Business and commercial litigation -

Business Commercial Litigation

Most companies are not in business to litigate. But significant disputes can threaten revenue, relationships, and reputation. When that happens, you need a business litigation attorney who understands both the courtroom and the realities of running a business.

McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans business and commercial litigation attorneys represent clients in state and federal courts across the country, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration forums. The firm has the resources to handle disputes of every size and level of complexity while staying focused on practical outcomes that support the client’s long-term business objectives.

From early case assessment and risk analysis to trial, appeal, or negotiated resolution, our team is comfortable in high-stakes environments. We combine trial experience with strategic use of technology and efficient case management so litigation is handled with discipline rather than becoming a distraction for leadership.

Finding the Right Business Litigation Team for You

Selecting a commercial litigation attorney is not just about who can argue a motion. It is about who can understand your business model, your tolerance for risk, and what “success” looks like beyond a verdict or settlement.

When you work with McCathern’s business litigation attorneys, we:

Take time to learn how the dispute fits into your broader operations, financing, and strategic plans
Identify your priorities, whether that is precedent, confidentiality, speed, cost control, or preserving key relationships
Provide clear, plain-language analysis of your legal position and realistic outcome ranges
Evaluate options that may include early resolution, targeted motion practice, or positioning the matter for trial
Coordinate with your in-house counsel, executives, and insurers so communication is consistent and purposeful

Some disputes call for aggressive litigation from the outset, particularly when an injunction, trade secret theft, or serious reputational threat is involved. Others benefit from a focused early settlement strategy that avoids years of discovery. Our commercial litigation attorneys recommend an approach that fits your situation rather than forcing your case into a standard playbook.

Comprehensive Business & Commercial Litigation Services

McCathern’s business litigation practice covers the full spectrum of commercial disputes for private and public companies, investors, executives, and entrepreneurs.

Contract and Commercial Disputes

Shareholder, Partnership, and Governance Litigation

Business Torts and Unfair Competition

Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, and Restrictive Covenants

Real Estate and Commercial Property Disputes

Insurance and Risk-Related Litigation

Multi-Party, Complex, and Cross-Jurisdiction Litigation

Because McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans also has strong capabilities in banking and mortgage, employment, catastrophic injury, class actions, and appellate work, the business litigation team can draw on colleagues across the firm when a dispute touches multiple practice areas. This integrated approach is particularly valuable in complex cases involving overlapping regulatory, insurance, and business issues.

Experienced Business Litigation Attorneys in Dallas, Frisco, Houston & Los Angeles

McCathern’s business and commercial litigation practice is staffed out of the firm’s offices in Dallas, Frisco, Houston, and Los Angeles.

Dallas Business Litigation Attorneys

The Dallas headquarters houses a deep bench of trial-ready business litigators, including:

Arnold Shokouhi – Chief Executive Officer of the firm, providing firmwide leadership and strategic oversight on the firm’s most complex and high-stakes business and commercial litigation matters across multiple jurisdictions.

Stephanie Almeter – Managing Partner of the firm’s Dallas office and a trial attorney focusing on business and commercial litigation and labor and employment disputes, recognized for strategic advocacy and leadership within the firm.

Levi McCathern – Founding partner of the firm, nationally recognized for handling high-profile, high-stakes litigation on behalf of major institutions and businesses.

Justin Bryan, Brett Chisum, Jesse Hoffman, Joseph Sampson, and James Sherry – Trial attorneys who collectively handle a wide range of complex commercial disputes and litigation for regional and national clients.

Frisco and Houston Commercial Litigation Attorneys

Samuel King and Ty Sheaks in Frisco, who represent businesses in commercial disputes, hospitality-related litigation, and complex tort and contract matters.

Rodney Drinnon in Houston, whose practice includes business and commercial litigation and who oversees matters for clients with operations in the Gulf Coast and beyond.

These attorneys routinely appear in state and federal courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration forums, providing clients with counsel that is experienced, trial-tested, and focused on the client’s broader business goals.

How Our Business Litigation Attorneys Approach Cases

Every business dispute presents a unique combination of legal, financial, and reputational issues. Our approach is structured but flexible enough to adapt to what your matter requires. In a typical case, our commercial litigation attorneys will:

Conduct an early case assessment that identifies legal strengths and weaknesses, business implications, and realistic paths to resolution
Work with you to define success in concrete terms, whether that is an early exit, a precedent-setting judgment, or protecting a long-term relationship
Develop a litigation plan that aligns with those goals, including discovery strategy, expert needs, and motion practice
Keep leadership and in-house counsel informed through clear, regular reporting focused on decisions rather than legal jargon
Explore settlement at points where it makes strategic sense, without compromising the ability to try the case if necessary
Prepare thoroughly for trial or arbitration, because credible trial readiness is often key to achieving favorable outcomes

The goal is not simply to “fight” but to manage litigation as one part of your overall risk and business strategy. That requires disciplined execution, candid advice, and a willingness to recommend difficult choices when they are in the client’s long-term interest.

Serving Businesses Across Texas, California, and Beyond

From its offices in Dallas, Frisco, Houston, and Los Angeles, McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans represents clients across Texas, throughout the Southwest, and in matters with national reach.

