News & Events

Jan 05 2026
Love0

Scheef & Stone Names Keith Rawlins and Mark Nielsen as Equity Partners

By Attorney Spotlight

The good news continues at Scheef & Stone.

Following the firm’s recent announcement elevating three associates to Member, we are pleased to share another milestone that reflects Scheef & Stone’s continued growth and commitment to developing talent at every stage.

Keith Rawlins and Mark Nielsen have been elevated to Equity Partners, effective January 2026.

Both attorneys have played integral roles in the firm’s intellectual property practice, advising clients across a wide range of industries on the protection, enforcement, and defense of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and related intellectual property assets.

Keith Rawlins works closely with clients to develop and protect domestic and international intellectual property portfolios, with experience spanning chemical engineering, energy, software, medical devices, AI-related technologies, and advanced manufacturing. His practice includes patent prosecution, portfolio strategy, and intellectual property litigation.

Mark Nielsen is an experienced intellectual property litigator whose practice focuses on patent, trademark, and copyright disputes in state and federal courts across the nation. He is known for his practical, client-focused approach and regularly represents clients in complex matters involving emerging technologies, consumer products, and brand enforcement.

Together with the firm’s recent Member elevations, these advancements reflect Scheef & Stone’s ongoing investment in its people—both by expanding its leadership ranks and by creating meaningful opportunities for professional growth from within.

Please join us in congratulating Keith Rawlins and Mark Nielsen on this well-earned milestone.

Jan 02 2026
Love0

Scheef & Stone Expands Firm Leadership with Elevation of Three Attorneys to Member

By Attorney Spotlight, News & Events

Scheef & Stone is pleased to announce the elevation of Taylor L. Harris, Margaret Ricchi, and Jon Strain to Members of the firm, effective January 1, 2026. All three attorneys are based in the firm’s Frisco office.

Taylor L. Harris is a trial attorney whose practice focuses on resolving complex disputes involving construction, banking, real estate, transportation, product liability, and breach of contract, as well as matters arising under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. In addition to litigation, Taylor advises clients on a range of corporate and transactional matters, including business formation, contracts, and trademark preparation.

Margaret Ricchi concentrates her practice on corporate and business matters, advising startups and established companies on mergers and acquisitions, entity formation, contracts, and restructuring. She brings a litigation-informed perspective to transactional work and regularly assists both domestic and international businesses through all stages of growth.

Jon Strain is an experienced litigator with first-chair trial and arbitration experience across Texas. His practice includes employment, business, real estate, and probate litigation, including disputes involving wills, estates, and fiduciary matters.

The elevation of Taylor Harris, Margaret Ricchi, and Jon Strain reflects Scheef & Stone’s commitment to recognizing attorneys who demonstrate strong leadership, professional achievement, and dedication to serving clients and the firm.

Scheef & Stone congratulates each of them on this well-earned achievement and looks forward to their continued contributions as Members of the firm.

Dec 08 2025
Love0

Scheef & Stone Joined the CCBA Christmas Gala, Where Partner Mitch Little Was Honored With the 2025 Legacy Award

By Attorney Spotlight

Scheef & Stone, LLP was honored to attend the 2025 Collin County Bar Association Christmas Gala held on December 6 at the Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star. The annual celebration brought together members of the North Texas legal community for an evening featuring a VIP Cocktail Hour, live music by The Manhattan Band, a silent auction, and views of the Dallas Cowboys Holiday Extravaganza.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 CCBA Legacy Award to Partner Mitch Little. As confirmed by the Collin County Bar Association, the Legacy Award is presented annually to one recipient for their contribution to the CCBA and the bar as a whole. Mitch was presented with the award during the gala by Partner Chase Garrett.

Selected by the CCBA Board of Directors, the Legacy Award recognizes attorneys whose careers reflect years of service, dedication, and impactful contributions to the Collin County legal community. Mitch’s long-standing commitment to his clients, mentorship within the profession, and active involvement in the legal community have earned him deep respect across North Texas. In addition to his distinguished legal career, Mitch also serves as a Texas State Representative, where he applies his background as a business attorney and advocate for private property rights, entrepreneurship, and constitutional principles in service to the broader community. The firm is proud to celebrate this meaningful milestone with him.

As a Chairlift Sponsor, Scheef & Stone hosted four VIP tables at the event and was honored to be joined by the following guests:

Judicial Guests
Judge Ben Smith and Rebecca Smith
Judge Jennifer Edgeworth and Chris Edgeworth
Judge Andrea Bouressa and Chris Bouressa

Scheef & Stone Members and Guests
Mitch, Kelly and Matthew Little
Patrick and Kelly Schurr
Logan and Casey Miller
Taylor and Lauren Harris
Steven Coffin
Chase Garrett
Haley Jones
Austin and Rachel Hatton
Jessica Chapa
Matt Bracy
Jim and Joanie Pikl
Jon and Meagan Strain
Shirley Rose & Mike Smith
Andrea Scott

Scheef & Stone appreciates the opportunity to support the CCBA and to celebrate this year’s achievements alongside colleagues and friends across the North Texas legal community. The firm extends its warmest congratulations to Mitch on receiving the 2025 Legacy Award and thanks the CCBA for recognizing his contributions.

