Christopher M. Loveland

Christopher Loveland is a partner in the Governmental and Business Trial Practice Groups in the firm's Washington, D.C. office.

Areas of Practice

Christopher represents clients in complex litigation in federal and state courts throughout the country. He has extensive litigation and appellate experience on a wide range of matters, including the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Contract Disputes Act, securities and accounting fraud, and contract and partnership disputes. In addition, Christopher has substantial experience advising financial institutions and trustees regarding their fiduciary obligations, and representing trustees and trusts in fiduciary litigation.

Christopher also represents clients in connection with investigations by government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. General Services Administration and various Offices of the Inspector General. In addition, he has experience conducting and managing internal investigations of public companies and privately held entities on a variety of issues, including allegations of accounting irregularities, fraud, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and the False Claims Act.

Experience

False Claims Act Litigation:

• Member of trial team that defended claims totaling more than $1.2 billion in a four week trial against a company accused of defrauding the United States in administering a General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule contract.
• Obtained summary judgment dismissing with prejudice a qui tam False Claims Act case filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that an information technology solutions provider violated the False Claims Act by offering products for sale to the government that did not comply with the Trade Agreements Act, which was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
• Successfully moved to dismiss with prejudice qui tam False Claims Act case filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota alleging violations of the False Claims Act in connection with sales to the government of information technology products.
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of qui tam False Claims Act case filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts alleging violations of the False Claims Act regarding sales to the government that allegedly did not comply with the Buy American Act and the Trade Agreements Act.

Government Litigation:

• Member of trial team that obtained a judgment of more than $67 million against the United States, and defeated counterclaims in excess of $400 million, in connection with the production and installation of U.S. Postal Service mail sorting machines after an eight-week trial.
• Represented company in challenging a contract that was terminated for default by the U.S. Department of the Interior in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that resulted in a favorable $5 million settlement.
• Developed claims valued in excess of $270 million in connection with a multi-billion dollar information technology government contract that resulted in a settlement favorable to the client.
• Successfully challenged a Bureau of Indian Affairs decision recognizing a faction of a federally recognized Indian tribe as the tribe’s government.

Fiduciary Litigation:

• Successfully defended a national banking association against breach of fiduciary duty claims in connection with its administration of family trusts.
• Obtained verdict on behalf of a limited partner trust on claims that the managing general partners breached their fiduciary duties through their acquisition, management and leasing of properties that competed with the properties owned by the partnership, which was affirmed by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
• Successfully contested validity of a later-executed will, and obtained order admitting prior will to probate and appointing personal representative.

Commercial Litigation:

• Obtained dismissal of Sherman Antitrust Act claims against a satellite company that allegedly conspired with a competitor to restrain trade.
• Successfully moved for summary judgment on behalf of a telecommunications company that was sued by a former salesperson who claimed he was owed $12 million in sales commissions, which was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
• Represented one of the largest landowners in an eminent domain action brought by the District of Columbia in connection with the construction of the Washington Nationals Baseball stadium, which resulted in a favorable settlement.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a financial institution and its counsel who were sued for having allegedly engaged in a fraud-upon-the court in connection with enforcement of a loan guarantee, which was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Investigations:

• Represented information technology solution provider in a False Claims Act investigation by the U.S. General Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Conducted internal investigation of the financing, construction, management and operation of a privately owned gaming facility.
• Conducted internal investigation regarding representations made to the government and commercial contractors under a Federal Supply Schedule Contract.
• Represented high-tech distribution company in an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding alleged racketeering, conspiracy and fraud.

