Texas Super Lawyers 2016 Features Ten Bell Nunnally Partners

Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP is pleased to announce that partners Jeffrey J. Ansley, Mikel J. Bowers, Thomas L. Case, W. Bennett Cullum, Daniel P. Elms, Jeffrey S. Lowenstein, James A. Skochdopole, Christopher B. Trowbridge, Jay M. Wallace and Tammy S. Wood have been selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers 2016 by Thomson Reuters, to be published in the October issue of Texas Monthly.

Super Lawyers recognizes lawyers from more than 70 diverse practice areas across the state who have “attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.” Only five percent of attorneys in the state are selected for inclusion on this list, which is compiled through the publication’s patented, multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

Partners

Ansley leads Bell Nunnally’s White Collar and Regulatory Defense practice. A former federal criminal prosecutor and enforcement attorney, he focuses on white collar criminal and regulatory defense representing corporate and individual clients in high-stakes investigations and litigation involving allegations of health care fraud, securities fraud, and other complex criminal and regulatory charges. Ansley regularly appears before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and other federal and state agencies. Ansley also conducts internal investigations and reviews. He received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law (1994) and his B.A. from Texas A&M University (1991). This is the seventh consecutive year Ansley has been included on the Texas Super Lawyers list.

Bowers is an experienced trial lawyer whose practice encompasses a wide range of commercial litigation matters, with emphasis on construction- and oil and gas-related disputes. His clients include homeowners associations, residential and commercial contractors, health care companies, oil and gas exploration companies and mid-size-to-large business organizations. Bowers received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law (1987) and his B.J. from the University of Texas at Austin (1983). This is the seventh consecutive year he has been named to the Texas Super Lawyers list.

Case focuses on labor and employment litigation, as well as appellate and public law. He has extensive jury trial experience in state and federal courts and represents mid-sized businesses, Fortune 500 corporations and public entities in a wide range of labor and employment disputes, including claims involving non-compete agreements, trade secrets, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Case received both his J.D. (1972) and his B.A. (1969) from Vanderbilt University. 2016 marks the twelfth straight year he has appeared on the Texas Super Lawyers list.

Cullum is focused on estate planning, probate and real estate, with support for civil litigation related to these matters. With more than 40 years of experience, Cullum routinely handles wills, trust agreements, family limited partnership agreements and other estate planning documents, as well as the probate of wills and administration of estates. He also assists clients in real estate transactions and provides substantive law support in civil litigation arising from the administration of estates and trusts and real estate transactions. He earned his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin (1974) and his B.A. from Stanford University (1971). This is Cullum’s fourth consecutive selection to the Texas Super Lawyers list.

Elms is an experienced business litigator, representing domestic and international clients across numerous industries. He handles a wide array of matters, including earnout and projected earnings disputes, securities litigation (including broker-dealer disputes), financial services and hedge fund litigation, shareholder disputes, intellectual property disputes and contractual indemnification claims. Elms co-edits the ABA’s Business Torts and Unfair Competition Journal and is a team editor to the ABA’s Litigation News. He received his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law (1997) and his B.A. from Texas Tech University (1991).This is Elms’ sixth year on the Texas Super Lawyers list.

Lowenstein is chair of the firm’s Litigation section and represents businesses and individuals in a variety of complex commercial matters and business disputes. He has substantial experience representing developers, investors, management and owners in claims involving real property, including construction defects and leasing, contract and partnership disputes. Lowenstein also handles lawsuits involving intellectual property claims, including patent, copyright and trademark infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets and related claims. He earned his J.D. (1998) and his B.A. (1995) from the University of California, Los Angeles. This is his fourth appearance on the Texas Super Lawyers list, following six previous selections to Super Lawyers’ sister listing Texas Rising Stars.

Skochdopole, managing partner, is active in the firm’s mergers and acquisitions, corporate and tax practices. He is well-versed in structuring, negotiating and closing a wide variety of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, financings and start-ups. Skochdopole has negotiated and drafted a multitude of commercial arrangements, including partnership and LLC agreements; service, supply, vendor and customer contracts; employment-related agreements; and compensation plans. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School (1986) and his B.A. from Lawrence University (1983). Skochdopole has been named to the Texas Super Lawyers list 12 times.

Trowbridge is a commercial litigator with a particular emphasis on complex business and intellectual property disputes. In the past few years alone, he has represented his clients in multi-million dollar disputes in state, federal and appellate courts and arbitrations in California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina and cities across Texas. Trowbridge’s litigation docket routinely includes business torts including theft of trade secrets; trademark, trade dress and patent infringement; non-compete matters; private equity, investment and securities litigation; the pursuit of injunctive relief; FINRA and AAA arbitrations; and state and federal appeals. He routinely tries cases before judges, juries and arbitration panels across the country. In addition to litigation, Trowbridge also provides clients – which range from high-net-worth individuals to Fortune 500 companies - with pre-litigation counseling and assistance with complex contract negotiations. He earned both his J.D. (1998) and his B.B.A. (1995) from Baylor University. Named to the Texas Rising Stars list six times previously, this is Trowbridge’s fourth selection to the Texas Super Lawyers list.

Wallace represents companies in all phases of state and federal employment law. He handles claims involving sexual harassment; discrimination based on race, sex, disability, age and national origin; claims involving the Family Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, ERISA, the Equal Pay Act and the American with Disabilities Act; and litigation involving non-compete agreements and the misappropriation of trade secrets. Wallace received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law (1988) and his B.A. from Washington and Lee University (1985). This is his third selection to the Texas Super Lawyers list.

Wood concentrates on civil, commercial and labor and employment litigation and also represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in probate court litigation. She handles commercial trials, arbitrations and appeals, representing corporate entities, individuals and governmental entities in cases involving various industries and businesses, including telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, insurance, health care, food products, oil and gas, advertising, retail sales, construction, franchising, real estate, debt servicing and high technology. Wood received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law (1993) and her B.S. from Texas Woman’s University (1990). This is her fourth selection to the Texas Super Lawyers list, following four previous inclusions on the Texas Rising Stars list.



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