To help drive the best outcomes for his clients, Chris brings a deep curiosity to every case. He enjoys asking tailored questions to identify the opposition’s flaws and clarify his clients’ strengths. The result is that clients receive legal guidance they can trust to be informed and compelling.

Working with corporations of all sizes, as well as insurers and their insureds, Chris handles the litigation needs of his clients from the claims stage through to litigation. He is experienced with a variety of matters, from commercial transportation and premises liability, to more complex problems involving products liability, privacy, and data security. Chris also works with clients to avoid the pitfalls of litigation altogether by managing risk and implementing privacy plans that fit their unique needs.

In every step, Chris’ goal is to help his clients achieve optimal results. He is proactive and determined, digging deeply to identify every nuance of even the most complex liability cases. Chris brings experience identifying and resolving critical issues in legal actions ranging from medical information privacy to wrongful death trucking cases. He applies his problem-solving and goals-focused support to help clients gain the results they seek with efficiency and care. From responsive pleadings through to settlement or trial, he will work hard on your behalf, every step of the way.

During law school, Chris worked in a third-year externship with Justice G. Steven Agee in the Supreme Court of Virginia, and also served as the Senior Case Editor of Washington and Lee’s Environmental Law Digest. He is named a Rising Star by Virginia Super Lawyers and has given numerous continuing legal education presentations for the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, the National Business Institute, and the Richmond Bar Association.

Education & Admissions

Education

Hamilton College
B.A. 2000, Government

Washington & Lee School of Law
J.D., cum laude, 2007

Admissions

Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia

District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Certified Information Privacy Professional/US, by the International Association of Privacy Professionals

Honors & Recognitions

"Legal Elite," Virginia Business magazine, Intellectual Property/Information Technology, 2021-2022, Cybersecurity/Data Privacy/Technology 2023

Experience

  • Medical information privacy for national pharmacy: Chris helped secure the dismissal of all six counts of the plaintiff’s complaint – which ranged from slander to false imprisonment - and then successfully defended the plaintiff's appeal to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Products liability action involving a plumbing fixture: Chris convinced a determined and highly motivated plaintiff to dismiss his client on the eve of trial and proceed only against a co-defendant— resulting in his client paying nothing in settlement.
  • Constitutionality of taxation scheme: Chris defended a state taxation authority in a case brought against it by a taxpayer who alleged the taxation of his retirement income was unconstitutional. The change to the tax code advocated by the plaintiff would have cost the state government hundreds of millions of dollars. After extensive discovery and briefing, Chris prevailed at trial on a motion to strike.

Affiliations

Community

CodeVA Board Member, Governance Committee Chair

Greater Richmond Bar Foundation Board Member

Leadership Quest Class of 2019, Leadership Metro Richmond

Professional

Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys

Defense Research Institute, Chair of the Speakers Bureau

Richmond Bar Association

News & Insights

Insights

Events & Speaking Engagements

"Cybersecurity Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act: Reporting Timeframes, Liability Protection, Enforcement," Strafford, June 2022

"Motions in the Life Cycle of a Civil Case in Virginia", Richmond Bar Association webinar, October 2021

"Data Privacy for Virginia and Beyond," rvatech, April 2021

"Insurance Data Security Act - Predator or Prey", Professional Insurance Agents of VA and DC (PIAVADC) webinar, February 2021

"Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA)," Workshop Digital, February 2021

Frequent lecturer on many aspects of law at the local, state, regional, and national levels.

Presented on the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, Virginia procedure, transportation law, trial tactics, legal technology, the use of social media at trial, general liability, and other topics.

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