LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD
Shortly following the assemblage of this annual report, Partner Ray Balestri unexpectedly passed. We grieve the loss of Ray, a tremendous husband and father, friend, mentor and member of our corporate team. Ray was instrumental in many of the accomplishments featured herein. We will be celebrating and honoring Ray’s life throughout 2025. His joie de vivre, intellect and warmth will be forever intwined in Bell Nunnally’s heritage, an indelible part of our DNA. 2024 was a busy year for Bell Nunnally. Propelled by our clients’ vision for the future, we were pleased to play an integral part in their success. As you will see highlighted in this report, Bell Nunnally thrives across practice disciplines, including representing WellWorx Energy Solutions in its sale to Liberty Lift Solutions, bolstering energy production capabilities in the Permian Basin, and aiding French company Viridien in its complex negotiation of a new long-term lease of more than 250,000 square feet of commercial office space and data center facilities for its North American headquarters in Houston. Proving we know how to move the ball toward the goal for clients, Bell Nunnally has been extensively involved in helping USL League One expansion soccer team Texoma FC get on the pitch. This notable engagement has seen our team working to secure funding from (American) football royalty the Gronkowski family and obtaining a complex work visa for England footballer (soccer) player and coach Adrian Forbes. Bell Nunnally also etched its name in the record books in 2024 as the first firm to file a matter in the newly minted Texas Business Courts, illustrating our commitment to putting clients first and proactively pursuing innovative and efficient solutions. Bell Nunnally’s ethos of doing the right thing in a responsive manner and our aim to be Behind Every Great Company TM led to a firm-record 23 Bell Nunnally attorneys listed in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and 12 of our partners recognized on the Texas Super Lawyers list. Our next-generation leadership cohort was also honored, with 13 of our attorneys named to the “Texas Rising Stars” list. Attorneys featured across these rankings spanned our multidisciplinary and complementary practice offerings. In 2024, Benchmark Litigation named Bell Nunnally as “Recommended” in Texas, and eight of our partners were honored as either “Litigation Stars” or “Labor and Employment Stars.” Chambers and Partners acknowledged our Labor & Employment and Commercial Litigation practices in its 2024 Chambers USA guide, with five individual partners ranked. A busy 2024 necessitated and dovetailed with our longstanding smart growth strategy, working to attract legal talent – at all levels – that buys into Bell Nunnally’s collegial, client-first culture.
We had some terrific senior talent that joined Bell Nunnally in 2024, including additions from Am Law firms and from broker-dealer regulatory agency FINRA: • John Franklin Guild , who joined us as a partner in October, brings invaluable experience from his tenure as Senior Counsel in FINRA’s Department of Enforcement, further strengthening our litigation and regulatory defense capabilities. • Jonathan Farrokhnia , who joined us as a partner in September, has an extensive background in mergers and acquisitions, enriching our corporate practice, particularly for clients involved in complex transactional matters. • Spencer C. Diebel , who joined us as a partner in June, brings his experience in real estate law to the firm, augmenting our abilities to navigate intricate real estate transactions and disputes. • David Arvesen , who came on board as Senior Counsel in October, focuses on intellectual property law with a savvy that bolsters our IP practice, providing clients with robust patent prosecution, IP protection and strategic guidance across many disciplines including corporate and real estate. These senior attorneys were joined by nine new Bell Nunnally associates, all in our litigation department – one of the largest and most decorated in Texas. Bell Nunnally prides itself on being a firm family, a workplace that cares about and for one another. One example of this commitment is our longstanding Women’s Initiative focused on fostering firmwide work/life balance, providing working mother support and offering mentoring and networking opportunities. Bell Nunnally acknowledges and supports the many dimensions of our employees, offering resources and support for life’s challenges. Bell Nunnally also continued its long-standing partnership with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) at Austin Street Center, providing pro bono legal services to some of Dallas’ most vulnerable residents. Our attorneys helped address critical needs, from housing and family law issues to securing basic rights. This work reflects our belief that access to justice is fundamental and giving back is essential. As we reflect on a year of extraordinary accomplishments, we look forward to building on this momentum. Whether providing strategic counsel, navigating complex litigation or driving critical transactions, Bell Nunnally is committed to serving our clients, our communities and our professionals. Here’s to a great 2025!
CHRISTOPHER B. TROWBRIDGE Managing Partner
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