Chris is a founding partner of Reed Smith’s Houston office and serves as the Office Managing Partner. Chris is a first chair trial lawyer whose practice focuses on complex commercial litigation in the areas of construction, energy and natural resources, professional services, and health care.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Represented an oil field services company in a breach of contract action against two offshore drilling companies. After a three-day bench trial, the court found both defendants jointly and severally liable and awarded our client the full amount of its requested damages.
Trial counsel for an oil major at the final hearing of CPR arbitration arising from the attempted sale of a former refinery site. Our client prevailed on all claims.
Represented a major exploration and production company in CPR arbitration over the sale of certain shale assets and the market for natural gas. Upon the conclusion of the six day Final Hearing, our client prevailed on all claims.
Represented an oil field services company in a breach of contract action against two offshore drilling companies. After a three-day bench trial, the court found both defendants jointly and severally liable and awarded our client the full amount of its requested damages.
Trial counsel for an oil major at the final hearing of CPR arbitration arising from the attempted sale of a former refinery site. Our client prevailed on all claims.
Represented a major exploration and production company in CPR arbitration over the sale of certain shale assets and the market for natural gas. Upon the conclusion of the six day Final Hearing, our client prevailed on all claims.
Represented the NCAA in the first-ever CTE case to go to trial. The plaintiff’s husband, Greg Ploetz, played college football for the University of Texas from 1968 to 1971. After Mr. Ploetz’s death in 2015, it was determined that he had stage 4 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Plaintiff alleged that Mr. Ploetz’s CTE was caused by head trauma he experienced while playing college football. The case was resolved on the third day of trial.
Represented major EPC contractor against one of its subcontractors in an arbitration arising from the construction of an LNG export facility in Louisiana. The subcontractor claimed that schedule acceleration, schedule compression, and interference from other trades caused it to exceed its lump sum contract by millions of dollars. After a two week evidentiary hearing the tribunal issued its final award, which is confidential.
Defended a national distributor of industrial engines and construction machinery in a negligence case regarding the design and construction of a large sand and gravel plant. Plaintiff alleged $60 million in damages. After five weeks of trial, the jury returned a verdict largely in favor of our client, and awarded damages of less than 10 percent of plaintiff's lowest settlement demand. The case was settled prior to the entry of judgment.
Represented oil field services and chemical company against its EPC contractor in an arbitration over the negligent design and construction of a calcium chloride production facility. The amount in controversy was in excess of $90 million. After a four week evidentiary hearing, the tribunal issued its final award, the findings of which are confidential.
Defended a major hospital system against a personal injury and disability claim alleged by a former nurse’s assistant. After a three-day trial, the jury took less than 30 minutes to return a unanimous verdict in favor of our client.
Represented a large energy company in a three-week bench trial over the propriety of settlement of an underlying joint venture dispute. That trial was the first of a multi-phase trial plan for the case. We were able to favorably settle the case for our client after this first phase. The litigation against the other defendants continued.
Represented a plaintiff against a national marketing firm that had improperly solicited an investment from our client for the promotion of a college football highlights video. After seven days of hearings before an AAA arbitrator, a decision was rendered awarding our client damages and finding that the defendant was guilty of multiple misrepresentations.
Represented an NBA player in an arbitration against former agent who claimed he was owed a commission on our client’s five-year $120 million player’s contract. The final results of the arbitration are confidential.
Represented an industrial equipment manufacturer in a force majeure case regarding the termination of a requirements contract after Hurricane Katrina. After three days of trial, the parties favorably settled the case.
Represented a major hospital system in multiple arbitrations in disputes with current and former physicians and third party service providers. Claims arbitrated included claims for breach of contract and fraud.
Defended a national bank against claims of negligence, deceptive trade practices, and breach of fiduciary duty brought by mortgagee. The case was favorably settled on the third day of trial.
Represented an EPC contractor / developer against a major subcontractor responsible for the construction of a 500,000 module, 50-megawatt solar field in Florida. The claims arise from multiple instances of defective and negligent means and methods employed during construction of facility.
Represented the owner against its EPC contractor and their insurers for claims arising out of the design and construction of a 160-megawatt solar field covering 1,300 acres in west Texas.
Represented one of the largest pipeline owners in the United States against pipe manufacturer and pipeline contractor in a case arising from the construction of a 135-mile intrastate pipeline. The total damages sought in the case were in excess of $100 million, exclusive of attorneys’ fees, costs, and interest. The case was settled favorably prior to trial.
