Christopher S. Williams

Attorney Profile
Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Cleveland, OH
- Business Litigation (60%),
- Health Care (20%),
- Employee Benefits (20%)
Since 2017, Chris has been recognized for his work in Litigation: General Commercial by Chambers USA. In 2020, Chambers noted that Chris is a "fantastic lawyer" and "well regarded for his expertise in commercial disputes as well as ERISA and healthcare litigation. He is very practical, thorough and shows good judgment."
Since 2013, he has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation – ERISA. For the years 2016 and 2018, Chris was recognized by Best Lawyers as its Cleveland ERISA Litigation "Lawyer of The Year," a distinction reserved for one lawyer per practice area each year.
Chris is a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America and has also been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a "Local Litigation Star – Ohio" in the areas of General Commercial, Health Care, and Professional Liability from 2012-2021.
Based on statewide voting by Ohio lawyers, Chris has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers as a Top 50 Cleveland Attorney and a Top 100 Ohio Attorney for the past seven years. Chris is also a Life Member of the Judicial Conference of the 8th Judicial District (Cuyahoga County).
Chris currently serves on the Boards of Directors of College Now of Greater Cleveland and the Ohio State Legal Services Association.
In addition to Co-Chairing the Litigation Department, Chris serves on Calfee’s Practice, Planning & Growth Committee, its Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and as Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.
Top Lists
- Top 100: 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2021 Cleveland Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2020 Cleveland Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2018 Cleveland Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2017 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2017 Cleveland Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2016 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2016 Cleveland Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2015 Cleveland Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2013 Ohio Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2013 Cleveland Super Lawyers
About Christopher Williams
Admitted: 1990, Ohio
Professional Webpage: https://calfee.com/professionals/christopher-s-williams/
Honors/Awards:
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Ohio Super Lawyer, Top 100 Ohio Super Lawyers, Top 50 Cleveland Super Lawyers, Ohio Super Lawyers, 2021
- Cleveland ERISA Litigation "Lawyer of the Year", The Best Lawyers in America©, 2018
- Leading Lawyer - Litigation: General Commercial, Chambers USA, 2020
- Local Litigation Star - Competition, General Commercial, Health Care, Professional Liability, and Securities, Benchmark Litigation, 2021
- Cleveland ERISA Litigation “Lawyer of The Year”, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2018
- Best Lawyer - Commercial Litigation and Litigation – ERISA, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2021
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Board member, Ohio State Legal Services Association, 2021
- Fellow, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, 2021
- Judicial Conference of the 8th Judicial District (Cuyahoga County), Life Member, 2021
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America , 2021
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- Ohio
Pro bono/Community Service:
- College Now Greater Cleveland, Board Member, 2020
- Chair of Calfee Halter's Pro Bono Committee, 2019
Verdicts/Settlements:
- Culminating in a 2020 Ohio Supreme Court Order, successfully represented a Colorado public company and its former CEO in litigation matters resulting in judgments against and collections from an Ohio company totaling more than $5.8 million in compensatory and punitive damages, plus a $1.1 million sanctions and attorneys’ fees award, which award was affirmed by the 11th District Ohio Court of Appeals in 2019 and the Ohio Supreme Court in 2020., 2020
- Currently (in 2020) represents, and has since 2009, a Colorado public company and its former CEO in litigation matters resulting in judgments against and collections from an Ohio company totaling more than $5.8 million in compensatory and punitive damages, plus a $1.13 million 2019 sanctions and attorneys’ fees trial court award, which judgment was affirmed by the 11th District Ohio Court of Appeals in December, 2019. The losing parties are currently seeking Ohio Supreme Court review of the million dollar-plus sanctions award., 2020
- In 2016 represented one of Ohio’s largest steel companies in a multi-million-dollar three-week jury trial arising from a $100 million construction project gone awry., 2016
Newsletters:
- In Intel Corp. Inv. Policy Comm. v. Sulyma, 589 U.S. __ (Feb. 26, 2020), the U.S. Supreme Court brought important – albeit generally employee-friendly – clarity to an oft-litigated statute of limitations issue in ERISA breach of fiduciary duty litigation. , The U.S. Supreme Court Dilutes ERISA’s Statute of Limitations Defense for Fiduciaries, Employee Benefits And Executive Compensation
Educational Background:
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center., 1989
- B.A., Miami University., 1986
Industry Groups
- Banking
- Financial Services And Insurance
- Gaming And Hospitality
- Health Care
- Manufacturing And Industrial
- Private and Family-Owned Businesses
- Public Companies
- Real Estate
Additional Sources of Information About Christopher S. Williams
Christopher S. Williams:
Last Updated: 2/23/2021