Biography
Chris’ clients keep him on speed dial. When they ask him, “do you have experience with…?”, most of the time, the answer is yes. Chris is an entrepreneur at heart and when you talk with him, you quickly learn why clients choose him as their trusted adviser. He has served as in-house counsel for both closely held and publicly traded companies and many of his clients rely on him to be their outside general counsel on both domestic matters and certain international engagements.
He is as comfortable at closing a complex transaction as he is in a courtroom. Chris works hand-in-hand with his clients on a diverse selection of matters involving corporate governance, transactions, shareholder litigation, real estate land title disputes, real estate development and a host of matters that are typically collateral to those areas.
Chris has developed competencies related to sophisticated credit facilities, initial and secondary public offerings, franchise matters, employment matters, and in the niche area of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), including the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) as well as compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs). He is active in the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Supplement Safety Compliance Initiative (SSCI) and the Natural Products Association.
Chris’ pledge to his clients is that when they have an opportunity, a crisis, or a question, he will be there to help find the solution. As their trusted adviser, when clients are in a stressful situation, his first order of business is to help them “stop the bleeding,” develop a strategy to solve the problem, minimize risk, and protect their business and, in some instances personal interests.
Representative Experience
- Successfully represented minority shareholder in the resolution of litigation involving an attempted forced dilution and buyout of the minority owner resulting in the forced conveyance of the majority owners’ equity to the minority owner
- Successfully represented large multi-national franchisor in the defense of an international franchise claim seeking damages of $120,000,000, winning a defense verdict against the franchisee and winning a counterclaim award on behalf of client
- Represented client in the sale of multiple senior living facilities with transaction value exceeding $100,000,000
- Participated in the successful resolution of a dispute between oil and gas producers relating to use and expense associated with midstream transportation of product
- Represented company in transaction involving the sale of 100% of entity stock to a foreign enterprise in a transaction valued at over $55,000,000
- Represented minority shareholder in the enforcement of purchase option contained in shareholder agreement resulting in the issuance of a preliminary injunction stopping the sale of the company to alternative purchasers and restoring the right of the minority shareholder to purchase the majority interest
- Represented minority owners of limited liability company in seeking an injunction appointing a custodian to preserve the existing value of an enterprise and thereafter coordinating the sale of the primary company asset for a value in excess of $58,000,000
- Represented large multi-national client in litigation involving criminal acts of third parties in both the civil matters as well as the collateral department of justice investigations
- Represented a multi-national manufacturing company in connection with international supply agreements, intellectual property matters and foreign jurisdiction employment issues
- Successfully represented defendants in federal class action filed against food manufacturers and retailers alleging food labeling violations under California statutes and the National Labeling and Education Act
- Successfully defended claim against a national title insurance underwriter using novel and creative litigation strategies which addressed standing of sub-prime lender claimant
Education
- J.D. Duquesne University Kline School of Law
Memberships
- Member, Board of Directors of the Heart Institute Auxiliary Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation
- Member, St. Clair Hospital Board of Directors
- American Bar Association
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Achievements
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law (2022-Present)
Press Release