2014 "Texas Rising Stars" List Features Thirteen Bell Nunnally Attorneys

DALLAS, TX March 12, 2014 (Press-News.org) Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP attorneys R. Heath Cheek, Wendy A. Duprey, John R.W. Fugitt, Stephanie K. Gause, Karen L. Hart, Kristopher D. Hill, Chelsea L. Hilliard, Mary U. Irozuru, Heather H. Jobe, Siobhán F. Kratovil, Benjamin L. Riemer, Gwen I. Walraven and Ross A. Williams have been named to the 2014 "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. This number represents a nearly 40 percent increase in number of attorneys selected year-over-year and a more than 100 percent increase since 2012.

"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. According to Super Lawyers, 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.

Cheek is a member of the firm's Litigation 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).

Duprey is senior counsel and a member of the firm's Broker/Dealer and Securities; Labor, Employment and Benefits; and Litigation practices. She focuses on litigation, including commercial, construction, securities litigation and employment law. Duprey is a graduate of Washington University School of Law (J.D., 2005) and Knox College (B.A., 1998). This is her fifth 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).

Gause is a partner and member of the Commercial Finance; Corporate and Securities; Mergers and Acquisitions; and Real Estate practices. She represents clients in a variety of real estate and corporate matters, including commercial lending transactions, stock dispositions and asset sales, commercial and retail leasing matters and structured finance 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 second consecutive selection to the "Texas Rising Stars" list.

Hart is a partner and a member of the firm's International; Litigation; and Real Estate practice areas. She is an experienced litigator and counsels clients with respect to contractual business disputes, complex commercial real estate and landlord-tenant matters, lien and bond issues, foreclosure suits, lien priority disputes and business tort claims. She also advises clients on international litigation and arbitration matters and related cross-border transactions. Hart is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2001) and the University of Texas, El Paso (B.A., 1997). This is her sixth 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. His litigation experience includes a variety of complex commercial matters and disputes, including breach of fiduciary duty claims, trade secrets litigation, business divorce disputes, construction defect cases and similar high-stakes litigation matters. Hill is a graduate of Baylor Law School (J.D., 2008) and Texas Tech University (B.B.A., 2005).

Hilliard is an associate and a member of the firm's Litigation practice. She focuses on representing businesses in disputes involving claims such as breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference and intellectual property claims. Hilliard earned both her undergraduate and legal degree at Southern Methodist University (B.A., 2007; J.D., 2010).

Irozuru is an associate and a member of the firm's Commercial Finance; Corporate and Securities; Mergers and Acquisitions; and Real Estate practices. She focuses her practice on the representation of clients in a broad range of transactional, business contract and entity governance matters, including private offerings of equity securities, mergers and acquisitions, financing and entity formation and restructuring of business entities. Irozuru is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law (J.D., 2011) and New York University (B.A., 2005).

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 third consecutive selection to the "Texas Rising Stars" list.

Kratovil is corporate counsel and a member of the firm's Corporate and Securities and Mergers and Acquisitions practices. She represents public and private companies in merger and acquisition transactions, including asset sales, stock sales and mergers. Kratovil is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law (J.D., 2000) and St. Mary's University (B.A., 1997). This is her second selection to the "Texas Rising Stars" list.

Riemer is an associate and a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation; Construction Litigation; Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring; and Creditors' Rights 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).

Walraven is a partner and a member of the firm's Intellectual Property; Creditors' Rights; and Litigation practices. She has extensive experience with respect to commercial litigation, particularly representation of businesses and individuals in disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference and intellectual property claims. Walraven is a graduate of Baylor Law School (J.D., 2004) and Stephens College (B.S., 1996). This is her third 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).

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. 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 http://www.bellnunnally.com.