Honors

Washington D.C. Super Lawyer, 2014, 2015 and 2016

Articles

• "Securing the U.S. Bulk Power System: An Assessment of Executive Order 13920," Sheppard Mullin Global Trade Law Blog, May 12, 2020
• "Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of An Opportunistic Relator’s False Claims Act Lawsuit That Alleged Violations Of The Trade Agreements Act," Sheppard Mullin False Claims Act Defense Blog, August 14, 2018 
• "Another One Bites The Dust – False Claims Act Complaint Based On The Trade Agreements Act Is Dismissed With Prejudice For Relator’s Failure To Allege Fraud With Particularity," Sheppard Mullin False Claims Act Defense Blog, July 17, 2017
• "You’ve Been Served—What to Do When You Receive an Agency Subpoena or CID (Part II)," Sheppard Mullin False Claims Act Defense Blog, October 24, 2016
• "You’ve Been Served—What to Do When You Receive an Agency Subpoena or CID (Part I)," Sheppard Mullin False Claims Act Defense Blog, September 12, 2016
• "D.C. Circuit: When The Government Is Silent, There Is No FCA Liability For A Contractor’s “Objectively Reasonable” Interpretation Of An Ambiguous Contract Provision," Sheppard Mullin False Claims Act Defense Blog, December 4, 2015
• "The Ninth Circuit Overrules Decades of Precedent To Make It Easier For Relators To Qualify As An “Original Source”," Sheppard Mullin False Claims Act Defense Blog, September 10, 2015
• "DC Circuit Ruling Confirms Reasonableness Of Resellers Relying On TAA Certifications From Suppliers," Sheppard Mullin Government Contracts Blog, September 29, 2014
• "Common Sense Prevails Once Again: District Court FCA Ruling Serves As Reminder That Whistleblowers Need to Prove Recklessness Too," Sheppard Mullin Government Contracts Blog, May 30, 2013
• Co-Author, "Federal Courts Begin to Lose Patience With Opportunistic Relators," The Coalition for Government Procurement Far and Beyond Blog, May 23, 2012
• "Case Study: Sandager V. Dell Marketing," Law360, May 17, 2012
• "Another U.S. District Court Follows The Lead Of The D.C. Circuit In Addressing The "First-To-File Bar" Circuit Split And Pushes Back Against An Opportunistic Relator," Sheppard Mullin Government Contracts Blog, May 14, 2012
• "District Of Columbia Circuit Holds That Certifications In Financial Statements Do Not Constitute Omissions That Qualify For A Presumption Of Reliance In Fraud Claims Under Rule 10b-5," Sheppard Mullin Corporate & Securities Blog, February 2, 2011
• "D.C. Circuit Vacates Proposed Fee For NYSE Arca "Depth-Of-Book" Data And Remands To SEC For Further Review," Sheppard Mullin Corporate & Securities Blog, August 23, 2010
• "District Of Columbia Circuit Holds That Providing Attorney Work Product To Independent Auditors Does Not Per Se Waive The Protection Of The Work Product Doctrine," Sheppard Mullin Corporate & Securities Blog, July 23, 2010
• "Finally, A Ruling That Applies Some Common Sense To The False Claims Act," Sheppard Mullin Government Contracts Blog, May 12, 2010
• "Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Of Consolidated Class Actions Under The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Based On Faulty Survey Evidence," Sheppard Mullin Class Action Defense Strategy Blog, April 21, 2010
• "Eleventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Options Backdating Securities Fraud Class Action for Failure to Meet Reform Act’s Heightened Pleading Standards," Sheppard Mullin Corporate & Securities Blog, February 12, 2010
• "The Fourth Circuit Bounces Express Check Class Action Back to State Court Based on Lack of Diversity Jurisdiction," Sheppard Mullin Class Action Defense Strategy Blog, January 15, 2010
• "The Must-Have Record: Board Meeting Minutes," January 31, 2005
• Co-Author, "Utilizing Cross Default Provisions in Franchise Agreements," The Franchise Lawyer, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, Volume 6, Number 5, Summer 2003 

Books

• Author, Chapter on Attorney-Client Privilege and Related Duties, Cloud Computing Legal Deskbook, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Editions, Thomson Reuters

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• “Law and Motion in the District of Columbia,” Washington, D.C., November 30, 2009
• “Best Practices in Electronic Discovery for Trademark Practitioners,” International Trademark Association (INTA), Washington, D.C, July 22, 2008

Memberships

Member, District of Columbia Bar Association

Member, Maryland Bar Association

Member, American Bar Association