Richard L. Schnake

Richard L. Schnake is a partner whose practice emphasizes appellate advocacy in Missouri and federal courts. He has handled more than 225 appellate cases across approximately 90 substantive areas and has argued 15 matters before the Missouri Supreme Court. Attorneys outside his firm regularly refer appellate matters to him because of his depth of experience.

Richard earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History, cum laude, from Southwest Missouri State University in 1979. He received his Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis in 1982, where he served as Executive Editor of the Washington University Law Quarterly, earned the Scribes Award for outstanding legal writing, and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Following law school, Richard served as a law clerk to Judge Warren D. Welliver of the Missouri Supreme Court before joining private practice in 1983. He became a partner in 1988. In addition to appellate work, his practice includes intellectual property matters such as trademarks and copyrights, as well as commercial litigation involving banking, financing transactions, real estate, personal injury, and products liability.

Richard has handled hundreds of trademark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and has litigated trademark and copyright infringement matters. He is also the author of Civil Rules Practice, Rules 85–88, Missouri’s leading authority on several Missouri court rules, and has written extensively on appellate practice for legal publications and continuing education programs.

Richard L. Schnake is admitted to practice in Missouri, multiple federal courts, and the United States Supreme Court. He has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, and national Super Lawyers publications. He is widely respected for his appellate insight, legal scholarship, and commitment to high-level advocacy.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Neale & Newman, L.L.P.
• Member, American Bar Association, Council of Appellate Lawyers
• Member, The Missouri Bar, Civil Practice & Procedure Committee, Legislative Review Subcommittee
• Secretary, Director, Chair, Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association (1992) (1993 – 1995) (1989 – 1991, 2002)

Licensed State

• Missouri

Education

• Washington University School of Law, St. Louis
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Southwest Missouri State University
  BA in History, Cum Laude

Awards & Badges