Dallas Business Fraud Lawyers 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 Dallas-based 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 business fraud emerges in a private company

Fraud in a company rarely appears as a single event. It often shows up as repeating patterns that gradually come into focus. Invoices may not align with delivery records, new vendors might be paid without written approval, or revenue is entered without supporting documentation. A trusted partner could quietly divert funds over years, or a manager might manipulate overtime reports to skim payroll. A business fraud lawyer reviews these irregularities against operating agreements, ledgers, and compensation records to identify the source of the misconduct while keeping the company running.

How Texas law proves fraud with a record the court can trust

To prove business fraud under Texas law, four elements must be shown: a false statement or hidden fact, intent, reliance, and financial loss. The most persuasive evidence is a well-documented record. Operating agreements, invoices, and accounting entries allow a business fraud lawyer to create a clear timeline that connects events. Presented in order, these records give a judge, arbitrator, or jury a reliable picture of what happened without speculation.

Early court measures that protect cash, data, and customer relationships

When funds, property, or customer data are at risk, courts can grant early relief to protect a company’s position. Temporary restraining orders and injunctions can freeze accounts, pause asset transfers, preserve access to banking systems, and protect confidential information. If property has already been diverted, forensic accounting may trace and recover assets. In situations where partners reach a deadlock, courts may appoint a receiver or neutral manager to preserve operations until the dispute is resolved.

Legal remedies for recovering business losses after fraud

Texas law gives businesses several ways to recover money or property lost to fraud. Courts can order restitution, damages, or impose a constructive trust on assets purchased with stolen funds. Judges may also require disgorgement, forcing wrongdoers to return unlawful gains, and in fiduciary duty cases, exemplary damages may be available when fraud was intentional.

Receivership is another option when fraud threatens the stability of the business, allowing a neutral third party to safeguard funds and operations during litigation. These remedies provide a clear path to restore financial stability after misconduct is uncovered.

How business fraud impacts partnerships and long-term operations

Fraud damages more than financial accounts. It undermines trust between partners, investors, and employees. A single scheme can delay expansion plans, disrupt financing, and create conflicts over accountability. In Dallas’s competitive business market, reputational harm may also affect relationships with lenders, suppliers, and clients.

A business fraud lawyer’s role extends beyond proving the fraud. It includes stabilizing the company, preserving ownership rights, and guiding decisions on whether to continue operations together or separate. Solutions may involve adjusting management authority, arranging buyouts, or initiating dissolution when trust cannot be restored. Safeguarding the future of the enterprise is often as critical as recovering the immediate loss.

How contract clauses can shape legal strategy in a business fraud investigation

Operating agreements and partnership contracts frequently include provisions that determine how fraud disputes will unfold. Arbitration clauses may require private resolution, and venue provisions can dictate where cases are filed. Our Dallas business fraud lawyers review these governing terms to ensure that all filings, motions, and discovery requests comply with internal requirements and avoid unnecessary procedural challenges.

Where Dallas business fraud cases are heard

Most business fraud cases that originate in Dallas are filed in Dallas County district courts. Certain disputes may also be eligible for the Texas Business Court under Texas Government Code Chapter 25A, which accepts defined governance and securities disputes over $5 million but excludes consumer and personal injury claims. The choice of forum can affect scheduling, discovery rules, and appeal options.

How Roquemore Skierski manages e-discovery in complex fraud matters

Digital records now form the core of most business fraud investigations. Emails, server backups, and text messages often reveal key terms, approval chains, and financial losses. Our lead trial lawyer has advanced e-discovery training and develops collection plans that capture critical data without interfering with day-to-day operations. By combining technical skill with courtroom strategy, Roquemore Skierski helps Dallas businesses bring clarity to complex disputes.

How Roquemore Skierski resolves a Dallas business fraud case

The process often begins with targeted research and preservation of records. If documents or financial data appear vulnerable, immediate court intervention may be sought to secure them. Many fraud disputes are resolved without trial, often through mediation or arbitration, especially when required by contract terms.

When arbitration is chosen, the process offers confidentiality and speed. If trial becomes necessary, our lawyers prepare by compiling financial records, testimony, and depositions that explain the misconduct in detail. This method positions Dallas business owners for the strongest possible outcome in recovering losses and resolving partner disputes.

our dallas 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.