Christopher B. Wilson
Chris is an experienced trial attorney who has obtained jury verdicts for clients on complex legal issues in federal and state courts across the country.
Christopher Wilson is a partner in the firm's Litigation practice and served as the managing partner of the Chicago office for the past 16 years. He also has substantial national experience representing clients in arbitrations and other alternative dispute forums.
Chris's representative matters include work for Amazon.com, the Boeing Company, Career Education, Dunkin Donuts, Kraft Foods, Griffith Foods, IBM, Ingram Micro, Uber, the University of Illinois and Willis Towers Watson.
Chris has represented companies at trial in a variety of complex matters, including antitrust litigation, consumer class actions, False Claims Act litigation, consumer protection, professional liability, product liability matters, securities litigation and trade secret litigation, among many others.
In addition, Chris has been recognized for his significant pro bono work. He received the Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the Judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and has been nationally recognized for his work on gun safety litigation. Chris represented the City of Highland Park, Illinois in the successful defense of its assault weapons ban, one of the first decisions in the country upholding the rights of municipalities to protect its citizens from these weapons.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., cum laude, Associate Note & Comment Editor, Northwestern University Law Review, 1989
- University of Michigan, B.A., 1984
Bar and Court Admissions
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Illinois
Related Employment
- Grippo & Elden, Chicago, IL, Partner, 1992-2002
- Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago, IL, Associate, 1990-1992
- U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Legislative Aide, 99th Congress, 1985-1986
Clerkships
- Hon. William Bauer, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Professional Recognition
Listed as a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2005, 2007-2024
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation, 2013-2024
*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.
News
Professional Experience
Experience
Goeller v. International Business Machines Corporation
Represented defendant against claims by plaintiff who asserted that he had been terminated in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and in order to deny him certain benefits in violation of ERISA. Summary judgment granted in favor of defendant.
Severstal Columbus Holdings, LLC v. Willis of Wisconsin
Defended claims of actuarial malpractice. Obtained complete jury verdict finding no liability.
Liguria Foods, Inc. v. Griffith Laboratories
Defended claims of breach of implied warranty of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose for food products. Obtained complete jury verdict finding no liability.
Boeing Air Quality Litigation
Represented the company in claims by flight attendants for injuries related to alleged exposure to bad air quality.
Fox Valley Families v. Planned Parenthood of Illinois
Successfully represented Planned Parenthood against zoning challenges filed against its Aurora, Illinois medical clinic, one of the largest Planned Parenthood facilities in the country. Obtained summary judgment, affirmed on appeal and petition for leave to appeal denied by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Steven Salaita v. University of Illinois
Represented the University of Illinois in case of first impression involving academic freedom and tenure and first amendment issues related to the denial of tenure by the Board of Trustees. Case settled.
Wolf Point Hotel Construction Litigation
Representing the Joseph P. Kennedy Family Trust in litigation arising over the construction of parking structures as part of the development of the Wolf Point Property in Chicago, Illinois.
Illinois Sales Tax Qui Tam Litigation
Represented Amazon.com, Ingram Micro and UPS in claim arising from the alleged failure to collect and remit sales and use tax on sales to Illinois residents. All cases voluntarily dismissed following discovery.
Uber Data Breach Litigation
Representing the company in federal class actions and state claims asserted by government entities arising from a 2016 data incident.
Elkhatib v. Dunkin Donuts
Obtained complete defense jury verdict against claims of wrongful termination of franchisee.
Selected Pro Bono Cases
Prisoner’s Rights
Appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to represent prisoner injured while in the custody of the state of Illinois. Received “Award of Excellence in Pro Bono Service” for trial work in support of appointed client.
Friedman v. City of Highland Park, Illinois
Obtained summary judgment upholding ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines over Second Amendment challenge. Affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Petition for Certiorari denied by U.S. Supreme Court.
Guns Save Life v. Village of Deerfield, Illinois
Representing municipality in defense of assault weapons ban against claims arising under Illinois constitution and state law.