With a rare combination of substantial experience at both the trial and appellate levels, Alex Bell helps design- and construction-industry clients navigate complex and high-exposure matters from the earliest phase of a dispute through discovery, trial, judgment, and appeal.
Alex represents clients across design, construction, architecture, engineering, and real estate in breach of contract claims, professional negligence and premise liability suits, and other complex business disputes that require business acumen and exceptional legal skill to resolve.
Trial Practice
Whatever the matter, Alex draws on his years of experience as a litigator to defend his clients’ interests and resolve matters quickly outside of court. But his pretrial strategy and winning track record demonstrate to opponents that Alex is always prepared to go to trial — and to win. Known for his meticulous preparation and vigorous advocacy, Alex delivers favorable outcomes at trial that clear away obstacles and get his clients back to business.
Appellate Practice
Most attorneys practicing at the appellate level focus solely on that work, but Alex is different. With a dual focus on trial and appellate matters — and significant experience with both — Alex is well positioned to help clients navigate the early stages of a matter with potential future scenarios in mind. His clients avoid small missteps in the present that later could become major liabilities, and he knows how to defend a case and challenge an adverse verdict. Clients don’t have to call in an appellate specialist because they have had Alex on their matter from the beginning, where he delivers value at every stage.
A University Scholars graduate of the Baylor University Honors College, Alex earned his law degree from Baylor University School of Law, where he was on the Dean’s List, won multiple moot court and mock trial competitions in Baylor’s top-ranked trial advocacy program, and served as Executive Vice President of the Student Bar Association.
Alex is very active in the legal community, having been twice appointed by the State Bar President to serve a three-year term on the State Bar Committee on Administration of the Rules of Evidence. Alex is also a former two-term director on the board of the Texas Young Lawyers’ Association. He has also presented on construction law topics in various forums.
Outside of the office, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife Kim, and children, Laura, Charlie, and Jamie. He also volunteers his time with several local non-profits, chairs the Public Safety Committee for the City of University Park, and tries to find time for the occasional round of golf.
Alex is admitted to practice in all Texas state courts as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas and the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is also admitted to practice in Arizona.
Representative Experience
Appeals:
• Wilkie, Bounds, et al. v. LTRA; No. 05-23-00562-CV (Tex. App.—Dallas 2023): Reversed trial court’s denial of Chapter 150 motion to dismiss for lack of a certificate of merit against design professional client
• In re Christianson Air Conditioning; No 20-0384 (Texas Supreme Court): Presented oral argument in the Texas Supreme Court and successfully challenged overly broad jurisdictional discovery requests for design client who specially appeared and challenged jurisdiction
• Hassell Construction Co, Inc. v. Springwoods Realty Company et al.; Cause No. 01-17-00822-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2023): Presented oral argument and defended engineering firm’s dismissal form suit by general contractor related to municipal improvements
• Brent Hockins v. US Certified Contractors, Inc.; Cause No. 02-17-00180-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2017): Defended dismissal of personal injury claims against contractor performing roof repairs on a medical building
Litigation and Trials:
• Complete defense verdict on breach of contract matter after jury trial for professional services firm in Nueces County, Texas
• Complete defense verdict after trial defending a general contractor from a cost-overrun claim by a subcontractor including recovery of attorney’s fees
• Numerous dismissals of claims against design professionals that were not supported by a certificate of merit
• Complete defense verdict after jury trial on personal injury subrogation claim against restaurant franchise operator
• Obtained summary judgment in slip-and-fall case against national restaurant operator
• Complete defense verdict after jury trial on a motor vehicle accident case where drivers gave opposing stories; plaintiff had back fusion surgery and attorneys asked the jury for nearly $1 million in damages
• Complete defense verdict on jury trial of breach of contract claim against entertainment venue. Jury also found in favor of client on a counterclaim, awarding all damages requested and attorney’s fees
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of a contractor accused of negligently repairing a commercial facilities roof; the judgment was affirmed on appeal
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of individuals sued for negligence in operating their motor vehicles
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of product distributor in product defect case in state court
Publications & Presentations
• Construction Damages, Dallas Bar Association Construction Section May 2023
• Recent Changes to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, TADC Winter Meeting 2022
• Rise of the Machines: Texas Products Liability, Texas Law Update April 2019
• Personal Injury Damages, Texas Law Update April 2018
• Advancing Your Case Through Motion Practice, Texas Law Update April 2017
• Got the Winter Claims Blues? Texas Claims and Slip and Falls, TYLA E-News February 2017
• Sexual Assault Survivors Guide, Contributor, TYLA Signature Project 2017
• Texas Supreme Court Update, TADC Summer Conference 2016 (Co-authored with Doug Fletcher)
• The Importance of Responding Rapidly, Presentation, Texas Law Update 2016
• Liens: Do I Really Need to Pay This? Again? Co-author with Paul W. Bennett, Texas Law Update April 2016
• Texas Evidence Flashcards, Co-author TYLA project 2016
• And Justice for All: Preventing Wrongful Convictions Through Education,
Co-author TYLA
• Social Media in Claims and Litigation, Texas Law Update April 2015
• TYLA Criminal Law Toolkit, Co-author
• TYLA Social Media 101, Contributor
• Ten-Minute Mentor Film Segments on topics including 5th Amendment Self-incrimination Protection, Defending Your Experts from Daubert Challenges, Effective Closing Argument, Ethics and Professionalism, Three-Point Checklist for Admitting Evidence, and Tips for Practice in McLennan County