About John D. Nisbet
John D. Nisbet, Attorney & Firm Principal
The Nisbet surname is one of the oldest names in San Antonio real estate going back to when Helen and Alfred Nisbet arrived in the 1940s. Alfred was the second ophthalmologist in town at a time when they told him he would never make it since one was all the city could support. Helen was the second female ranch broker in the state, working for years finding ranch investments for renowned San Antonio land developer David Miller and, when he retired, for Aaron Mandel. Helen and Alfred had five children, two of whom followed in the family business.
David joined her in real estate in the 1970s, selling 100s of millions of dollars in retail ranch sales with many of Texas’ most successful businessmen and women. Stephen maintained a general legal practice in San Antonio for over 35 years, specializing in real estate law and working closely with local title companies. David’s son and Stephen’s nephew, John, followed in the family’s San Antonio real estate tradition as an attorney specializing in real estate and real estate broker.
Licensure at a Glance
Attorney & Counselor at Law
Licensed Texas Attorney since 2006
Real Estate Broker
Licensed Texas Broker since 2007
Notary Public
Licensed Texas Notary since 2025
Credentials
Licensure
- State Bar of Texas License, 2006–Present
- Texas Real Estate Broker’s License, 2007–Present
- Texas Notary Public License, 2025–Present
Education & Certifications
- Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law, 2024–Present
- Board Certified in Residential Real Estate Law, 2021–Present
- St. Mary’s University School of LawJ.D., 2005 | Dean’s Scholar, 2002
- University of Texas at AustinB.S., 2002 | Commended National Merit Student
- UNC Kenan-Flagler Business SchoolMini MBA, 2013
Memberships
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (TBF)
- Past Chair & Officer, SABA Real Estate Section
- Parliamentarian, CCIM
- State Bar of Texas REPTL Section
- Association of Corporate Counsel
- Texas Land Title Association
- Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
- Rotary Club of San Antonio (Downtown)
- Local, State & National Board of Realtors®
- Supporter, The All Rise Movement
Practice Areas
Legal & C-Suite
Real Estate Attorney Services: Click here
- C-Suite CLO/General Counsel to brokerage leaders in luxury, ranch & commercial real estate
- Attorney Escrow Officer & Underwriting Counsel for leading title insurers nationwide
- Over a dozen years as broker-attorney: $10s of Millions of dollars in transactions, career-high sale of $7,500,000
Asset Protection
Asset Protection Services: Click here
- Entity documents, name changes & forfeiture recovery
- Service as corporate officer & corporate filings
- General tax & asset protection matters, title monitoring
Equity Partnerships
Investor Services: Click here
- 2,282 acre James River Ranch (Mason Co.)
- 244 acre Big Creek Ranch (Blanco Co.)
- 1,389 acre Reunion Creek Ranch (Kerr Co.)
- 717 acre Cordova Bend Ranch (Comal Co.)Went into development
- 2,287 acre Live Springs Ranch (Kerr Co.)Went into development
- 195 acre Dripping Springs Ranch (Blanco Co.)
Brokerage
Attorney as Broker Services: Click here
- Broker of Record for hundreds of agents, over 20 years’ experience
- 650+ acres in retail sales across Blanco Co. & Kerr Co.
- Residential sales & flips: San Antonio, Texas Hill Country & Colorado (x14)
Mediation
Mediation Services: Click here
- 100% settlement rate across dozens of litigated cases
- Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center volunteer
- 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training, University of Texas School of Law, 2007
- 30-Hour Advanced Family Mediation Training, Austin DRC, 2016
Engagement & Thought Leadership
Publications
Authoring / Publishing Services: Click here
- John Nisbet, The Business of Real Estate, 25th Annual Advanced In-House Counsel, State Bar of Texas, August 2026.
Speaking Engagements
Hosting Speaking Engagements: Click here
- The Business of Real Estate – State Bar of TexasHyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa (Aug 2026)
- Commercial Real Estate Finance Panel – REDnews SummitMaggiano’s San Antonio (May 2026)
- Mastering Surveys – Engel & VölkersVirtual/Online (Mar 2026)
- Surveys: Requirements & Endorsements – Chicago TitleChicago Title Greater San Antonio (Feb 2026)
- The Legal Side of Real Estate, Title, Zoning & Other Hurdles – Neidorff School of BusinessTrinity University (Nov 2025)
- Commercial Survey-Related Endorsements – Chicago TitleKeller Williams Commercial Real Estate, San Antonio (Oct 2025)
- Weekend at Bernie’s – Chicago Title@Phyllis Browning Company, Boerne (Jun 2025)
- Time Cures All…? – San Antonio Real Estate Discussion GroupSan Antonio (May 2025)
- Time Cures All…? – Stewart TitleVirtual/Online (Mar 2025)
- Texas Round Up – Homestead, Home Equity Lending, Etc. – Stewart TitleVirtual/Online (Dec 2024)
- New NAR Rule Changes – Stewart Titlewith Gilbert Gonzales (SABOR) & Michelle Ellis (Phyllis Browning Co.), San Antonio (Oct 2024)
- Top 5 Closing Disruptors – Stewart Titlewith Krysta Baring, New Braunfels/Canyon Lake/Castroville (Jun–Jul 2024)
- Cross-Border Confidence: Navigating Foreign Client Concerns – Stewart Titlewith Zoiliss Rios, Laredo (Apr 2024)
- Don’t Be Afraid of Commitments – Stewart TitleVirtual/Online (Feb 2024)
- Ethics – Creative vs Unethical (CLE) – Stewart Titlewith Heidi Junge, Stewart Title HQ, Houston (Jan 2024)
- How To Not Get Sued (CE) – Phyllis Browning CompanyBiennially updated, bimonthly presented (2020–2023)
- TREC Legal Update I & II (MCE) – Phyllis Browning CompanyIn-Person & Virtual/Online (2020–2022)
- Brokerage Law with a Side of Market Update (CLE) – SABA Real Estate SectionSan Antonio (Jan & Nov 2022)
- TREC Contracts: When Good Clients Go Bad (CE) – Phyllis Browning CompanyVirtual/Online (Apr & Sep 2021)
- Modernize Your Transaction (CE) – Phyllis Browning Company & KTSA Radio“What’s It Worth” Show, Virtual/On-Air (May 2020)