Steven M. Bell Principal

Mobile: (202) 421.5988

A pioneer of law firm Sales and Business Development, in 2001, Steve created one of the legal profession’s first sales functions at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice (now Womble Bond Dickinson) and has consulted with professional services firms around the globe on establishing and operating sales departments, navigating ethical requirements, and designing compensation systems for professional services salespeople.

Steve began his career as an advertising and corporate communications salesperson, and he adapted those skills to large professional services firms. At Price Waterhouse, he helped form that firm’s sales function, initiating meetings with clients and prospective clients, and leading teams of accountants on global sales junkets. An early student of Miller-Heiman, Steve is fluent in every major sales training language and process. At Grant Thornton, he became a sales partner and created the sales function at that organization. At Womble, in addition to overseeing the firm’s entire sales and marketing program, he conducted personal sales pursuits resulting in the origination of many new clients and substantial revenue. Steve led Womble’s nearly 20-year sponsorship of the Association of Corporate Counsel – at both the national and local levels. He is well-known by ACC leaders and staff nationwide, particularly in the National Capital Region.

Steve is a certified Gallup Strengths Coach, and he focuses on leveraging the strengths of his clients, as distinct from fixing weaknesses.

Steve has helped law firms navigate opportunities and challenges resulting from unforeseen global events including 9/11, the dot.com bubble burst, the “great recession,” and the global pandemic.

In addition to his accomplishments at Womble, Steve served for seven years as the Vice-Chairman – Americas of Lex Mundi’s Marketing & Business Development Committee, where he helped to steer the global branding, marketing, and business development initiatives of the 160-member-firm, 21,000-lawyer organization. He maintains an extensive global network of law firm leaders, marketers, thought leaders, and commentators.

Steve’s deep communications and marketing-management skills make him highly sought after by professional services firm leaders to provide counsel on forming, building, and managing sales forces; sales strategy and tactics; strategic account management; marketing automation; and business and executive communications.