Email
Phone: 972-479-1112
Fax: 972-479-1113
Steve Schneider has over 30 years of experience successfully handling a broad range of complex business disputes and litigation matters. He is experienced in trials, appeals, arbitration, mediation and settlement of complex controversies in state and federal courts. Subject matters have included business torts, contract disputes, loan disputes, real estate transactions, partnership and shareholder disputes, landlord-tenant disputes, employment disputes, fraud, fiduciary duties, deceptive trade practices, insurance coverage, bad faith insurance practices, and trade secret violations. He has also been trained as a mediator. Steve is focused intensely on achieving a successful resolution for each client, consistent with the client’s goals, whether through litigation or negotiation.
Steve is also an experienced drafter of business contracts. At the beginning of his career he practiced as a real estate attorney representing lenders, borrowers and developers in numerous real estate and loan transactions, where he acquired expertise in drafting contract and transactional documents. As a result of his extensive experience, Steve has expertise in drafting contracts and transactional documents that provide better protection for clients who may anticipate possible future disputes or litigation. Steve has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting complex settlement agreements, before, during and after litigation, that frequently enable clients to restore and preserve business relationships that were at risk as a result of a significant business dispute.
Steve practiced as a shareholder for many years at large downtown Dallas law firms. In 2007, Steve formed a small firm in north Dallas, which has now grown to Schneider Miller Reynolds, P.C. At Schneider Miller Reynolds, Steve continues to handle complex business disputes and litigation matters, providing his personal attention and high-quality legal representation for clients in the small firm environment.
Representative Matters and Subject Matter Experience
- Represented Fortune 100 company in multi-million dollar lawsuit against insurance companies for deceptive insurance practices and fraud; judgment entered in favor of client after 5-month jury trial; affirmed on appeal.
- Represented banking technology company in $27,000,000 lawsuit and jury trial in federal court involving claims for theft of trade secrets, defamation, and anti-trust violations.
- Represent federally-chartered bank in securities fraud lawsuit arising out of purchase of collateralized debt obligations and residential mortgage-backed securities.
- Represented federally-chartered bank in lawsuit against title insurance companies arising out of mortgage loan fraud and forgery by borrowers and co-conspirators.
- Represented federally-chartered bank in lawsuits arising out of $8,000,000 construction loan in default; negotiated complex loan workout and modification agreement.
- Represented company that owns and operates medical imaging centers in numerous lawsuits, including employment and ownership dispute with medical director, claims against manufacturer of mobile MRI equipment, breach of contract by purchaser of imaging centers, employment disputes with employees, breach of non-competition agreements.
- Represented patent-holder and international seller of animal mineral supplements in large, bet-the-company arbitration involving claims of breach of contract and assignment of intellectual property rights.
- Represented international seller of animal mineral supplements in buy-out of former minority shareholder.
- Represented international seller of animal mineral supplements in negotiation of complicated multi-party settlement agreement and consignment agreement with competitor.
- Represented international reseller and liquidator of apparel and footwear in lawsuit against national retailer for breach of contract; obtained summary judgment in federal court in favor of client.
- Represented international reseller and liquidator of apparel and footwear in lawsuit in federal court against international retailer for breach of contract.
- Represented structured settlement purchaser companies and trade association in numerous lawsuits; obtained industry-leading, precedent-setting summary judgment on key anti-assignment issues.
- Represented banks and savings and loan association in numerous loan workout, collection and foreclosure lawsuits and proceedings.
- Represented founder and former CEO of health care company in breach of contract lawsuit against company, to obtain bonus and severance payment; obtained pre-judgment writ of garnishment.
- Represented former CFO of health care company in wrongful termination and breach of contract lawsuit against company.
- Represented high-net-worth client in state court and federal bankruptcy court adversary proceedings against ex-wife and former employer, in dispute over contractual rights to bonus payments owed by former employer.
- Represented high-net-worth investor and owner of high-end automobile modification center, in partnership dispute and in dispute with tenant.
- Represented senior partner in litigation arising out of dissolution of law firm.
- Represented executives, financial planners, and other clients in various lawsuits seeking to enforce non-competition covenants against departing employees.
- Negotiated and prepared employment agreements, non-competition agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and non-solicitation agreements for employers and employees, and for buyers and sellers of businesses.
- Represent owner-operator of international call centers in lawsuits for breach of contract.
- Represented environmental design and services company in 2-week arbitration proceeding arising out of design of battery recycling plant.
- Represented importer and wholesaler of fine Persian rugs in claims under property and casualty insurance policies for losses from floods.
- Represented seller of hotels in lawsuits for breach of contract by purchasers.
- Represented owner of airport property in sale of FBO and dispute with partner.
- Represented developer of federally-subsidized low-income housing project in arbitration proceeding arising out of sale of project.
Education
- Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina; J.D. 1982
- State University of New York, Binghamton, New York; B.A., With Honors, 1978
Bar and Court Admissions
- State Bar of Texas, 1983
- U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U. S. District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas
- U. S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U. S. Court of Federal Claims
- U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas
Teaching Experience
- Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, Dallas, Texas
- Adjunct Faculty, Lawyering Instructor, Spring 1998, 1999
- Dallas Bar Association
- Faculty, Trial Academy, 2014
- National Institute for Trial Advocacy
- Faculty, Deposition Skills Program, 2014
Publications
- “Polasek and Simmons: The Continuing Debate Over the Insurer’s Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing,” The Advocate, December 1993
Professional Affiliations and Training
- State Bar of Texas
- Dallas Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Inn of Court, 2003 – 2005
- College of the State Bar of Texas, 1995 – 2000
- Mediator Training, 1997
Civic Affiliations and Activities
- Jewish Community Center of Dallas
- Board of Directors, 2012 – Present; 1998 – 2003; 1988 ‑ 1989
- JCC Maccabi Games®, National Sports Advisory Committee, 2014 – Present