court.