Chris concentrates his practice on representing a broad range of clients in a wide variety of high-stakes complex commercial litigation matters ranging from breach of contract to defamation to trade secret misappropriation in federal and state courts across the country. Chris has substantial experience with all aspects of litigation, including, but not limited to, pre-suit investigations, fact and expert discovery, trials (first and second chair experience), and appeals.
Chris has an extensive track record spanning nearly 15 years in obtaining dismissals, summary judgments, appellate court affirmances of favorable trial court judgments and favorable settlements for clients.
Chris credits his success to being able to distill complex factual and legal issues into simple, easy to understand concepts for clients and courts.
*Matter completed prior to joining Benesch.
Representative Experience
-
Secured a decisive victory for our client, a specialty packaging and point-of-purchase display company, against disgruntled former counsel, who brought suit trying to recover purportedly owed attorney’s fees. After convincing the trial court to dismiss his suit, the disgruntled former counsel appealed. Convinced an Illinois state appellate court to not only affirm the dismissal, but also to award our client attorney fees because the appeal was frivolous. In a scathing rebuke, the court stated that the appeal was “contrary to reason or common sense” and “asks us to find that two plus two equals five.”
- 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.
- Representing voting machine company in multiple lawsuits stemming from defamatory statements made about the company after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
- Represented Fortune 100 technology company in trade secrets lawsuit 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.*
- 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.