Rick Cella Joins GableGotwals’ Litigation and Corporate Investigation Practices

October 7, 2024 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that Richard M. Cella has joined the Firm as a Shareholder, bringing extensive experience in complex litigation and high-stakes government and corporate investigations. Rick’s legal career spans leadership roles in regulatory enforcement and federal prosecution, where he consistently delivered successful outcomes in major cases.

Rick previously served as Senior Litigation Counsel at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the largest independent regulatory authority overseeing U.S. securities firms. At FINRA, he represented the Department of Enforcement in intricate proceedings involving violations of federal securities laws and FINRA and NASD Rules.

Rick’s expertise in government investigations is further underscored by his time as a federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Oklahoma. During his five-year tenure, he focused on white-collar crime, including healthcare fraud, corporate misconduct, and tax offenses. As first-chair trial counsel, he led numerous successful federal criminal jury trials and argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

He also spent six years at an international law firm in Dallas, where he litigated complex commercial disputes in both federal and state courts, as well as arbitration proceedings.

“Rick Cella is a respected litigator whose extensive trial and appellate experience is highly relevant to our clients at GableGotwals,” said Trent Shores, Shareholder and Vice President of Talent and Development for the Firm’s Board of Directors. “I previously worked with Rick at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he excelled in leading white collar and healthcare fraud investigations. Since that time, Rick gained experience as an enforcement attorney at FINRA. His unique background in both securities regulatory enforcement and white collar federal prosecution makes him the perfect fit for our litigation team. I am proud to call Rick my law partner and to welcome him to GableGotwals.”

Rick received his J.D., with honors, at the University of Texas School of Law and his B.A., magna cum laude at Georgetown University.

About GableGotwals
GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with nearly 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.