Dallas boutique Bell Nunnally was established with commercial litigation at its core. “They are definitely developing a reputation here on ‘Y’all Street,’ which is what we call our version of Wall Street in New York,” quips one Dallas contemporary. While it has a growing reputation in Texas, the firm has expanded beyond that area to serve as the regional coordinating council for Fortune 500 companies. A spike in international disputes has seen the firm working on cases in Tokyo, Sao Paulo, London, and Paris. The firm displays distinction in the commercial sphere but has also become a force in the litigation of white collar and labor and employment cases. Managing partner Chris Trowbridge is one of the firm’s leading commercial litigators whose active practice includes complex litigation, including contracts, fraud, and business torts. He represented Primerica Financial Services in litigation focused on protecting the company’s confidential information and enforcing the contractual covenants against several former sales representatives. The case reached a successful resolution. “Oh, Chris is great,” enthuses one peer, who testifies, “We exchange punches in court all the time, and I have nothing but respect [for him.]”
Heath Cheek has emerged as one of the firm’s most active and visible commercial litigators. Cheek defended Primoris, a construction company that builds utility transmission lines, who was accused of gross negligence by Caprock Electric, which owns several gas processing facilities in Texas. Caprock alleged that the defendant failed to properly construct a temporary utility structure and connections, which led to $15 million in damage to its plant. A trial was set for September 2024 but on cross-examination of the plaintiff’s sole liability expert, the parties entered into a settlement. “Heath is also doing a big commercial litigation matter in the oil-and-gas sector, acting for an oilfield services entity!”
