chris-johnson1

Chris Johnson

Partner

For a decade, Christopher “Chris” L. Johnson has delivered results for and protected the interests of a vast array of clients in almost every area of law. Because of that success, businesses, governments and individuals rely on Chris as their trusted advocate in nearly every forum.

Chris is an aggressive trial lawyer, who maintains a diverse civil and commercial litigation practice representing plaintiffs and defendants in Texas and around the country in courts and arbitration proceedings. Chris has achieved favorable results in cases involving breach of contract issues, business torts, trade secrets and restrictive covenants, franchise disputes, securities, receiverships, commercial and residential real estate, municipal law, banking and lending, deceptive trade practices, construction, and probate matters. Chris has obtained favorable results for clients across Texas and at least eight other states.

In addition to his trial practice, Chris counsels privately-held companies and their owners at every stage of the business life cycle. Chris assists startups and new ventures in nearly every industry to successfully set themselves up to do business and continues through the company’s ongoing operation where he acts as general counsel in a variety of areas. In that capacity, Chris negotiates commercial contracts, provides counsel in employee and contractor engagement (including legal compliance), and assists with real estate matters. Chris represents businesses across a variety of industries including energy and renewable energy, retail, industrial services and real estate. Chris also has extensive experience assisting clients with business transactions, including acquisition and divestitures, financing, and revising business structures. Business clients will also turn to Chris when they want to avoid litigation but need a resolution to their business disputes. Chris assists clients in business divorces and has successfully dissolved a number of businesses while protecting assets and avoiding the economic losses associated with litigation. In 2018 alone, Chris handled over $25 million in assets through business divorces.

Real estate clients rely on Chris for assistance in real estate matters involving commercial and industrial leases, acquisitions and divestitures, title clearing actions, boundary line disputes, tax liens, and eminent domain proceedings. Chris also regularly handles probate litigation issues including acting as counsel to trustees, executor and creditors.

Chris attended Texas A&M University before pursuing his law degree at the University of Houston Law Center. While in law school, he served as an editor on the Houston Business & Tax Law Journal and as Executive Chair of the Board of Advocates. Chris also excelled as a member of the mock trial and moot court teams and won a national mock trial title. Upon graduation, Chris was named to the Order of Barristers, an honor given to the top courtroom advocates in each graduating class.

Chris is a proud member of and actively involved in his community. He serves on the Board of Visitors for Texas A&M University at Galveston, the Board of Directors for the Lyons Charitable Foundation in Galveston County, the advisory board of the Young Urban Professionals of Easter Seals, and is active in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Education
  • University of Houston Law Center, Juris Doctorate, 2009
  • Texas A&M University, B.A., 2006
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Texas City-La Marque Chamber of Commerce
  • League City Chamber of Commerce
  • Galveston County Bar Association
  • State of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • Successfully tried to a jury verdict a multi-million dollar dispute between the operator of the iconic Flagship Hotel against Landry’s, Inc.
  • In 2015, successfully defended a homeowner sued by his homeowners’ association in Galveston County District Court and prosecuted claims for harassment against the association. After a week-long trial, the jury found for the homeowner on all claims and awarded the homeowner $100,000 in damages plus $90,000 in attorneys’ fees. Other defendants settled confidentially.
  • In 2015, successfully represented a biodiesel distributor in a joint venture dispute. Retained just 3 weeks before trial, and after a 3-day bench trial in Harris County District Court, obtained judgment for client in excess of $500,000 plus more than $42,000 in attorneys’ fees.
  • In 2015, obtained summary judgment on behalf of municipality in Galveston County District court against resident seeking disannexation of recently annexed area.
  • In 2016, represented municipality before the Texas Railroad Commission in the first ever public right-of-way pipeline assessment appeal. Obtained order allowing municipality to collect more than $200,000 in past due pipeline assessments.
  • In 2016, successfully tried a week-long contested guardianship in the Galveston County Probate Court. Case settled favorably before closing arguments.
  • In 2016, successfully represented homeowners claiming they were misled by home sellers and the listing realtor in Galveston County District Court. Case settled confidentiality after jury selection. Other defendants settled confidentially.
  • In 2016, successfully represented homeowners in a title dispute matter over investment property in Harris County District Court. Obtained judgment for homeowners after a 2-day bench trial.
  • Obtained favorable settlement for former investor in Ponzi scheme in action brought by SEC appointed Receiver in federal court in Houston involving claims of breach of contract and claw-back.
  • Successfully obtained a dismissal of a FINRA arbitration for the institution’s failure to comply with arbitrator’s orders.
  • Obtained summary judgment in Oklahoma on behalf of hotel seller for non-payment of purchase price, ultimately resulting in a six figure settlement for the client.
  • Successfully represented Houston bank in prosecuting claims against former employee for breach of confidentiality agreement and theft of confidential information. Obtained favorable settlement resulting in permanent injunction against employee.
  • Successfully defended former employee of insurance brokerage firm against claims of breach of covenant not to compete and non-solicit contained in employment contract, ultimately obtaining full release from all restrictive covenants.
  • Lindley v. TRS Recovery Associates, Inc., 2:12-CV-109, 2012 WL 6201175 (S.D. Tex. Dec. 12, 2012) – Obtained summary judgment on behalf of debt collector establishing that client’s written correspondence does not violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
  • Sobrino-Barrera v. Anderson Shipping Co., Ltd., CIV.A. H-09-3642, 2011 WL 5245396 (S.D. Tex. Oct. 24, 2011) aff’d, 11-20826, 2012 WL 5205622 (5th Cir. Oct. 23, 2012) – Obtained summary judgment on behalf of vessel owner and manager in a catastrophic personal injury case brought by injured longshoreman.

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