Clients range from emerging companies and closely held businesses to high-net-worth individuals and Fortune 500 corporations, as well as public entities and high-profile organizations.

Representative client profiles include:

Companies facing “bet-the-company” or brand-defining commercial disputes
Mid-market businesses that need sophisticated representation with cost discipline
Executives, shareholders, and partners involved in internal control or governance conflicts
Businesses seeking coordinated litigation and regulatory strategies across multiple jurisdictions

Regardless of size or industry, clients can expect the same level of preparation, attention to detail, and practical guidance.

Business Litigation Resources and Next Steps

Business disputes rarely arrive at a convenient time. Early engagement with a commercial litigation attorney can help preserve evidence, manage communications, and avoid missteps that become larger problems later in the case.

A consultation with McCathern’s business litigation attorneys can help you:

Understand the legal landscape of your dispute, including potential claims and defenses
Identify urgent steps such as preserving documents, managing internal communications, or pursuing emergency relief
Evaluate litigation risk and potential outcomes in the context of your business objectives
Consider options for alternative dispute resolution, including mediation or arbitration
Develop an initial strategy for communication with counterparties, employees, investors, regulators, or the media, when appropriate

This page provides general information about business and commercial litigation and is not legal advice. Every matter is fact-specific, and you should not make decisions about litigation without speaking to qualified counsel.

To discuss your situation with a business litigation attorney at McCathern, please contact us through the firm’s contact page or reach out to one of our offices in Dallas, Frisco, Houston, or Los Angeles.

PROSPER ISD PARENTS QUESTION DISTRICT RESPONSE TO BUS DRIVER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING STUDENTS

December 15, 2025

Author: Rebecca Lopez with WFAA Watch the interview here. PROSPER, Texas — Parents of two young girls who say they were repeatedly sexually assaulted by a Prosper ISD school bus driver are speaking out about what they describe as serious failures by the district — including delayed notification to families and promised safety changes they say were never fully implemented. The parents asked that they not be identified to protect their children, who were just elementary school age at the time of the abuse. In a lawsuit filed in 2023, the girls — identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — allege former bus driver Frank Paniagua assaulted them repeatedly during the 2021–2022 school year. According to the lawsuit, Paniagua would wait until other students exited the bus, then assault the girls, sometimes holding one child back so he could take her to the rear of the bus. Attorneys say the abuse occurred over several months and was captured on bus surveillance video. How the abuse was discovered The girls’ mother said the abuse came to light after their grandmother noticed troubling comments about gift cards offered by the bus driver. When the mother later questioned the girls again, they disclosed what had been happening. Prosper ISD police reviewed surveillance video from the bus in May 2022. Paniagua was arrested two days later and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and indecency with a child. Paniagua later died after jumping from the second floor of the Collin County Jail while awaiting trial. Concerns about delayed notifications Attorneys for the family say more than 100 days passed after Paniagua’s arrest before Prosper ISD publicly acknowledged the allegations — a delay parents say may have prevented other potential victims from being identified. At a packed school board meeting, Prosper ISD parent Morgan Grahovec, a child psychologist whose daughter attended the same school as the victims, told trustees that delays in notifying parents can have serious consequences. “Children who are victims of abuse need to be identified and interviewed as soon as possible because memory fades over time,” Grahovec said. “The longer you wait, it’s harder to get a child to report abuse accurately.” Parents at those meetings called for Superintendent Holly Ferguson’s resignation, arguing district leaders should have acted sooner and communicated more transparently. Ferguson did not step down, instead promising changes to safety protocols. District response and former statement In an earlier written statement to WFAA, Prosper ISD said it took appropriate action once allegations surfaced: “We are horrified that an employee violated the trust of our families and students, as Prosper ISD’s foremost priority is to protect our students’ safety and well-being at all times. We strongly condemn the actions of any adult who would cause mental or physical harm to a child, and we do not tolerate such behavior.” The district has declined additional comment, citing pending litigation. Disputed claims about safety changes Prosper ISD previously told parents it would implement additional safeguards, including increased supervision during bus drop-offs, a volunteer “bus buddy” program, and improved monitoring of bus surveillance video. But the parents and their attorneys say those changes were not consistently put in place. Attorney Levi McCathern says the district does not regularly review bus surveillance footage — even though video captured the alleged abuse in this case. “You would think the first thing you would do after this happens is change your monitoring program,” McCathern said. “They don’t monitor them at all.” McCathern and co-counsel Kristin Hecker say the lawsuit is aimed at forcing policy changes rather than seeking financial gain. Questions about oversight and leadership The case has also raised broader concerns about district leadership and oversight. Prosper ISD’s school board president later resigned in an unrelated child abuse case, further shaking confidence among some parents. Families have also questioned the independence of the district’s internal review, noting that the law firm hired to investigate the district’s response is also defending Prosper ISD in the lawsuit. “All we want is an independent investigation,” McCathern said. Parents push for accountability and change The parents say their children remain enrolled in Prosper ISD, but they continue to press for reforms they believe could prevent similar abuse. “We want justice for our kids,” the girls’ mother said. “But we also want changes to happen at the district so that this doesn’t happen to other children.”