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Am Law 100 firm with practices in Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation and Tax.

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The State of Employee Status

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Promotions Trends to Look for in 2025

New Jersey Employers Must Disclose Pay and Benefits Information to Employees and Applicants

Technology from the Top: AI, Data and the Future of Business with Today’s CIOs

Technology from the Top: AI, Data and the Future of Business with Today’s CIOs – Shannon Johnston

Certified as an Information Privacy Professional by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, Chris has deep experience defending clients facing data privacy class actions, as well as advising clients on privacy and data security compliance and regulatory investigations. As a trial lawyer, Chris has run the gamut from resolving cases pre-suit to winning jury verdicts and upholding them on appeal.

core/freeform

J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 2003

B.S., James Madison University, 1999

<ul>
<li><em>Benchmark Litigation</em>, &#8220;Top Litigator Under 40&#8221; (2017)</li>
<li><em>The Best Lawyers in America</em>®
<ul>
<li>Georgia: Trade Secrets Law (2017 to 2025)</li>
<li>Georgia: Technology Law (2023)</li>
<li>Georgia: Copyright Law (2023 to 2025)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Georgia Super Lawyers &#8220;Rising Star&#8221; (2006 to 2007, 2009, 2011)</li>
<li>National Institute of Trial Advocacy: Advocate (designation signifying completion of intensive, multi-day, hands-on trial advocacy programs)</li>
</ul>


Atlanta

BakerHostetler dismantles 20-count suit against clients, securing motion for directed verdict

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<h5>Privacy/Technology</h5>
<ul>
<li>Lead counsel to healthcare provider in defeating putative data-breach class action arising out ransomware attack; case dismissed on standing grounds.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to hospital in defeating class certification of patient medical data breach litigation.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to healthcare technology company in successfully defending multimillion-dollar trade secret misappropriation lawsuit with vendor. Summary judgment granted in client’s favor on all claims and $1.4 million attorneys’ fees awarded</li>
<li>Lead counsel to hospital system in putative data-breach class action arising out of phishing incident.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to wholesale internet and voice service provider in litigation arising out of cybersecurity attack on customer’s network.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to cloud-based software and hosted solutions vendors advising on data breach incidents and resulting litigation.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to a consumer financing provider regarding data security and privacy matters.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to a mobile electronic health records software company in shareholder derivative litigation.</li>
<li>Counsel for multi-billion dollar global technology services provider in lawsuit brought by multinational gas and electric utility company alleging failure of SAP ERP software implementation, seeking in excess of $1 billion in damages.</li>
<li>Counsel for multi-billion dollar global technology services provider lawsuit brought by major retail sports marketer alleging failure of SAP ERP software implementation, seeking in excess of $10 million in damages.</li>
<li>Trial counsel in successfully defending patent licensee against breach of license and patent infringement claims brought by publicly-traded licensor of healthcare field operations tracking technology.</li>
<li>Trial counsel to New York-based enterprise software developer in litigation with State of Georgia over implementation of complex state-wide software solution.</li>
<li>Counsel to world’s third-largest travel services company in dispute with large IT solutions and services provider over implementation of multimillion-dollar integrated telecommunications software system.</li>
<li>Lead counsel for transportation logistics company in litigation involving software licensing dispute and copyright infringement claims.</li>
<li>Counsel to inventor and patent holder of automobile VIN laser etching technology in action against U.K. company for patent infringement, breach of confidentiality agreement and trade secret misappropriation.</li>
<li>Lead trial counsel to clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, in actions challenging or defending trademark registrations.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to telephony software provider and licensor in pursuing claims against a licensee for breach of contract, copyright infringement and violations of the Defend Trade Secrets Act.</li>
<li>Counsel to home healthcare customer relationship management software in litigation with competitor regarding Lanham Act claims.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to financial institutions on FinTech matters, including hosted services agreements and payment card network agreements.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to one of the nation’s largest home builders on technology licensing agreements.</li>
</ul>
<h5>Complex Litigation</h5>
<ul>
<li>Lead counsel for opioid distributor in federal and state litigation involving the distribution of controlled substances.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to nationwide pawnbroker in defeating putative class action based on alleged Truth in Lending Act violations; case dismissal affirmed by United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.</li>
<li>Lead trial counsel for one of the world’s largest producers of shelf-stable and fully cooked food products. Brought and defended multiple contractual and business tort claims in federal and state courts and arbitration on client’s behalf.</li>
<li>Lead counsel in bringing claims of more than $20 million for breach of fiduciary duty against former company officer, and aiding and abetting breach by $2 billion investment fund for misappropriating client’s food product concepts. Defeated defendants’ dispositive motions based on Georgia Trade Secrets Act pre-emption.</li>
<li>Lead counsel for nationwide commercial transportation insurance wholesaler. Defended multiple contractual disputes in federal and state courts on client’s behalf.</li>
<li>Counsel to a major cable television company in an adversary proceeding initiated by a bankruptcy creditors committee seeking to recover more than $100 million. Obtained summary judgment in client’s favor on all claims, which was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.</li>
<li>Counsel to international hotel chain in class action litigation involving time-share resorts and memberships.</li>
<li>Counsel for Fortune 500 healthcare company as one of four winning bidders of $4 billion contract award for Medicaid and ‘PeachCare for Kids’ in successfully defeating bid protests of three losing bidders.</li>
<li>Trial counsel for one of the nation’s largest publicly-traded REIT’s in fraud action against former executive and general contractor arising out of bribery and kickback scheme. Obtained $2.7 million jury verdict in client’s favor and successfully defended the verdict on appeal.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to chief executive of renewable energy company in suit seeking $1 million under corporate veil piercing theory. Obtained summary judgment in client’s favor on all claims.</li>
<li>Counsel to president of software development company sued personally for alleged company fraud. Obtained dismissal of all claims.</li>
<li>Lead counsel for construction company in dispute against former company president involving misappropriation of company funds.</li>
<li>Counsel to telecommunications provider and several of its former officers and directors in a suit brought by former minority shareholders.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to professional sports league in water rights litigation. Successfully negotiated continued use of critical water supply.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to financial institutions and other lenders in commercial foreclosure actions and litigation involving defaulted loans and the recovery of collateral. Successfully obtained appointments of receivers and the return or liquidation of collateral.</li>
<li>Trial counsel to national retail pharmacy in eminent domain litigation. Obtained appellate court ruling clarifying state law in client’s favor.</li>
<li>Lead trial counsel to owner of retail shopping centers across the U.S. in litigation involving lease disputes, fraudulent transfers and dispossessory actions. Obtained verdicts and judgments ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to more than $1 million.</li>
<li>Lead counsel to big-box-store electronics retailer in lease dispute.</li>
<li>Lead trial counsel to national tax preparation franchisor in franchise dispute litigation.</li>
</ul>


Christopher A. Wiech

Christopher A. Wiech

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