• One (now-retired) federal judge described Chris’s closing argument as “one of the best closing arguments [he has] seen in 40 years.”
• A Superior Court judge declared that Chris’s “cross examination of the plaintiff was the most riveting examination [he’s] seen in any trial … exquisite work.”
• Another Superior Court judge said Chris’s cross examinations in a two-month jury trial were “as good as anything I’ve ever seen. Your ability to keep control of the witness while also telling a story was something I don’t think I’ve seen anybody else do. If I were still practicing, I would go to one of your classes or read your book.”

Chris is an experienced and successful advocacy instructor. He is the co-author of the book To Prove, To Please, To Move: Timeless Principles of Legal Advocacy. Chris has taught trial advocacy and deposition skills around the world, including programs at some of the largest, most-prestigious law firms in the country. Chris has taught for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, the Advanced Advocacy Course for Barristers in Dublin, Ireland, and the Advanced International Advocacy Course at Oxford University in England.

Sample First-Chair Trial Results

• A $34.9 million jury verdict in a trademark infringement and unfair competition case.
• A $7 million jury verdict in a trade secret case.
• A $5 million jury verdict in a fraud case against an international pharmaceutical company.
• A $4.3 million arbitration award in an international licensing dispute concerning the use of well-known soccer marks.
• A $2 million jury verdict in a trademark counterfeiting case.
• A $1.68 million judgment in a patent case. The jury confirmed the validity and enforceability of the patent, found the defendant’s infringement to be willful, and granted the requested 15% royalty. The court granted a post-trial request for enhanced damages.
• A $1.58 million arbitration award in a dispute over software development.
• A directed verdict in a multi-million-dollar trade dress dispute in federal court.
• A successful defense in a mass media defamation case involving a world-famous celebrity. The jury awarded only $10,000 to a plaintiff who sought millions for, he claimed, falsely being called a drug dealer.
• An arbitration award granting the client an ownership interest in a television program.
• A defense verdict in a three-week jury trial in an intentional interference with contract case.
• A defense verdict in a two-month jury trial in a defamation case with $80 million at stake. Chris came in just before trial to second chair the case and handle the key cross examinations. The trial judge later said those cross examinations were “as good as anything I’ve seen.”

After graduating from law school at the University of Southern California, Chris clerked for the Honorable Charles Wiggins on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and spent three years as an associate at O’Melveny & Myers before co-founding the law firm One LLP in Southern California. After 19 years at One LLP, Chris joined the partnership at Ellis George LLP.