Danny Le

Scheef & Stone, LLP is pleased to welcome four law clerks to the firm this summer: Gillian West and Madison Barnes in the firm’s Dallas office, and Lindie Harper and Ashley Souza in the Frisco office.

All four clerks are second-year law students at SMU Dedman School of Law, one of the nation’s leading legal institutions and a longstanding part of the Dallas legal community. As SMU Dedman Law celebrates its 100th anniversary, the school continues its legacy of preparing future legal leaders through academic excellence, practical experience, and public service.

The incoming clerks each bring strong academic credentials and diverse professional experience to the firm.

Gillian West currently serves as Secretary of the Student Bar Association at SMU Dedman Law and previously worked as a summer associate in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Prior to law school, she spent nearly three years working in a law firm environment as an administrative assistant.

Madison Barnes recently completed internships with both Parkland Health and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. She graduated magna cum laude from Texas Christian University with a degree in political science and a minor in criminal justice.

Lindie Harper graduated magna cum laude from Rhodes College, where she served as a research fellow and editor of the Rhodes Historical Review. Her background also includes appellate-focused internship experience with the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office.

Ashley Souza brings prior legal and administrative experience from both private industry and higher education, including work with Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and Tabani Group, Inc.

Scheef & Stone looks forward to supporting these talented students as they continue developing their legal skills and gaining hands-on experience within the firm.

Please join us in welcoming Gillian, Madison, Lindie, and Ashley to Scheef & Stone.

Scheef & Stone, LLP is proud to announce that 13 of its attorneys have been recognized in D Magazine’s 2026 Best Lawyers list. This prestigious annual honors North Texas legal professionals based on extensive peer nominations, categorical evaluations, and an independent review process.

This year’s recognition spans a diverse range of practice areas—from high-stakes litigation and intellectual property to complex real estate and corporate transactions—reflecting the depth of expertise within the firm.

The 2026 Honorees
We congratulate the following attorneys for their inclusion in this year’s list:

C. John Scheef III – Construction, Real Estate, Construction and Real Estate Litigation
William “Bill” Stone – Business Transactions, M&A, Corporate & Business Law
Robert M. Bolton – Tax Planning
Rebekah Steely Brooker – Estate Planning and Administration, Probate, Trust and Asset Protection Planning, Probate Litigation
John Gregory Fischer – Patent Prosecution Attorney and licensed professional engineer with over 20 U.S. patents of his own
Peter Lewis – Business Reorganizations, Creditors’ Rights, Business Litigation, and Business Transactions
Patrick Schurr – Bankruptcy & Litigation
Matt Bracy – Corporate & Business Law
Mitch Little – Securities Fraud & Complex Litigation
Roger A. Crabb – Corporate & Business Law
Mark David Nielsen – Intellectual Property
Chase Garrett – Real Estate & Business Litigation
Keith Christopher Rawlins – Intellectual Property

A Philosophy of Advocacy and Service
At Scheef & Stone, legal excellence is driven by a commitment to the people and businesses we represent. For many of our honorees, this recognition is a reflection of the guiding principles they bring to the office every day.

On the Burden of Representation:
Partner Mitch Little, who also serves in the Texas House of Representatives, views the courtroom as a place of profound responsibility. “Bearing other people’s burdens is an honor,” Little shared. “Every day, I get to use the gifts God gave me to solve people’s problems.” This sentiment is echoed by Patrick Schurr, whose practice is rooted in a family legacy of service: “The law allows me to interact with people, help them solve their problems, and honor my parents’ memory.”

On Strategic Discipline:
In complex litigation and intellectual property, precision is paramount. Chase Garrett relies on a disciplined, evidence-based approach, noting, “It only matters what I can prove.” Similarly, Keith Rawlins emphasizes the importance of long-term reliability: “Be extraordinary amongst the extraordinary, consistently over time. Count me in.”

On Collaborative Growth:
For our corporate and intellectual property teams, the focus is on building sustainable success for clients. Matt Bracy credits the firm’s collaborative environment for achieving smart results, while Mark David Nielsen highlights his passion for the entrepreneurial spirit: “I am passionate about supporting energetic, dedicated entrepreneurs as they build and grow their businesses.” Throughout every transaction, Roger A. Crabb remains focused on equity: “I work to achieve the most fair and balanced result for all parties.”

Scheef & Stone congratulates our 2026 honorees and thanks our clients and colleagues for their continued trust. We are proud of the dedication, professionalism, and integrity these 13 attorneys bring to the Texas legal community.

For more information about D Magazine’s 2026 Best Lawyers list, please visit //productions.dmagazine.com/best-lawyers-in-dallas/.