Overview
Chris has extensive experience with commercial litigation, health care law, business disputes, cybersecurity law, real estate disputes, railroad and transportation law, securities law, class actions, education law, administrative law, tax appeals, and regulatory proceedings.
Chris is licensed and has litigated in state and federal courts in Washington, Oregon and California. Chris has additional experience prosecuting claims as a Special Assistant Attorney General.
Chris regularly works with hospitals and health care providers on a wide range of matters, including disputes and issues involving contracts, billing and reimbursement, medical staffing, facility construction, quality assurance, pharmacy issues, risk management, information management, patient records and data security. He also regularly represents hospitals and other health care providers at all levels of the Certificate of Need process and in the judicial review phase of planning decisions.
Chris has significant trial, arbitration and mediation experience. For example, he served on the trial team in McCleary v. State of Washington, the largest public education funding lawsuit in Washington state. He was one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys representing a coalition of education organizations and individuals in a constitutional challenge to Washington State’s underfunding of K-12 education. After a two-month trial, the trial court entered judgment to enforce the State Constitution’s public education clause, which was affirmed by the Washington State Supreme Court.
Areas of Focus
- Litigation
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Antitrust & Consumer Protection
- Business
- Class Action Litigation
- Environmental Litigation
- Financial Services
- Health Care
- Health Care Litigation
- Privacy, Data Protection & Cybersecurity
- Public Finance
- Public Records & Open Government
- Education & School Districts
- Securities Litigations & Enforcement
- State & Local Government
- Yachts, Ships & Submersibles
Admissions
- Washington
- California
- District of Columbia
- Oregon
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Education
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School (cum laude)
- A.B., Dartmouth College (high honors)
Honors & Recognition
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch – Corporate Law, 2026
- Legal 500 City Elite
- Seattle – Commercial Disputes, 2026
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Health Law Section
- Litigation Section
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Health Care Liability and Litigation Practice Group
- Health Information and Technology Practice Group
- California Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington, Communications and Website Committee, Co-Chair, 2009-2018
- King County Bar Association
- Oregon State Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- Washington State Society of Healthcare Attorneys
Community Activities
- Issaquah Schools Foundation, Board Member, 2016-2020
News & Insights
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