Chris divides his legal practice between the labor and employment and the business litigation teams.
In the employment law realm, he has developed expertise in advising and resolving restrictive covenant and trade secret matters. He also defends employers against individual and class-based employment lawsuits, charges, and demands. Additionally, Chris practices labor law, helping businesses effectively manage their workforces, remain compliant, and avoid litigation amid various union-organizing dynamics.
For the business litigation team, he focuses on appellate advocacy work, writing briefs, devising winning trial strategies, and crafting arguments for businesses with cases in numerous federal and state courts of appeal.
Chris is accustomed to juggling multiple cases and has a knack for writing hard-hitting legal analyses for complex matters, thanks to a couple of years managing his own docket as a law clerk to three judges at the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. His experience in the court system allows him to look at cases from the unique perspective of the judge.
Chris also serves as an adjunct professor for clinical curriculum at the University of Minnesota Law School. When he’s not being a lawyer, Chris acts as a “judge” — refereeing professional and NCAA Division I soccer games throughout the country.
Key Practice Experience
Clerkships
- Wisconsin Court of Appeals – Honorable Lisa Stark, Honorable Tom Hruz, and Honorable Mark Seidl, 2018-2020
Key Industry Experience
- Retail
- Financial
- Banking
- Tech
Representative Matters
- NorthRock v. Timblin, (Minn. Dist. Ct.) – Defeated motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on an expedited basis in dispute between financial advisor and his former employer.
- State v. Cortez (Minn. Ct. App.) – Successfully argued on appeal that the trial court erred in denying a motion to suppress; secured a full reversal under state and federal constitutional protections against unlawful searches and seizures.
- L&S Service Solutions LLC d/b/a Stratus Building Solutions v. Patriot Building Solutions, LLC et al. (Minn. Dist. Ct.) – Defeated motion for temporary injunction on unfair competition dispute between two building maintenance and repair companies.
- J. Swanson & Co. v. Rejuvenating Nutrition Coaching (D. Minn.) – Obtained sanctions against opposing counsel for multiple violations of protective order based on counsel’s use and disclosure of document after he was made aware of Defendants’ claim that document was privileged.
- Mitchell v. Target (Minn. Ct. App.) – Obtained affirmance of summary judgment applying federal honest belief doctrine to reprisal claim under Minnesota Human Rights Act.
- BTM Global Consulting v. Centium Consulting (Minn. Dist. Ct.) – Obtained summary judgment on misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of non-compete, breach of confidentiality, and related tortious interference claims in dispute between NetSuite implementation companies.
- J. Swanson & Co. v. Ighodaro Consulting (Minn. Dist. Ct.) – Defeated motion for temporary injunction on sale-of-business non-compete claim.
- ImageTrend, Inc. v. Locality Media, Inc. (D. Minn.) – Obtained dismissal of trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference, and corporate defamation claims in dispute between computer software companies
- Boston Scientific v. Shockwave Medical (Minn. Dist. Ct.) – Defeated motion for temporary restraining order, and subsequent motion for temporary injunction following expedited discovery, in medical device industry case involving field clinical specialist employees.
- IWCO v. Nahan (D. Minn) – Defeated motion for temporary restraining order in trade secrets dispute between direct marketing competitors.
- Duncan LLC v. Allied Valve, Inc. (D. Minn) – Defeated motion for temporary restraining order in breach of confidentiality and trade secrets dispute.
Publications and Presentations
- “The Expansion of Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST),” Minnesota Beverage Association, December 13, 2023
- “Navigating the Maze: Recent Trends and Strategies in Enforcing Restrictive Covenants Across State Lines,” CLE Webinar, ALFA International, December 13, 2023
- “Crash Course for In-House Counsel: Updates from the Minnesota Legislature,” Minnesota CLE, September 20, 2023
- “Lessons Learned from an Almost Trade Secrets Trial,” ALFA Labor & Employment Seminar, September 19, 2023
- “Minnesota Welcomes Recreational Marijuana & Bans Non-Competes: An Employment Law Perspective,” American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota, August 23, 2023
- “Banning Noncompetes,” Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, July 5, 2023
- “Is It Time to Scale Back Non-Compete Agreements?” Human Resources Director, August 15, 2022
- “The Changing Face of the Non-Compete Agreement,” Benefits Pro, August 1, 2022
Professional Associations
- ALFA International
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Section
- Appellate Law Practice Section
- Wisconsin Bar Association
- Eighth Circuit Bar Association
Community Involvement
- The Advocates for Human Rights, pro bono attorney
- Mentoring soccer referees, Twin Cities