Dec 02 2025
Love0

Scheef & Stone Partner Matt Bracy Featured on Resilient Minds Podcast to Discuss Emotional Intelligence in Business Leadership

By News & Events

Scheef & Stone is pleased to share that partner Matt Bracy was recently featured on the Resilient Minds podcast with host Dr. Jacqueline Campbell, LPC-S, for an in-depth conversation exploring the intersection of emotional intelligence, business leadership, and strategic decision-making.

In this wide-ranging discussion, Bracy reflects on more than three decades of advising business owners, sharing how emotional regulation influences high-stakes business outcomes—from contract negotiations to litigation strategy. He also highlights how trust, clear communication, and authenticity shape successful professional relationships.

Throughout the episode, Bracy and Dr. Campbell discuss:

  • How emotional decision-making can lead to costly business outcomes
  • Why regulated, long-view thinking leads to stronger strategic choices
  • The challenges business owners face in high-pressure situations
  • The role of self-awareness in developing leadership clarity
  • The importance of vulnerability and authenticity in building trust
  • How therapy and personal reflection contribute to resilient leadership

Bracy also speaks openly about his own personal development work and the value of maintaining emotional balance when serving clients facing stressful or deeply personal business challenges.

Watch or listen to the full episode:

For more insights on Bracy’s practice, visit solidcounsel.com/attorneys/matt-bracy.

Nov 13 2025
Love0

Scheef & Stone Sponsors 2025 CCBA Christmas Gala as Chairlift Sponsor

By News & Events

Scheef & Stone is pleased to serve as a Chairlift Sponsor of the Collin County Bar Association Christmas Gala, taking place Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 6:00–10:00 p.m. at Omni Frisco at The Star (11 Cowboys Way, Frisco, Texas).

The gala is CCBA’s premier year-end event, bringing together attorneys, judges, and colleagues for an evening of networking and celebration. Guests will enjoy a VIP Cocktail Hour, live music by The Manhattan Band, and a silent auction, with a picturesque view of the Dallas Cowboys Holiday Extravaganza during the cocktail hour.

As a Chairlift Sponsor, Scheef & Stone will host two reserved tables with VIP access, supporting CCBA’s continued efforts to build a strong, engaged legal community in Collin County.

The firm appreciates the opportunity to support CCBA and looks forward to celebrating with peers and partners across North Texas.

Event details provided by the Collin County Bar Association. For CCBA membership or event information, please visit the CCBA website.

 

 

Nov 06 2025
Love0

Scheef & Stone Partner Michael C. Smith Serves on Texas Bar Foundation Board; $974K in Fall Grants Awarded

By News & Events

Scheef & Stone congratulates partner Michael C. Smith on his service as a member of the Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees, following his election to the board in June 2025.

At its Fall 2025 board meeting in Austin, the Foundation awarded $974,275 in grants to 91 nonprofit organizations across Texas. Trustees reviewed more than 130 applications seeking $3.3 million in support before finalizing grants that will fund programs expanding access to justice and strengthening the rule of law throughout the state.

With this most recent round of awards, the Texas Bar Foundation has now distributed more than $30 million in grants since its founding in 1965—advancing justice initiatives, legal education, and community programs that serve Texans in need.

A Sustaining Life Fellow of the Foundation, Smith brings decades of leadership and service to his three-year term. He previously served on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors (2005–08), where he was recognized as Outstanding Third-Year Director and received a Presidential Citation. A past president of the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association and a past chair of both the State Bar Litigation Section and the Texas Bar Journal Board of Editors, Smith has long supported the profession’s commitment to excellence and integrity.

The Texas Bar Foundation, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, remains the largest charitably funded bar foundation in the country. Its Fellows’ contributions continue to strengthen the justice system and ensure legal resources reach communities across Texas.

For more information about the Foundation and upcoming grant opportunities, visit txbf.org.

Oct 30 2025
Love0

Scheef & Stone Partner Michael C. Smith Co-Moderates “Leadership from the Bench” Panel at the Eastern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference

By News & Events

Scheef & Stone partner Michael C. Smith co-moderated the panel “Leadership from the Bench: Perspectives from the Texas Chiefs” at the 2025 Eastern District of Texas (EDTX) Bench Bar Conference, held October 23–24.

The session brought together the Chief Judges from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the four Texas federal judicial districts—a rare and distinguished panel offering unified insights on leadership, court administration, and the evolving challenges facing the judiciary.

