McKinney Business Fraud Attorneys for Private and Mid-Sized Companies

Fraud litigation involves serious allegations that can jeopardize reputations, disrupt operations, and result in significant financial loss. From misrepresentation in business deals to complex schemes involving wire fraud or corporate misconduct, these cases often require swift, strategic legal action. Whether you’re the victim of deceptive practices or accused of wrongdoing, the stakes are high, and so is the need for experienced counsel.

Roquemore Skierski’s McKinney fraud litigation lawyers represent business owners, executives, and professionals across Texas in high-stakes fraud matters. Our clients face challenges involving corporate fraud, financial deception, investment scams, and fraudulent communications, and they rely on us to cut through complexity, protect their interests, and pursue real results.

When we take on a fraud case, we bring clarity, urgency, and a litigation strategy tailored to the facts. Whether you’re navigating claims of misrepresentation, investigating internal misconduct, or facing a federal fraud allegation, we work to uncover the truth and enforce accountability. Your reputation, your capital, and your business future are worth defending, and our approach is built to do just that.

How internal fraud takes hold and expands inside a McKinney company

Fraud within a business rarely arrives as a single dramatic event. It usually grows in small steps that repeat until the pattern is too consistent to ignore. A shipping log may conflict with an invoice, a new vendor might receive payment without written authorization, or revenue could be posted without a matching entry in the ledger. What begins as an isolated irregularity can reveal a broader scheme. A partner may be siphoning profits over time, or a manager could be inflating payroll hours to divert cash. A business fraud attorney examines operating agreements, accounting records, and compensation files to pinpoint where the scheme started and how it spread, while helping leadership keep day-to-day operations steady so the company can function during the review.

Building the proof required under Texas law with a record the court will trust

Texas law requires specific elements to establish business fraud, including a false statement or a concealed fact, intent, reliance, and resulting financial harm. The most persuasive way to meet those elements is with a documentary record that tells a clear story. Operating and partnership agreements, emails that reflect deal terms, invoices, bank statements, and general ledger entries can be organized into a dated timeline that shows events in sequence. When the documentary story is coherent and complete, judges, arbitrators, and juries can evaluate the conduct without speculation. A well-constructed record not only proves liability but also positions the business to recover what was taken.

Immediate court protections that secure cash, property, and sensitive information

When money, equipment, or confidential data are at risk, early action matters. Texas courts can enter temporary restraining orders and temporary injunctions that freeze disputed accounts, pause transfers of inventory or fixed assets, protect access to banking systems, and preserve customer lists while the facts are gathered. If assets have already been moved, forensic accounting can trace funds and identify property for return. If misconduct produces a stalemate among owners or threatens ongoing operations, a court may appoint a receiver to stabilize the company, maintain value, and prevent further damage while claims are pursued. These initial protections buy the time needed to collect evidence and prevent additional loss.

Legal avenues to recover money and property after fraud harms a McKinney business

Texas law provides several remedies to restore losses once fraud is uncovered. Courts can award damages to make the business whole, order restitution of specific funds, or impose a constructive trust on assets purchased with misappropriated money. Disgorgement may be used to require wrongdoers to surrender profits earned through misconduct, ensuring they do not keep an unlawful benefit. In cases that involve a breach of fiduciary duty, exemplary damages may be available where the conduct was intentional or malicious. If the scheme threatens the ongoing viability of the enterprise, receivership can safeguard cash flow and property while the case proceeds. Together, these tools create a practical pathway to rebuild stability and reclaim value.

How fraud reshapes partner relationships, investor confidence, and daily operations

Financial loss is only one part of the harm. Fraud can fracture relationships between partners, unsettle investors, and erode confidence among key employees. Expansion plans may stall, lender relationships may become strained, and decisions about accountability can trigger additional conflict. In McKinney’s business community, where reputation and long-term relationships carry weight, the ripple effects can also reach banks, suppliers, and long-standing customers. A business fraud attorney helps owners evaluate options to protect the enterprise while accountability is pursued. Depending on the facts, that may mean reallocating decision-making authority, negotiating a buyout to remove a bad actor, or winding down the company when trust cannot be restored. Preserving the future of the business is as important as proving what happened.

Why company agreements in McKinney can determine the course of a fraud case

Governing documents often set the rules of the road. Operating and partnership agreements may require arbitration, control where a case must be filed, or impose pre-suit notice and timing requirements. These terms can speed up or slow down the case, shape discovery, and affect cost. Our McKinney team reviews these agreements at the outset so that demand letters, motions, and discovery requests match the procedures the parties adopted when the company was formed. Aligning strategy with the company’s own rules reduces procedural risk and keeps the focus on the facts

Where business fraud cases in McKinney are heard

Many business fraud cases tied to McKinney are filed in Collin County district courts, although venue can be influenced by where the company is headquartered, where records are kept, or where the conduct occurred. Certain high-value governance and securities disputes may also qualify for the Texas Business Court under Chapter 25A of the Texas Government Code, which excludes consumer Deceptive Trade Practices Act and personal injury claims. Selecting the proper forum is an early strategic decision because it influences scheduling, discovery scope, and the route for any appeal.

