Bella Thoren

Bella Thoren helps employers on a wide range of employment matters, including employee relations, workplace policies, compliance, and employment-related aspects of mergers and acquisitions. As a member of Smith Anderson’s Workplace Law team, her focus is helping organizations address workplace concerns, assess their legal obligations, and make informed decisions about their workforce.

Before joining Smith Anderson, Bella practiced at a Charlotte-based law firm where she advised multi-state employers on day-to-day workplace matters and policies, as well as compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. Her experience on the M&A side includes employment-related due diligence, workforce integration planning, and navigating WARN Act and other multistate compliance considerations. She also helps employers develop policies and handbooks, prepare and review restrictive covenants, and conduct investigations into allegations of discrimination, harassment, and misconduct. In addition, Bella represents employers in administrative charges and investigations before the EEOC, OSHA, and state agencies, as well as in wage and hour proceedings, including preparing position statements and defending administrative hearings.

While at that firm, Bella also completed a secondment with the Healthcare Sector Employment Team for the nation’s largest foodservice and facilities services company, where she worked directly with human resources professionals and business leaders across a national organization, advised on employee relations and litigation strategy, managed outside counsel handling disputes nationwide, and helped assess risk and pursue business-oriented resolutions.

Outside the office, Bella enjoys traveling, cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide, and exploring new restaurants with her husband, Cooper, and their dog, Meredith.

Recognition

• North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star (2026-2027)
• University of Alabama, 18 Under 31 Young Alumni Award Recipient, Class of 2026

Clerkships

• Summer Law Clerk to the Honorable L. Scott Coogler, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
• Summer Law Clerk at the Alabama Supreme Court

Education

• The University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 2022
  • President, Sports and Entertainment Law Society
  • Treasurer, Dorbin Women’s Law Society
  • Senior Editor, Law & Psychology Review
  • Legal Research Assistant, Professor Shahar J. Dillbary (2020-2021)
  • Best Paper, Employment Discrimination Law
• The University of Alabama, B.A., summa cum laude, 2019

Bar & Court Admissions

• Charlotte Chapter, University of Alabama National Alumni Association
  • Secretary (2025-present)
  • Young Alumni Co-Chair (2024-2025)
• Vice President of Membership, Hospitality House Young Professionals Board (2024-present)