Christopher L. "Chris" Schaeffer

While Christopher Schaeffer counsels his clients, including leading financial services firms and educational institutions, on high-stakes and often contentious matters, his focus is on finding positive resolutions that enable both sides to move past their disputes and achieve their strategic goals. An experienced first chair trial lawyer who has also represented clients before administrative agencies and regulatory bodies as well as at the bargaining table, Chris takes a clear and straightforward approach to advancing his clients’ interests.

With strong writing and oral communication skills informed by his clerkship experience, Chris is adept at crafting litigation strategy, writing dispositive motions, drafting discovery requests, taking and defending depositions, and conducting oral arguments or witness examinations in a range of complex commercial litigation matters, including conflicts surrounding mergers & acquisitions, derivative lawsuits, shareholder disputes, defamation, breach of contract, fiduciary duties, intellectual property, and trade secrets. Chris also has particular experience in helping employers navigate issues regarding restrictive covenants, including handling litigation around their applicability.

He also applies the insights gained in litigation to offer counsel to businesses seeking to mitigate risk and avoid conflict, advising them on policies and procedures around labor and employment practices such as hiring, terminations, union organization efforts, and compensation plans.

In addition to his trial and advisory work, Chris has drafted appellate briefs in both state and federal appeals throughout the country. He is an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he teaches a class on civil appeals.