Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP

Managing Partner

A leader inside and outside the courthouse, as a litigator and as Bell Nunnally’s managing partner, Chris has an unrivaled ability to calmly and effectively advocate for his clients, his firm and for those in need in the community. His courtroom prowess is matched only by his deep empathy and uncanny ability to motivate those around him. In the courtroom and in arbitrations, not just in Texas but throughout the U.S., clients trust Chris to tell their story and make their case — and he consistently delivers. Chris, named to the “Texas Lawyer Hall of Fame Verdicts” list and well-known for vigorously protecting his clients’ interests in high-stakes legal matters, has extensive experience helping clients with complex business disputes.

Chris is the Managing Partner of Bell Nunnally.  Chris’ clients are global and range from high-net-worth individuals to Fortune 500 companies. Adept and at ease in courtrooms across the U.S., throughout the Southwest, and the United States Courts of Appeals, he has represented clients in multimillion-dollar disputes in state, federal and appellate courts and domestic and international arbitrations in Georgia, Florida, California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina and cities across Texas. Chris also maintains an international presence as Chairman of the Chambers-rated Legalink network, a global law firm organization with 65 independent law firm members around the world, ensuring clients have the legal resources they need around the globe.

Complex Litigation and Arbitration Maintaining an active practice, Chris’ litigation docket regularly includes highly technical and complex disputes including contract, fraud and business torts matters; energy and oil and gas disputes, injunctive relief, including covenants not to compete; intellectual property matters, including patent, copyright infringement and trade secret disputes; securities litigation and broker-dealer disputes, including cryptocurrency issues, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); American Arbitration Association (AAA), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) arbitrations; and appeals. Transactions and Negotiation Not limiting his advocacy to the courtroom, Chris routinely provides his clients with pre-litigation counseling and assistance with complex contract negotiations. He also works closely with the firm’s commercial finance, real estate, tax, bankruptcy and corporate attorneys to strategize with clients regarding investments and partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, financing arrangements, tax issues, foreclosures, workouts and development projects. A Recognized Leader Highly recognized in the business and legal community, Chris has received a number of accolades from organizations and publications for his work. His recognitions include being named on Thomson Reuters’ “Top 100” lists for Texas and Dallas Fort-Worth by Texas Super Lawyers, as well as being individually ranked in the Chambers USA legal directory for the “Litigation: General Commercial” category for Texas. Additionally, Chris has been named multiple times to D CEO Magazine’s “The Dallas 500” list, honoring the most powerful business leaders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. For several years, he has also been featured on Lawdragon’s list of “500 Leading Litigators in America,” and he has been recognized as “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation.

He has served as Bell Nunnally’s managing partner since 2019, all while maintaining his robust litigation practice. In his tenure as firm leader, Bell Nunnally has achieved consistent growth — both revenue and head count — while weathering unique operational and economic circumstances.

Deeply devoted to the success of the community, Chris contributes generously of his time and resources to support numerous business, arts and charitable organizations, serving in leadership roles to advance causes close to his heart.

Legalink Chairman, 2024 Vice Chairman, 2022-2023 Thanks-Giving Square Foundation Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2018–present Communities Foundation of Texas Advisory Council, 2016–present Texas Bar Foundation Fellow Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas Diamonds & Dunks Gala Event Chair, 2025 Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2014–2015 Board of Directors, 2006–2017 Vice Chairman Executive Committee, 2010–2013 Billiard Ball Chairman, 2012 Texas Hold ‘Em Chairman, 2009–2010 East Dallas Boys and Girls Club, Advisory Board, 2005–2009 President, 2006–2008 Dallas Regional Chamber Southern Dallas Task Force, 2016–2020 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network PurpleStride DFW Chairman, 2014 Dallas Museum of Art Junior Associates, 2004–2010 Advisory Committee, 2010 Co-Chairman, 2008–2009 Membership Committee Co-Chairman, 2005–2006 American Bar Association Member Dallas Bar Association Member Calyx Club of Dallas Member, 1998–2006

Education

JD, Baylor University School of Law, 1998 BBA, Economics and International Business, Baylor University, 1995

Admissions

Texas Supreme Court of the United States United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Third and Fifth Circuits United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin

Ranked in the Chambers USA legal directory for the “Litigation: General Commercial” category for Texas, 2024–2025 Named to “The Dallas 500” list ("The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth") by D CEO Magazine, 2020–2026 Named to The Legal 500’s inaugural “U.S. City Elite 2025” list, 2025 Selected by attorney peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2017–2026 Named to Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” list, 2023–2026 Named to Lawdragon’s “100 Managing Partners You Need to Know” list, 2025 Named to Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Global Litigators” list, 2025 Named one of the "Litigation Stars" in the Benchmark Litigation Guide, 2021–2026 Featured in Best Lawyers®’ Texas' Best Lawyers, 2020–2021 Midwestern Cattle Verdict named to the “Texas Lawyer Hall of Fame Verdicts” list Named one of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” by D Magazine, 2017 and 2019 Named as one of 25 Texas Lawyer's "Legal Leaders on the Rise" in the state of Texas; March 25, 2013 Selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers®, Thomson Reuters, 2013–2025 Selected by the Dallas Business Journal for inclusion on its annual “40 Under Forty” list, 2012 Named Texas Lawyer’s “Litigator of the Week,” June 13, 2011 Nominated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas and selected as one of the top 20 finalists in 2011 for “ONE MAN Dallas,” which honors a Dallas-Fort Worth area man who embodies the best of Dallas from the perspective of charitable and community involvement Recognized in “Top Texas Verdicts of 2009” in the category of Business Law Verdicts, as published by Verdict Search, a special publication of Texas Lawyer that cataloged the extraordinary accomplishments of lawyers measured by the amount of the jury verdict award Selected by attorney peers as a Texas Rising Star®, Texas Monthly, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013