Chris Gair

Partner

Education

University of Chicago, J.D., with Honors
  • Order of the Coif
Duke University, B.A.,
Philosophy, summa cum laude
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Awards & Honors

Chris Gair is widely recognized as one of the preeminent trial lawyers in Chicago. He is a fellow in the American College of
Trial Lawyers and has tried dozens of cases in federal and state courts and arbitrations. He is recognized by Chambers & Partners as one of Chicago’s top lawyers in General Commercial Litigation, White-Collar Crime, and Government Investigations.

Cases of Note

  • Winning a $2 million compensatory and punitive damages verdict in a fraud case brought on behalf of his client, a physician who had been cheated by his managing partner, and collecting on the verdict after the defendant attempted to hide assets and claim insolvency.
  • Defeating at trial a $5 million dollar whistleblower, fraud and breach of contract claim by a trader against a prominent high-frequency trading company.
  • Winning a $1.5 million award in arbitration on behalf of a data analytics firm against a former joint venture partner.
  • Defeating a $5 million arbitration claim based on the earn out provision of a purchase and sale agreement.

Testimonials

  • “Chris is an especially accomplished trial lawyer whose mastery of the federal rules of evidence is unmatched in my experience.”
    ChambersUSA 2022 Rankings

  • “Chris Gair is highly sophisticated, commercially focused on risk-reward and tenacious. He is very client-oriented”
    ChambersUSA 2022 Rankings

  • Chris Gair is “a gifted courtroom lawyer, skilled cross examiner and a very good trial strategist” who has “great instinct and presence in the courtroom.”
    Chambers and Partners

  • “Chris Gair is an aggressive, tenacious, well-regarded trial lawyer with extensive experience in complex commercial litigation as well as white-collar defense.”
    Chambers and Partners

  • “Gair gave them the hammer! He is an awesome courtroom litigator. I wish our [regular] lawyers had half the spit, vinegar and gravel Gair has for guts.”
    Client, During a Trial

  • “Chris commanded the courtroom from the start, gaining the respect of the judge and the trust of the jury from the outset.”
    Henning Carey Proprietary Trading