Melinda McGehee Mindy Riseden
Litigation - Construction
Litigation - Construction
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Mindy Riseden focuses her practice on commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on the trial level.Mindy has spent more than 18 years avidly representing clients in the courtroom. Her practice is focused on commercial litigation, with emphasis on the trial level. She has provided counsel to individuals, local businesses, national corporations, and multinational organizations in disputes involving construction litigation, partnerships, insurance brokerage, real estate, and contracts. Regardless of the nature of the dispute, Mindy enjoys working with people, and she finds that during the litigation process the best method to help the client reach their goals consists of working diligently and persistently while also maintaining flexibility as issues and disputes are always evolving.Mindy believes balance is important to any activity. Prior to graduating law school, Mindy studied and lived abroad in Mexico, Spain, Chile, and Hong Kong. While in law school, Mindy served as a Senior Articles Editor for the SMU Dedman School of Law’s Computer Law Review & Technology Journal. She was also elected as a Barrister and received the Southern Methodist University’s McGuire Fellowship Award for Ethics & Public Responsibility (2001). Mindy is conversational in Spanish and enjoys meeting and working with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. When not consumed with areas of commercial litigation, Mindy enjoys working with pro bono clients, especially children needing a voice and guidance through the legal system.In addition to interning for Federal and State judges, Mindy served as a Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Justice Catherine Stone of the Court of Appeals of the Fourth District of Texas, 2003-2004.ExperienceRepresented clients in the energy industry, both local and international, on issues involving eminent domain, contract disputes, partnership disputes, and personal injury defenseRepresented a Fortune 500 global company on a variety of insurance brokerage disputesRepresented clients on a variety of real estate and construction issuesRepresented clients on trust fiduciary disputes and employment related disputesAffiliationsSMU Dedman School of Law’s Emerging Leader Board, member, 2017-2026Board of Directors of the St. Paul’s Methodist Foundation of Houston, 2022-2027Texas Bar FoundationHouston Bar FoundationState Bar of Texas – Construction Law, Litigation, and Immigration and NationalityHouston Bar Association – The Houston Lawyer, editorial board member/associate editor, 2005-2007The Barristers, SMU Dedman School of Law, memberPhi Delta Phi, memberCommunity & CivicSt. Paul’s United Methodist Church, memberActive volunteer with Catholic Charities St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal AssistanceHonors & AwardsBest Lawyers in America – Litigation-Construction, BL Rankings, 2024-2025Texas Super Lawyers – General Litigation, Thomson Reuters, 2023-2024Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2016-2020Publications & PresentationsJudicial Spotlight: An Interview with Chief Justice Alma L. Lopez, co-author, The Appellate Advocate, 2005Using Immigration as a Protectionist Mechanism While Promoting Free Trade, 8 L. & BUS. REV. AM. 667, 2002 Mindy Riseden focuses her practice on commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on the trial level.Mindy has spent more than 18 years avidly representing clients in the courtroom. Her practice is focused on commercial litigation, with emphasis on the trial level. She has provided counsel to individuals, local businesses, national corporations, and multinational organizations in disputes involving construction litigation, partnerships, insurance brokerage, real estate, and contracts. Regardless of the nature of the dispute, Mindy enjoys working with people, and she finds that during the litigation process the best method to help the client reach their goals consists of working diligently and persistently while also maintaining flexibility as issues and disputes are always evolving.Mindy believes balance is important to any activity. Prior to graduating law school, Mindy studied and lived abroad in Mexico, Spain, Chile, and Hong Kong. While in law school, Mindy served as a Senior Articles Editor for the SMU Dedman School of Law’s Computer Law Review & Technology Journal. She was also elected as a Barrister and received the Southern Methodist University’s McGuire Fellowship Award for Ethics & Public Responsibility (2001). Mindy is conversational in Spanish and enjoys meeting and working with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. When not consumed with areas of commercial litigation, Mindy enjoys working with pro bono clients, especially children needing a voice and guidance through the legal system.In addition to interning for Federal and State judges, Mindy served as a Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Justice Catherine Stone of the Court of Appeals of the Fourth District of Texas, 2003-2004.ExperienceRepresented clients in the energy industry, both local and international, on issues involving eminent domain, contract disputes, partnership disputes, and personal injury defenseRepresented a Fortune 500 global company on a variety of insurance brokerage disputesRepresented clients on a variety of real estate and construction issuesRepresented clients on trust fiduciary disputes and employment related disputesAffiliationsSMU Dedman School of Law’s Emerging Leader Board, member, 2017-2026Board of Directors of the St. Paul’s Methodist Foundation of Houston, 2022-2027Texas Bar FoundationHouston Bar FoundationState Bar of Texas – Construction Law, Litigation, and Immigration and NationalityHouston Bar Association – The Houston Lawyer, editorial board member/associate editor, 2005-2007The Barristers, SMU Dedman School of Law, memberPhi Delta Phi, memberCommunity & CivicSt. Paul’s United Methodist Church, memberActive volunteer with Catholic Charities St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal AssistanceHonors & AwardsBest Lawyers in America – Litigation-Construction, BL Rankings, 2024-2025Texas Super Lawyers – General Litigation, Thomson Reuters, 2023-2024Lawyers in Houston, H Texas Magazine, 2016-2020Publications & PresentationsJudicial Spotlight: An Interview with Chief Justice Alma L. Lopez, co-author, The Appellate Advocate, 2005Using Immigration as a Protectionist Mechanism While Promoting Free Trade, 8 L. & BUS. REV. AM. 667, 2002 Mindy Riseden focuses her practice on commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on the trial level. Mindy has spent more than 18 years avidly representing clients in the courtroom. Her practice is focused on commercial litigation, with emphasis on the trial level. She has provided counsel to individuals, local businesses, national corporations, and multinational organizations in disputes involving construction litigation, partnerships, insurance brokerage, real estate, and contracts. Regardless of the nature of the dispute, Mindy enjoys working with people, and she finds that during the litigation process the best method to help the client reach their goals consists of working diligently and persistently while also maintaining flexibility as issues and disputes are always evolving. Mindy believes balance is important to any activity. Prior to graduating law school, Mindy studied and lived abroad in Mexico, Spain, Chile, and Hong Kong. When not consumed with areas of commercial litigation, Mindy enjoys working with pro bono clients, especially children needing a voice and guidance through the legal system. In addition to interning for Federal and State judges, Mindy served as a Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Justice Catherine Stone of the Court of Appeals of the Fourth District of Texas, 2003-2004. Community & Civic
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024
Samantha Garcia
Our company faced a high-stakes, multi-party construction defect lawsuit that threatened significant financial exposure. We engaged Mindy Riseden at Crain Caton & James based on her specific recognition in construction litigation. Her 22 years of experience, particularly her 18+ years of active trial work, were immediately evident. Mindy masterfully dissected the complex contractual and technical issues, developed a compelling narrative for the court, and guided us through every phase with clear, strategic counsel. Her deep knowledge of Houston's commercial landscape and her tenacity at the trial level were instrumental in achieving a settlement that protected our interests completely. She is the precise blend of sharp legal mind and practical business advisor you need in a crisis.