Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP attorneys Alana K. Ackels, R. Heath Cheek, Wendy A. Duprey, John R.W. Fugitt, Stephanie K. Gause, Kristopher D. Hill, Heather H. Jobe, Gregory D. Kelminson, Daniel A. Murray, Benjamin L. Riemer and Ross A. Williams have been named to the 2015 “Texas Rising Stars” list published by Super Lawyers – a Thomson Reuters publication and rating service – and set to be featured in the April issue of Texas Monthly.
“Texas Rising Stars” recognizes lawyers across more than 70 practice areas who are 40 years or younger or in the first 10 years of their practice. Inclusion is based on a highly selective process comprised of detailed and comprehensive peer nominations, evaluation and research – yielding only those who have both a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Ultimately, no more than 2.5 percent of eligible lawyers in the state are named to the “Texas Rising Stars” list.
Ackels is a member of the firm’s Litigation; Labor, Employment and Benefits; and Creditors’ Rights practices. She represents clients across the country in complex commercial disputes; employment claims involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; wage and hour claims; trade secret litigation and non-compete matters. She has extensive experience litigating disputes in state court, federal court and arbitration. Ackels also advises employers large and small on how to navigate the multitude of state and federal laws governing the employer – employee relationship. Ackels earned both her undergraduate and legal degree at Southern Methodist University (B.A., 2006; J.D., 2009). She is licensed in Texas and California.
Cheek is partner and member of the firm’s Litigation; Labor, Employment and Benefits; Creditors’ Rights and Intellectual Property practices. His practice focuses on trials and disputes, representing clients from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and high-net-worth individuals in industries including energy, financial services, private equity and real estate in various litigation matters. Cheek is a graduate of Baylor Law School (J.D., 2006) and Texas Tech University (B.A., 2003). This is his second consecutive selection to the “Texas Rising Stars List.”
Duprey is senior counsel and a member of the firm’s Litigation; Broker/Dealer and Securities; and Intellectual Property practices. She focuses on litigation in state and federal courts and FINRA arbitration proceedings, including complex commercial litigation, trade secrets litigations, creditors’ rights, securities litigation and Form U4 and U5 expungement proceedings. Duprey is a graduate of Washington University School of Law (J.D., 2005) and Knox College (B.A., 1998). This is her sixth consecutive selection to the “Texas Rising Stars” list.
Fugitt is partner and a member of the firm’s Commercial Finance; Corporate and Securities; Intellectual Property and Litigation practices. He focuses on civil litigation in state and federal courts, particularly complex contractual disputes, real property litigation and business torts. Fugitt is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2002) and Texas A&M University (B.A., 1998). This is his second consecutive selection to the “Texas Rising Stars List.”
Gause is a partner and member of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Real Estate practices. She represents clients in a variety of real estate and corporate transactions, including the acquisition and sale of property, office and retail leasing, real estate development and construction matters, stock dispositions and asset sales and lending transactions. Gause is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2006) and the University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., 2003). This is her third consecutive selection to the “Texas Rising Stars” list.
Hill is an associate and a member of the firm’s Labor, Employment and Benefits; and Litigation practices. He focuses his practice on complex business disputes and trials involving business torts, contract disputes, business-divorce disputes and similar high-stakes commercial litigation matters. Hill is a graduate of Baylor Law School (J.D., 2008) and Texas Tech University (B.B.A., 2005). This is his second consecutive selection to the “Texas Rising Stars List.”
Jobe is a partner and a member of the firm’s Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring; Creditors’ Rights; and Litigation practices. She is focused on bankruptcy- and business-related litigation, with a concentration on valuation issues. Jobe is a graduate of Texas Tech School of Law (J.D., 2004) and Texas State University (B.B.A., 2000). This is her fourth consecutive selection to the “Texas Rising Stars” list.
Kelminson is a member of the firm’s White Collar Criminal and Regulatory Defense; Health Law; and Litigation practices. He represents clients in complex criminal and regulatory investigations and charged proceedings and has experience handling federal and state administrative actions instituted by securities and health care regulators. He is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 2009) and the University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., 2005).
Murray is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice. He focuses his practice on all areas of intellectual property law, assisting clients across a diverse range of industries including telecom/smartphone, medical devices, construction hardware, sporting goods and software technologies. Murray is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., 2007) and Southern Methodist University (B.S., B.A., 2003; M.S. 2009).
Riemer is an associate and a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation; Construction Litigation; White Collar Criminal and Regulatory Defense; Intellectual Property; Broker/Dealer and Securities; Entertainment, Media and Sports; Financial Services; Energy and Natural Resources; and Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring practices. He focuses his practice on representing clients in all areas of complex commercial litigation, including high-stakes business disputes in state, federal and appellate courts throughout the country. Riemer is a graduate of Albany Law School (J.D., 2008) and Syracuse University (B.A., 2002).This is his second consecutive selection to the “Texas Rising Stars List.”
Williams is an associate and a member of the firm’s Litigation; Creditors’ Rights, and Appellate practices. He has experience in complex matters involving contract disputes, business torts and IP litigation. He also represents creditors on promissory notes, guarantees, unpaid accounts and the foreclosure of secured properties. He is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2008) and Tulane University (B.A., 2005). This is his second consecutive selection to the “Texas Rising Stars List.”
About Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP
With more than 50 attorneys and three decades of doing business, Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP is among the most respected business law firms in Texas, one of the 25 largest in North Texas and one of the state’s fastest-growing firms. The depth of the firm’s knowledge and breadth of its expertise sets Bell Nunnally apart. The firm provides a full range of services, including litigation, appellate law, commercial finance, corporate and securities, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, health law, intellectual property, labor and employment, immigration, real estate, entertainment, mergers and acquisitions, estate planning, tax and white collar criminal defense. Bell Nunnally is regularly singled out as a “Go-To” firm by America’s largest companies each year in Corporate Counsel magazine. For more information, please visit www.bellnunnally.com.
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