Experience

Chris is a Partner in the firm’s Annapolis office with more than 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer. He has taken nearly 100 jury trials to verdict and regularly appears in state and federal courts on behalf of clients. His practice is devoted to litigation and includes representation of companies across numerous sectors including the transportation, construction, retail and hospitality industries. Chris has a broad range of expertise, with significant experience in defending high-exposure cases. He is also called upon to advise companies on a variety of commercial, contract, employment and compliance matters.

A significant part of Chris’s practice is devoted to representing railroads, trucking, and other transportation companies. He routinely responds on behalf of his transportation clients to incidents in the field and is on call to assist clients as needs arise. Chris defends Class I, Short Line, and Passenger railroads against claims of employee injury under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act as well as claims of traumatic injury by passengers, trespassers and individuals involved in crossing incidents. He also has extensive experience defending railroads against claims of occupational injury and workplace exposure including cumulative trauma, repetitive stress and occupational disease claims. His practice includes defense of railroads against whistleblower claims under the Federal Railroad Safety Act (“FRSA”) and other employment actions. Chris also regularly defends trucking companies, owner-operators, and other motor carriers in state and federal court against claims of personal injury, as well as criminal and traffic charges and alleged violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Prior to entering private practice, Chris served as a prosecutor in Richmond, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland, where he was a member of the Homicide Division of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office. For nearly a decade, he handled all types of criminal cases including high-visibility and capital murder trials; and worked closely with state and federal task forces focused upon the prosecution of violent crime related to the drug trade. He also gained considerable experience in the investigation and prosecution of vehicular homicide and white-collar criminal cases.