Christopher S. Reeder

Christopher Reeder is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Reeder represents clients in the areas of commercial law, franchise, business practices, intellectual property, employment and labor, real estate, construction, aviation, entertainment, and class action litigation. Mr. Reeder also counsels clients in real estate transactions, lending and brokerage laws, construction contracting and licensure requirements, advertising, business practices, and employment law.

Prior to his law career, Christopher served in The United States Navy from 1989-1994 as an Operations Specialist Second Class (Surface Warfare), during which time he received three letters of commendation and five medals.

Education

• J.D., University of Dayton School of Law, 1997, magna cum laude, The Honorable Walter H. Rice Moot Court Competition
• B.S., Political Science and Sociology, University of the State of New York, 1993

Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals
• Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of California

Experience

Obtained a jury verdict (including an award of punitive damages) in favor of a major dental practice management company that owns several dental practices in Southern California against a minority partner;

Successfully represented two real estate development firms in litigation involving over $35 million in damages related to the Key Largo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada against one of the largest real estate developers in Mexico involving issues of unlawful circumvention and breach of a joint venture agreement;

Successfully represented major home improvement contractors and several subsidiaries in an administrative action brought by the California Attorney General involving numerous allegations of unlawful business practices;

Successfully represented a national franchisor in multi-state litigation against former franchisees and their principals involving issues of misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement, unfair business practices, breach of contract, and conversion;

Successfully represented the subsidiary of a large publicly traded aerospace corporation in unfair business practices litigation against four former officers as well as successfully defending the client in retaliatory unlawful termination counterclaims resulting in a dismissal of those claims and a judgment against the former officers;

Managed several law firms in the successful representation of a real estate developer in multiple cases and bankruptcy proceedings pending in California and Nevada relating to several properties and promissory notes involving issues of fraud, usury, and violation of brokerage laws;

Lead counsel in the successful defense of multiple employment class actions involving allegations of unpaid wages, expenses and charge backs resulting in nuisance value claim made settlements with a class wide release;

Successful representation of an aviation repair station in litigation involving major maintenance services performed on a commercial passenger aircraft; and

Successful prosecution of fraud case against a well known writer/director on behalf of a major film production company.

Memberships

• Member, American Bar Association, Litigation Section
• Firm Representative, International Franchise Association

Articles

• Sheppard Mullin Gains Litigator From Lord Bissell, Los Angeles Daily Journal, July 16, 2007