Chris is a trial lawyer who has been listed among the Top 100 “Super Lawyers” in Washington multiple times. He has experience and expertise in a broad range of complementary areas, including complex commercial contract disputes, shareholder and corporate governance disputes, intellectual property litigation, trade secret misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duty and employment disputes. Chris handles all aspects of dispute resolution, from initial investigation, through trial and, as required, at the appellate level. He also has experience serving as outside general corporate counsel, in which capacity he has advised boards of directors on diverse strategic planning, business, and legal matters.

In his time away from the office, Chris enjoys cycling, hiking and skiing.

• Federal Bar Association
• King County Bar Association
• Seattle IP Inn of Court

• University of Washington School of Law (J.D., 2002)

• Williams College (B.A., psychology, 1995, cum laude)

• Washington State
• United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District
• United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh District

• The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2021 – 2023)
• Washington Super Lawyers, Super Lawyer (2014–2022); Top 100 (2016­–2020); Rising Star (2006­–2013)
• Benchmark Litigation, Washington State, Litigation Star; Labor & Employment Star
• Martindale-Hubble, AV Rated - Preeminent
• Avvo Rating: 9.9 (Superb)

• Microsoft v. Motorola: Represented a Fortune 100 company against a competitor seeking $4 billion in annual royalties relating to our client’s implementation of certain standard wi-fi and video-compression technologies. In the first trial, the royalty rate was set at $1.8 million. In the second trial, the jury found in favor of our client, awarding $14.5 million for breach of commitment to make technologies available on reasonable terms.
• Lummi Nation v. Cooke Aquaculture: Represented owner of commercial fish farm whose net pens failed, releasing hundreds of thousands of Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound waters near Lummi Island. The Lummi Nation asserted multi-million dollar claims for alleged harm to the environment, native fish stocks, and other cultural and monetary damages. After a three-week trial, the jury awarded less than 10% of plaintiff's claimed damages as reimbursement for its assistance in the cleanup and recovery efforts. 
• Veritas v. Microsoft: Represented a Fortune 100 company in a case involving breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation claims in excess of $1 billion relating to a software development contract. Achieved a favorable settlement while motion for summary judgment was pending. 
• SVT v. Storey Construction (and) SVT v. Lake Flato: Represented Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson in multimillion-dollar construction and design defect cases against a general contractor and design team of a vacation home.
• CEES v. Washington River Protection Services: Represented a DOE prime contractor on a Hanford Superfund clean-up site against a subcontractor seeking $50 million in damages for breach of contract. Settled shortly before trial.
• Jain v. J.P. Morgan: Represented the target of the largest-ever ($232 million) insider trading award under 16(b) of Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, in a malpractice/negligence action against a former counsel and other fiduciaries.
• Olympic Pipe Line Co. v. Shell Oil Pipeline Co.: Represented Olympic in an action to collect a $3.6 million trust fund in a factually complex case involving a former shareholder’s competing claim as an unpaid creditor in prior bankruptcy proceedings. Recovered $3 million in settlement, weeks before trial.
• Kaimakis v. DMSI et al.: Pursued breach of fiduciary duty and related claims in a derivative action on behalf of a shareholder/director of a closely held company. The settlement involved the replacement of certain key people, prevented dissolution, and implemented new controls for proper corporate governance.  
• Carpenters Tower, LLC v. SDL: Represented a general contractor against the owner of a high-rise apartment building in a case involving significant construction and structural defect claims in excess of $90 million.
• Lisitsyn v. GPS Tile & Marble: Represented a business owner against independent contractors’ claims of failure to pay statutory prevailing wages. After a four-day trial, the judge reversed a prior summary judgment ruling of liability, dismissed all claims, and awarded the owner its reasonable attorney fees.
• Western Mortgage v. KeyBank: Defended Key Bank against claims of breach of contract, misrepresentation, and breach of representations and warranties by the purchaser of a $17 million loan portfolio.
• U.S. Trust v. SunTrust et al.: Represented a trust company in a multi-party litigation involving fraud and forgeries by an insurance broker in connection with a unique life insurance product valued at $5.5 million.
• In re ProAir: Represented a start-up airline against an investor who failed to supply promised financing through a pledge of stock worth $20 million, in a one-week trial involving breach of contract and Washington State Securities Act claims.
• Olympic Pipe Line Co. v ESIS, Inc.: Sought $2 million from an ACE subsidiary based on breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and indemnification claims.
• Caswell v. Olympic Pipe Line Co.: Defended a toxic tort, wrongful death action.
• Keithly v. Intelius, Inc.: Represented an internet company against consumer class action claims of unfair and deceptive on-line trade practices.
• Fairfield Development, LP v. The Boeing Co.: Represented a commercial developer against a former landowner in an action to recoup the multimillion-dollar cost of an environmental cleanup and remediation of contaminated soils under Washington’s Model Toxics Control Act.

• Extern for the Honorable John C. Coughenour, United States District Court-Western District of Washington (2000)