Christopher Trowbridge

Litgation

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 immediate past chair 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, 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

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2014-2015

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Board of Directors, 2006-2017

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Vice Chairman, Executive Committee, 2010-2013

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Billiard Ball Chairman, 2012

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Texas Hold 'Em Chairman, 2009-2010

East Dallas Boys and Girls Club, Advisory Board, 2005-2009

East Dallas Boys and Girls Club, 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

Dallas Museum of Art, Advisory Committee, 2010

Dallas Museum of Art, Co-Chairman, 2008-2009

Dallas Museum of Art, Membership Committee Co-Chairman, 2005-2006

American Bar Association, Member

Dallas Bar Association, Member

Calyx Club of Dallas, Member, 1998-2006

“Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth & Surrounds: An Introduction to Litigation: General Commercial,” Chambers and Partners, co-author; 2024.

“International E-Discovery: A Global Handbook of Law and Technology,” Legalink; July 2021

Obtained, after oral argument, the complete dismissal of a derivative and double-derivative lawsuit brought by a shareholder against a bank and a bank-holding company. Firm team filed special exceptions arguing under Delaware law that the derivative plaintiff shareholder failed to satisfy the demand futility rule.

Obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) in Texas state court on behalf of a publicly held financial services company and filed a tandem FINRA arbitration action against the company’s former representative prohibiting the retention or use of the client’s confidential information and solicitation by the former representative of several broad categories of its customers seeking to preserve more than $60 million in assets under management.

Presented oral argument before the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, Louisiana, obtaining the reversal of a final judgment on claims for money had and received, unjust enrichment and constructive trust in a Northern District of Texas federal court case involving novel claims for damages by a non-customer against a financial institution for the bank’s alleged failure to prevent a check kite committed by a customer of the bank.

Represented a national testing organization in a copyright infringement, Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), and computer fraud and abuse lawsuit brought to protect the integrity of a professional school admissions process from an individual suspected of stealing admissions test content. After a hearing in federal court in Houston, the firm team obtained a temporary restraining order and a civil seizure and impoundment order on behalf of the client.

Secured a $23.1 million jury verdict on behalf of a national cattle broker in a fraud matter involving a check-kiting scheme and fraudulent cattle transactions. The outcome received nationwide press coverage and was named to the "Texas Lawyer Hall of Fame Verdicts" list. It was also selected as a "Top Verdict" by The National Law Journal.

Lead counsel on a series of high-stakes patent infringement, contract, unfair competition and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) cases representing a virtual payment systems company seeking to protect its medical payment technology from a group of former associates.

Obtained a state court temporary restraining order against a former registered representative of a broker-dealer retail arm of an SEC-registered investment adviser that, together with its affiliates, manages approximately $20 billion of assets, thereby preventing the continued use of the company’s trade secrets and confidential information and defended the restraining order in the parallel FINRA proceeding.

Argued on behalf of a beneficiary of a trust containing oil and gas interests a post-trial motion for entry of judgment and obtained a judgment for nearly $7 million against a national bank, including attorneys’ fees of $467,374. The court entered judgment against the bank for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, gross negligence and negligence.

Represented the owners of a professional hockey team seeking an injunction in a federal court Lanham Act case involving claims of trademark and trade dress infringement of the hockey team's brand, marks and image.

Secured a temporary restraining order based on grounds of trademark and trade dress infringement on behalf of a restaurant chain against the former owner to prevent him from opening a competing restaurant concept.

Obtained a state court temporary restraining order and a federal court temporary injunction against a group of former partners and employees of a virtual payment systems company to prevent their use of the company's trade secrets and confidential information.

Secured a nearly $1.4 million judgment, including approximately $400,000 in attorneys’ fees, in the United States Bankruptcy Court against a real estate investment company. After a four-day adversary hearing, the Judge ruled in a 52-page opinion that the individual behind the company was personally liable as the alter ego of the company and that the entire debt was nondischargeable under the Bankruptcy Code. Texas Lawyer recognized Chris as “Litigator of the Week” for this victory.

Obtained a $4.4 million dollar judgment on behalf of the nation’s largest privately held bank against a former Major League Baseball player, collecting the judgment in full, including attorneys’ fees and post-judgment interest, within 30 days of obtaining the judgment.

Baylor University

BBA

1995

Baylor University School of Law

JD

1998