Bell Nunnally Adds Four Litigation Associates

Bell Nunnally has added four associates: Arun S. Avva; Keith B. French, Jr.; Troy (T.J.) Hales; and Sydnie A. Shimkus.

“Our ability to recruit lateral associates with outstanding credentials continues to strengthen our litigation practice. These accomplished attorneys are a testament to that,” said Christopher B. Trowbridge, Chairman of the Litigation Section.

Avva is a member of Bell Nunnally’s Litigation practice, focusing on commercial litigation. He assists individual and corporate clients – representing them before state and federal courts and government agencies – in contractual, trade secret, antitrust and other disputes and helps them achieve the best possible outcome given their business and legal objectives. Avva also has experience representing and counseling state and territorial governments in federal litigation and high stakes matters – including serving as part of a trial team that prevailed before a special master on behalf of the State of Georgia in a multibillion U.S. Supreme Court original action regarding the apportionment of water rights between Georgia and Florida. His understanding of the nuance and language of government entities and associated regulators helps position Avva as a unique resource for clients, blending courtroom experience with public messaging prowess. Avva is a graduate of Harvard Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2015), where he served as Senior Policy Editor & Article Editor for the Harvard Law and Policy Review, and Georgetown University (B.S., magna cum laude, 2012).

French joins Bell Nunnally’s Litigation practice with experience gained as a former Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Mississippi. He is fluent in all aspects of trial management – from inception through resolution and appeals and has handled cases in both state and federal courts. French has successfully defended civil matters involving a wide variety of issues brought against the U.S. government and its agencies, and he also has criminal trial experience. His previous experience includes a clerkship with Judge Carlton Reeves in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi. French is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 2013) and Tougaloo College (B.A., summa cum laude, 2010). He is admitted to practice in Texas (eligible for waiver), Georgia and Mississippi.

Hales is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Labor, Employment and Benefits practices. He advises and represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law, including matters involving discrimination and harassment, as well as compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2016) and Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business (B.B.A., with distinction, 2013).

Shimkus is a member of Bell Nunnally’s Litigation and Labor, Employment and Benefits practices, where she regularly works with clients in both a consultative capacity and as part of their trial teams. She tackles matters such as compliance with state and federal regulations and resolution of employee disputes. Active in the community, Shimkus is currently a member of the Leadership Class of Dallas Association of Young Lawyers’ (DAYL) and co-chair of the organization’s “Aid to the Homeless Committee.” She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2016) and Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School (B.A., cum laude, 2013). While in law school, Shimkus served as Case Note & Comment Editor, as well as the Staff Editor for the International Law Review.


Media Contact:
Brittany Lewis
Marketing Manager
214-880-6661
blewis@bellnunnally.com