In land use and economic development, most conversations start with friction. Property owners want flexibility. Cities want safeguards. Residents want assurance that change will make life better, not harder. Rob Killen has spent more than two decades working in that tension, guiding complex projects through competing priorities and toward outcomes that serve both private investment and public good.
Killen is a founding partner of Killen, Griffin & Farrimond PLLC, a San Antonio–based law firm focused on land use, zoning, economic development and infrastructure. Over more than 24 years advising clients in the commercial real estate industry, he has represented property owners, developers and businesses navigating some of the region’s most complex entitlement, annexation and development agreement matters. His work sits squarely at the intersection of public policy and private capital, where clarity, credibility and relationships matter as much as legal expertise.
“Rob Killen has profoundly shaped the trajectory of commercial real estate in San Antonio through his leadership in land use, economic development, and infrastructure innovation,” said Stephanie Reyes, CEO of the Real Estate Council of Texas.
Killen’s practice is rooted in problem-solving rather than posturing. He works closely with municipalities, elected officials and community stakeholders to structure projects that can withstand public scrutiny and political change while remaining economically viable. That role requires patience and an ability to translate across constituencies that do not always trust one another.
“The biggest challenge in securing land use entitlements and the approval of economic development agreements is convincing a wide variety of stakeholders that the project will ultimately benefit the community,” Killen said. “It is much easier to say no than to say yes, so the challenge is getting to yes.”
What allows him to do that work effectively, Killen says, is a combination built over time.
“Expertise, experience and relationships,” Killen said. “One of the most important things we can do is to stay engaged in the community and continue to build connections with others, both those more experienced and those who are still learning.”
That long-term approach has positioned Killen as a trusted advisor not just to clients, but to civic institutions. He has played a role in projects such as Cibolo Canyons, Briggs Ranch, Landmark and other large-scale developments that required careful coordination between public infrastructure planning and private investment.
Beyond his legal practice, Killen has built a deep record of civic leadership in San Antonio. He has served as chairman of the Metro SA Chamber, chair of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and president of the UTSA Alumni Association, and currently holds leadership roles with the San Antonio Mobility Coalition and the San Antonio Medical Foundation Board of Trustees. His broader service includes involvement with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Citizens Advisory Council and numerous educational and cultural organizations.
That civic engagement is not separate from his professional work. It informs it.
“I like the people I work with — clients, other professional consultants and public policy makers, including elected officials and local government staff,” Killen said. “I also enjoy seeing the results of our efforts in the form of new projects taking shape that create jobs and build the economy.”
Recognition has followed, including the Philip M. Barshop Founder’s Award for impact on San Antonio’s real estate development industry and multiple honors for leadership and public service.
For Killen, success is not defined by speed or volume. It is defined by durability, projects that move forward because stakeholders are aligned, communities are strengthened and the answer ultimately becomes yes.