Managing e-discovery and digital evidence in complex fraud matters

Digital information often provides the most revealing evidence in a modern fraud case. Email archives, messaging platforms, cloud backups, accounting system logs, and permission histories can show who approved what, when decisions were made, and how money moved. Our lead trial lawyer holds advanced credentials in e-discovery and designs collection plans that capture critical data without disrupting daily operations. By pairing technical discipline with a clear litigation strategy, Roquemore Skierski gives McKinney businesses a dependable process to surface the facts and prepare a persuasive case.

How Roquemore Skierski moves a McKinney fraud case toward resolution

Resolution begins with targeted preservation and a focused investigation plan. If records appear vulnerable to alteration or loss, we move quickly for court orders that protect the evidence. Many matters are then positioned for mediation or arbitration, particularly where contracts call for private proceedings or where speed and confidentiality are priorities. If trial becomes necessary, we organize the documentary record, conduct depositions that explain the decision trail, and work with forensic experts to present the financial impact in a way that is clear and credible. This methodical approach maximizes the chance of recovering losses and safeguarding the business.

our McKinney Business fraud litigation lawyers

Kelvin Roquemore

Founding Partner

Kelvin Roquemore is a Founding Partner of Roquemore Skierski, specializing in business and commercial litigation, with experience in business transactions, complex litigation, M&A, and commercial real estate. With over 25 years of in-house counsel and business litigation experience, he brings a strategic approach to supporting owner-operated small and medium-sized enterprises.

Doug Skierski

Founding Partner

Doug Skierski is a Founding Partner of Roquemore Skierski, and is an A/V-rated attorney with over 20 years of experience in bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, receiverships, and commercial litigation. He holds a J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law and has a strong background in complex commercial litigation and arbitration.

D. Shawn Stevens

Of Counsel

Dennis Shawn Stevens is a member of Roquemore Skierski with over 20 years of experience representing clients in business litigation, commercial disputes, and insurance-related claims. He holds a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and advises businesses on matters involving breach of contract, construction conflicts, and complex commercial torts.

Mark Ivanyo

Of Counsel

Mark Ivanyo has experience in complex commercial litigation, including contract disputes, product liability, and premises-related claims. He has experience representing businesses in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration and administration. Mark holds a J.D. from South Texas College of Law and holds a B.B.A. in Management from Texas State University.

Alyssa Grissom

Paralegal

Alysa S. Grissom is a paralegal at Roquemore Skierski and is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization—an achievement held by fewer than 400 paralegals statewide. She holds an A.A. in Government, an A.A.S. in Paralegal Studies from Austin Community College, and a B.A. in Business, magna cum laude, from Concordia University Texas.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ's

What is fraud litigation?

Fraud litigation involves a civil lawsuit where a business owner alleges that another party intentionally misrepresented or concealed a material fact, causing financial harm when the owner relied on that falsehood.

How does statutory fraud in real-estate or stock transactions differ from common-law fraud?

Statutory fraud claims arise under Texas Business & Commerce Code § 27.01 and apply to real-estate or stock sales; the statute eases proof of scienter and allows exemplary damages without proving intent to deceive.

What is the statute of limitations for fraud in Texas?

Texas fraud claims carry a four-year limitations period under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004, but the discovery rule extends the statute of limitations until the fraud could reasonably have been discovered.

What defenses are commonly raised against fraud allegations?

Defendants typically argue lack of misrepresentation, no intent to deceive, absence of reliance, statute of limitations, waiver, or that statements were non-actionable opinions or forward-looking projections that could not be constituted as absolute statements.

How is fraud different from negligent misrepresentation?

Fraud involves intentional deception or a reckless disregard for the truth. By contrast, negligent misrepresentation, as outlined in Section 552 of the Restatement of Torts, arises when someone makes a false statement without exercising reasonable care in verifying its accuracy.

Can a company sue its own officers or employees for fraud?

A Texas corporation may file direct or derivative actions against officers, directors, or employees who commit fraud or breach fiduciary duties, seeking damages or disgorgement.

Are punitive damages available in Texas fraud cases?

Punitive (exemplary) damages are available if clear and convincing evidence shows fraud, malice, or gross negligence; Chapter 41 caps generally limit the award to the greater of $200,000 or two times economic damages plus non-economic damages up to $750,000.

When should I hire a fraud-litigation attorney?

A business owner should engage counsel as soon as suspicious conduct is detected—early legal action preserves electronic evidence, meets limitations deadlines, and increases leverage for settlement or injunctions.