Stephen Bell

Stephen practices in the Wilmington office of Cranfill Sumner, where he handles a broad array of civil and criminal litigation matters. Stephen joined Cranfill Sumner in February 2020 following a family move from Charleston, SC.

Stephen has a wide-ranging practice focused on representing parties in complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies. His work includes commercial litigation, class actions and multi-district litigation, securities litigation and arbitration, government whistleblower actions and representation of qui tam relators, defense of white collar offenses and government investigations, subrogation litigation, real property disputes, high-net-worth estate litigation, premises and product liability litigation, and professional liability litigation. Additionally, Stephen represents and advises litigants, stakeholders, and whistleblowers in the emerging blockchain and cryptocurrency industries. Stephen also acts as outside counsel to a number of businesses in the Carolinas, guiding his clients through regulatory issues, risk-mitigation endeavors, and transactional matters. Stephen has a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating and is both a North Carolina and South Carolina Super Lawyers’ Rising Star, a distinction reserved for 2.5% of attorneys in each state.

Stephen is admitted to the state and federal bars of North Carolina and South Carolina as well as the U.S. District Court and Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Stephen attended the Wake Forest University School of Law, where he served as Articles Editor of the Journal of Law & Policy, a research assistant, and an extern for a North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge. Stephen received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University.

When not in the office, Stephen enjoys spending time on the water with his family.