Represented one of the world’s largest oil and gas exploration companies in a False Claims Act case arising from the engineering, design, and construction of a deepwater production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The relator sought the return of more than $60 billion in claimed damages.
Represented the owner of a chemical processing facility in Arkansas against its EPC contractor alleging claims of negligent design and construction of plant that produced sodium chloride and calcium chloride.
Represented EPC contractor against claims of subcontractor alleging schedule acceleration, schedule compression, and contractor interference in the construction of LNG export facility in Louisiana.
Represented the owner against the general contractor in arbitration over the renovation and improvement of a hotel in Austin, TX. Claims arose from the quality, workmanship, and ultimate termination of the GC from the project prior to completion.
Represented a seller of industrial instrumentation and control systems against claims for breach of contract, breach of warranty, and negligence arising out of the construction of a chemical processing plant in Louisiana.
Represented a distributor of industrial equipment in a negligence and breach of contract lawsuit arising from the overhaul of a large industrial engine for use in a natural gas compression station in Wyoming. This case settled, without any payment on behalf of our client.
Represented the owner in litigation over the construction of a specialty surgical hospital and professional office building. After limited discovery, the case was settled favorably.
Defended a major NYSE traded energy company in a dispute with its local investor over the distribution of profits from a heavy oil fueled power plant in El Salvador.
Represented a German oil and gas pipe supplier in a case against its former executive and their newly formed competing company for theft of trade secrets.
Represented an accounting firm against claims of negligence and fraud relating to the sale and marketing of a nationwide ice cream franchise. The litigation was comprised of multiple lawsuits and stretched over a period of three of years. All cases were favorably settled for a nominal sum.
Represented a global technology services and outsourcing company in a case involving computer consulting malpractice. The plaintiff sought $1 billion in damages. A partial summary judgment was obtained for the client enforcing limitation of liability provisions in the services agreement, and the case settled shortly thereafter.
Represented a worldwide aviation product and support company that designs maintenance, repair, and overhaul software for use with on-ground aircraft maintenance and repair programs in an action brought by two commercial airlines alleging breach of contract and fraud in connection with the delivery and performance of the software. The case settled at mediation.
Represented an accounting firm against negligence and misrepresentation claims related to a business valuation the accounting firm performed in connection with an asset sale.
Represented the largest private collection agency in North America against the manufacturer and distributor of the then industry leading debt collection software solution in a dispute arising from the software company’s fraud, negligence, and breach of contract in connection with the sale of the software and the consulting services they provided to customize, configure, and install the software. The case settled favorably prior to trial.
Represented leading software engineering firm specializing in trucking dispatch, freight management, and logistics software in case brought by a global food and beverage company alleging claims of fraud, negligence, misrepresentation, and breach of contract arising from the sale, configuration, and performance of the software. The case settled at mediation.
Represented an accounting firm in a malpractice case alleging more that $5 million in damages resulting from the firm’s accounting services and preparation of a “look-back” provision in an agreement designed to account for, and distribute, proceeds from future sales of assets. The case was settled favorably prior to trial.
Represented regional heart hospital in fraud and breach of contract dispute with physician.
Represented major hospital system in fraudulent inducement and breach of contract case against physician relating to a physician recruitment agreement.
Represented surgical center in breach of contract case with third-party anesthesiology provider.
Represented major hospital system against multiple on-the-job personal injury claims alleged by current and former employees.
Represented regional hospital in contract dispute with third party service provider.
Recognitions
- Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025
- Selected for inclusion in the Texas Super Lawyers list for Civil Litigation: Defense, 2014-2019
- Recognized as a BTI Client Service All-Star, 2019
Credentials
Education
Education
- University of Texas School of Law, 2001, J.D., with honors; Order of the Barristers, Teaching Quiz Master
- University of Southern Mississippi, 1994, B.S., Political Science, with honors
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- Texas
Court admissions
Court admissions
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- State Bar of Texas
- Houston Bar Association
- Reed Smith – Houston Office Managing Partner
- Reed Smith – Houston Hiring Committee and former Hiring Partner
News
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Civic Involvement
- Children at Risk – Member of the Board of Directors and former Board Chair
- Lambda Legal – Houston Leadership Council
- American Leadership Forum – Senior Fellow, Class LI
- University of Texas School of Law – Executive Committee and Co-Chair of the Houston Alumni Steering Committee
- Texas Children’s Hospital Ambassador, 2014-2016
- United Way Young Leaders, 2014-2015