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
Chris Gair Recognized by Best Lawyers 2023 logoChris Gair Recognized by Best Lawyers 2022 logoChris Gair Recognized by Best Lawyers 2021 logo

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 Gair is an experienced litigator and a strong advocate.”

    “He is an extraordinary, talented lawyer.”

    “He is an exceptional attorney.”

    “Chris has incredible intelligence, tenacity and commercial pragmatism together with being very efficient in his approach and focusing on the critical issues.”

    ChambersUSA 2024 Rankings

  • “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