Chris is a pragmatic and aggressive problem solver in high stakes complex commercial litigation.
For over 15 years, Chris has helped clients across a wide variety of industries achieve their business objectives by obtaining dismissals, summary judgments, appellate court affirmances of favorable trial court judgments and favorable settlements. Chris tailors his representation to the client’s business goals whether it be an aggressive defense or prosecution to a decision on the merits in its favor, a quick, favorable settlement, or something in between.
Chris is the ultimate generalist with extensive experience, including first chair trial experience, in a wide variety of matters such as breach of contract, tortious interference, piercing the corporate veil, fraud, unjust enrichment, trade secret misappropriation, and defamation matters in state and federal courts across the country.
Chris is also passionate about giving back and helping those in need. Chris maintains a highly active pro bono practice and co-chairs the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee.
*Matter completed prior to joining Benesch.
Representative Experience
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Secured decisive victory for a specialty packaging and point-of-purchase display company against disgruntled former counsel trying to recover purportedly owed attorney’s fees by convincing first an Illinois circuit court to dismiss the suit and later an Illinois appellate court to affirm and award the company attorney fees in a scathing opinion in which the appellate court stated that the appeal was “contrary to reason or common sense” and “asks us to find that two plus two equals five.”
- Representing voting machine company in multiple lawsuits stemming from defamatory statements made about the company after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, including a $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News in New York state court.
- Represented publicly traded critical infrastructure company in the Northern District of Illinois in trade secrets lawsuit involving lithium-ion battery technology brought by former vendor alleging in excess of $100 million in damages. Helped secure summary judgment.
- Represented major healthcare system in seeking to recover millions of dollars in errant payments made to a former and now defunct vendor. Successfully brought unjust enrichment, fraudulent transfer, and piercing the corporate veil claims resulting in a favorable settlement with one party and a multi-million dollar judgment against the remaining parties.
- Represented Fortune 100 technology company in trade secrets lawsuit in California state court involving enterprise collaboration software brought by former potential vendor seeking in excess of $50 million dollars in damages. Helped obtain favorable settlement for a fraction of that amount on the eve of trial.
- Represented Fortune 100 technology company in California state court against breach of contract claim seeking nine-figure damages. Helped obtain favorable business resolution on the eve of trial after successfully barring opposing party’s expert and obtaining favorable admissions from opponent’s witnesses in depositions.*