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Paul Skeith

Managing Partner
Tel: (512) 476-0005
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Paul Skeith, the managing partner for Richards Rodriguez & Skeith, understands business. When he's not representing mid-sized businesses and nonprofits as their outside general counsel, he's running a growing business himself. Paul has served as managing partner for Richards Rodriguez & Skeith since he founded the firm with his partners in 2005. In his spare time, he attends a peer-advisory membership organization to better his business acumen. Even Paul's commitment to the community reflects his dedication to business pursuits. He serves on the board of Capital Idea, a local nonprofit which empowers working families by providing competitive professional skills to enable them to create life-long financial independence.

Mr. Skeith's practice in business and corporate law includes negotiating mergers and acquisitions, drafting and reviewing business contracts, structuring business entities, real estate transactions, employment contracts, and business succession strategy. Paul's clients are busy CEOs, entrepreneurs, nonprofit directors and board members, which is why he often makes site visits to his clients' places of business. Site visits allow Paul to gain a better understanding of his clients' business environment and staff. He also finds that these visits offer him a chance to converse with business owners and managers on a one on one basis. He believes attorneys must be attentive to client needs, which is one reason why the firm conducts a biannual client survey to obtain constructive feedback. To encourage participation, client responses are matched with a firm donation to the American Cancer Society.

Paul is dedicated to giving back to his community. He recently completed his service as an appointed member of the City of Austin Electric Utility Commission, and now serves on the board for Capital Idea, a local nonprofit. His leadership role in Capital Idea underscores his commitment to helping low income working families in Central Texas by empowering them with professional training and networking opportunities. His invitation as a board member came from his experience as a business leader and his participation in Austin Interfaith, an organization of congregations, schools, and other civic institutions devoted to creating a healthy dialogue between citizens, business, and local government. Paul also now serves on the Vestry (board) of St. David's Episcopal Church.

Paul earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, before moving to Austin to attend the University of Texas to seek a dual degree in law and Public Affairs. His training at the LBJ School of Public Affairs offered him additional background in nonprofit management. As a law student, he was a staff member of the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights. Paul was chosen after law school to serve as a law clerk to the Honorable Thomas M. Reavley, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Paul and his staff have assembled several documents you may find helpful to your business. To learn more about Paul's educational background and management style, please see Interview with Paul Skeith, Managing Partner of Richards Rodriguez & Skeith.

Employment law in Texas allows employers and employees the freedom to terminate the employment relationship for any reason. However, the "at-will" agreement does not absolve employers from federal legislation such as minimum wage laws, anti-discrimination laws, and family medical laws. To learn more about hiring and firing employees in Texas, please see his article and fact sheet on Employment Law for Business Professionals in "At-Will" States.

Paul also advises his clients about business strategies to maximize tax deductions and long-term tax planning. For more information about how you can save your company's profits while planning for long-term tax solutions, please see Paul's article and fact sheet on Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners.

Professional Licenses & Memberships

State Bar of Texas, 1998
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Member, Austin Bar Association
Member, Austin Young Lawyer's Association
Member, Phi Beta Kappa

Education

University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1994
University of Texas, LBJ School of Public Affairs, M.P. Aff., 1998
University of Texas, J.D., 1998
Law Clerk to Hon. Thomas M. Reavley, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit