McAfee & Taft, Oklahoma City’s largest law firm, has named Richard D. Craig, Shawn E. Harrell, Jeff L. Todd, and Jennifer Wheeler shareholders.
Richard Craig’s practice includes wealth transfer tax planning; corporate, individual and partnership taxation; tax and corporate aspects of business transactions; and the litigation of tax matters in both state and federal courts, including the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Claims Court, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Craig holds a master of laws degree in taxation from New York University School of Law, a Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and a bachelor’s degree from East Central University.
Craig began his law career with McAfee and Taft in 1985 and was actively involved in initiating and drafting the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act while with the firm. He rejoined McAfee & Taft as of counsel in 2004 after a seven-year absence. Most recently, he was a partner with Craig & Bauman, a Norman-based law firm.
In addition to being listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Craig is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the Limited Liability Company Subcommittee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He is a former chair of the Tax Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association and has been an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University law schools. He is also a member of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants, Norman Chamber of Commerce, Norman Community Foundation, and the Oklahoma and American Bar Associations.
Shawn Harrell is an experienced trial lawyer whose litigation and arbitration practice encompasses commercial, business, employment, tort, product liability and construction-related matters. He has represented individuals as well as local and national clients in disputes involving areas such as business torts, contract issues, employment matters, personal injury, construction, and product liability.
Harrell graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1992 and the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1995. He joined McAfee & Taft in 2001 and has been admitted to practice before all Oklahoma state courts, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Northern, and Eastern Districts of Oklahoma and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The Oklahoma City native is a member of the Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, and American Bar Associations, Defense Research Institute, Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, Oklahoma Bar Foundation, and Federal Bar Association.
Jeff Todd is a trial lawyer with extensive experience in state and federal litigation, as well as arbitrations and administrative proceedings. His practice includes business, real estate, oil and gas, healthcare, intellectual property, and tax litigation. In addition, he is actively involved in legal matters affecting the agricultural and equine industries.
Todd is a graduate of Northwestern Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Since joining McAfee & Taft in 1997, he has been admitted to practice before all Oklahoma state courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Northern Districts of Oklahoma, the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Tax Court. He is also a member of the Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, and American Bar Associations.
Jennifer Wheeler is a transactional attorney whose practice is concentrated in the corporate and securities area. Her practice includes public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate governance, and regulatory compliance matters, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Jennifer also has significant experience working with registered investment companies and investment advisors.
Wheeler received her undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa and her Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. In addition to being a member of the Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, and American Bar Associations, she serves on the associate board of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, is a member of Executive Women’s Forum, and is a graduate of Class XXI of Leadership Oklahoma City.