Panelists included:
• Chief Judge Jennifer Elrod, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Chief Judge Randy Crane, Southern District of Texas
• Chief Judge David Godbey, Northern District of Texas
• Chief Judge Alia Moses, Western District of Texas
• Chief Judge Amos Mazzant, Eastern District of Texas

Co-Moderators: Michael C. Smith (Scheef & Stone, LLP) and Eric Findlay (Findlay Craft, LLP)

The panel explored how judicial leadership impacts docket management, administrative efficiency, and the public’s trust in the courts. According to the official program description, the discussion offered “an invaluable opportunity for attorneys, judges, and court professionals to gain a deeper understanding of leadership from the bench and the direction of the courts across the state.”

Scheef & Stone’s Caroline Brown and Keith Rawlins also represented the firm at the conference. Brown took detailed notes from sessions on litigation management and AI ethics—including Mark Lanier’s “Ten Commandments of AI Use”—while Rawlins connected with colleagues and members of the judiciary on current trends and emerging issues.

The EDTX Bench Bar Conference remains one of Texas’s premier forums for collaboration among judges, attorneys, and in-house counsel, advancing excellence in advocacy and understanding between the bench and bar.

Oct 24 2025
Love0

Scheef & Stone’s Matt Bracy Presented at the CCBA Civil Litigation/Appellate Meeting and NASP 2025 Conference in Hollywood, FL

By News & Events

Scheef & Stone partner Matt Bracy recently shared practical insights at two October programs focused on litigation strategy and the structured-settlement marketplace.

Last Thursday, October 16th, Matt joined Josh Wahl for a virtual Civil Litigation/Appellate Section program hosted by the Collin County Bar Association. Titled “In-House Counsel Perspectives on Litigation,” the session examined how corporate legal teams assess risk, manage preservation and discovery, align outside-counsel strategy, and measure outcomes from intake through appeal. The program was offered to CCBA members and guests.

On October 23, Matt served as moderator and speaker at the National Association of Settlement Purchasers (NASP) Annual Conference at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. His session, “The Early History of the Secondary Market for Structured Settlements,” featured panelists Earl Nesbitt (Rogge Dunn Group, PC), Patricia LaBorde (General Counsel, Blackstreet Capital Holdings), and Jason Sutherland (COO & General Counsel, Alpha Growth PLC). The NASP conference (October 22–23) included a full day of programming with networking receptions.

For additional information about CCBA programming, visit the Collin County Bar Association; for NASP conference details, see NASP’s event page.

Oct 15 2025
Love0

Scheef & Stone’s John G. Fischer, P.E., Recognized with Martindale-Hubbell® Platinum Client Champion

By Attorney Spotlight, News & Events

Scheef & Stone congratulates Shareholder John G. Fischer, P.E. on receiving the Platinum Client Champion designation from Martindale-Hubbell®. The recognition is based on verified client feedback collected through Lawyers.com and Martindale.com and reflects consistently high overall ratings for client service.

The Platinum level is the highest tier within the Client Champion program and is designed to highlight attorneys who demonstrate responsiveness, communication, and dependable results in day-to-day practice.

John G. Fischer, P.E., is a registered U.S. patent attorney and licensed professional engineer with more than two decades of experience representing clients across North America, Europe, and Asia. He tries and defends patent and trade secret matters in federal courts nationwide and builds and prosecutes complex patent portfolios with enforcement and commercialization in mind. A named inventor on 20+ U.S. patents and a former manufacturing executive, he blends hands-on engineering (mechanical, electronics, oil & gas) with business acumen to negotiate licenses and technology agreements that have generated more than $100 million in client value. His honors include AV Preeminent® (Martindale-Hubbell), Texas Super Lawyers (2012–2025), The Best Lawyers in America©, and D Magazine’s Best Lawyers® in Dallas.

About the distinction: Martindale-Hubbell® Client Champion awards recognize attorneys whose profiles reflect a high volume of positively reviewed client experiences and a strong average rating on the Martindale/Lawyers.com platforms.

Oct 10 2025
Love0

Founding Partner C. John Scheef III Leads Old Maroon RFC Annual Meeting, Advancing Support for Texas A&M Rugby

By Attorney Spotlight, News & Events

Scheef & Stone Founding Partner C. John Scheef III—president of Old Maroon RFC, the charitable fundraising association of Texas A&M rugby alumni—addressed alumni, current players, and parents at the organization’s annual meeting in College Station on September 20. Held alongside the Alumni vs. Students match; the program featured a luncheon catered by Cooper’s BBQ and the election of Old Maroon’s Board of Directors.

In his remarks, Scheef outlined Old Maroon’s mission, the composition of its board, and the planned use of donations for the 2025–26 school year and rugby season. He also provided program updates, including the milestone hiring of the team’s first full-time head coach, “Tui” Osborne.

Old Maroon RFC brings Aggie rugby alumni together to support the current program through fundraising and engagement. For more information, visit oldmaroonrugby.com.