We sat down with BMG Partner @Daniel Engle for insights into his role as editor of our Home Equity Manual and Clients and Friends memos, and why he’s regarded as our firm’s “lawyers’ lawyer.”
1. You joined Black, Mann & Graham in 2015 and became a partner in 2024. What initially attracted you to BMG, and how has your role evolved over the past decade?
I went to law school with @Ryan Black and met @Thomas E. Black, Jr., founding partner of BMG, back then. After law school, I learned of an opening in the firm and thought that moving to the DFW-area would be an interesting move. I started as a junior associate as I was new to real estate. Over time, I took on more complex tasks and was given more responsibilities to handle.
2. Others in the firm have described you as an “attorney’s attorney,” someone other attorneys and BMG team members turn to for thoughtful, reliable legal guidance. What does earning that kind of trust mean to you, and how do you approach serving as a resource for your colleagues and clients?
It’s an honor to be appreciated. Providing legal services for our clients is BMG’s core mission and whether I am working with clients directly or helping other BMG members, the goal to provide excellent professional service is always present.
3. As the lead author and editor of BMG’s Clients and Friends memos, you regularly translate complicated legal and regulatory developments into practical information. What goes into determining which issues warrant a memo, and how do you make highly technical subjects useful and understandable for others in the industry?
Memo topics and their importance vary. Some matters demand a prompt response, such as a new Texas court decision that influences Texas mortgage lending. Other potential topics can include Texas and federal regulatory developments as well as developments involving Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and the VA. Court decisions probably require the most care in summarizing the result and commenting on the potential future impact to lending as judges typically write with other judges and attorneys as their audience. So, we try to take special care to make them as understandable as possible.
4. You began working on BMG’s Texas Home Equity Manual in 2016 and became its lead editor in 2023. What has that experience taught you, and how does the manual reflect the depth of knowledge and commitment to client service that distinguishes the firm?
Perhaps the biggest experience was to see the development of the law over the years, whether through new Texas constitutional amendments, such as in 2018, or through cases in which courts interpret provisions. Our manual represents BMG’s long history with Texas lending as well as our commitment to the future.
5. Legal knowledge is most valuable when it can be applied to real-world business decisions. How do you balance technical precision with the need to provide clients and colleagues with clear, practical guidance?
Our clients rely on us to provide legal advice so that they can make informed decisions. We strive to make our advice as clear as possible. In instances of complex matters, our view is to take the time to break them down to make them more understandable without sacrificing necessary context.
6. As you look ahead, which legal or regulatory developments do you believe will have the greatest impact on residential mortgage lending, and what excites you most about helping BMG and its clients navigate the industry’s next chapter?
I’m not sure I can make any accurate long-term predictions concerning the mortgage industry due to its complexity. In early 2027, the Texas Legislature will convene for their biannual session, and there is a good chance that legislation related to the mortgage industry will be passed. At the federal level, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recently requested information from stakeholders as preparation for possible proposed rule changes to regulations impacting the mortgage industry. So, there is likely to be developments soon. BMG will monitor these developments to prepare for the future.