Skip to main content

Christopher A. Mair focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and business litigation, representing some of the nation’s largest banks, credit card companies, student loan servicers, and other financial institutions.

Christopher has deep experience litigating and defending against a wide range of claims brought against his clients in the financial services industry, including but not limited to those brought under the Uniform Commercial Code, as well as federal claims brought under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, Expedited Funds Availability Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Christopher regularly defends his clients in both class action and individual claims involving checks, wires, electronic funds transfers, negotiable instruments, and credit cards.

With an active franchise litigation practice, Christopher has represented some of the nation’s largest commercial franchisors and automobile manufacturers in disputes across the country involving claims of breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, consumer fraud, tortious interference, and violation of various franchise and motor vehicle dealership laws. He also has experience handling franchise terminations, non-renewals, and the enforcement of in-term and post-termination covenants.

In addition to his state and federal court experience, Christopher has wide-ranging experience litigating, mediating, and managing disputes before alternative dispute resolution panels administered by the American Arbitration Association, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, and JAMS.

Beyond his commercial litigation practice, Christopher believes it is important to use his legal skills to find opportunities to give back to the community in substantive ways. He volunteers his time representing pro se litigants in federal courts throughout Illinois and proudly serves as an Associate Board member for Working in the Schools (WITS), a Chicago non-profit that sets students on a trajectory for success by building critical literacy skills and developing positive self-identity through teacher led professional development and volunteer powered mentorship programs.

Concentrations

  • Commercial litigation
  • Franchise litigation
  • Financial services litigation
  • Arbitration and mediation

Capabilities

Experience

Judicial Extern, Honorable L. Felipe Restrepo, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2014

Recognition & Leadership

  • Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Illinois Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2023-2024
  • Recognized, The National Black Lawyers, "Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers: Illinois," 2020
  • Associate Board Member, Working in the Schools (WITS) 
  • Liaison, The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, 2018-2019
  • Co-Chair, National Association for Urban Debate Leagues Young Professionals Board, 2018-2020
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Chicago Bar Association

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School
    • Executive Authorities Editor, Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law
    • President, The International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi
    • Summer Fellow, Cecil D. Branstetter Litigation and Dispute Resolution Program
  • B.A., Political Science, Northwestern University
    • Northwestern University Debate Society
    • Clarion DeWitt Hardy Debate Scholar
Admissions
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Related Capabilities

Litigation Financial Services Litigation Franchise & Distribution Regulatory & Compliance Arbitration & Mediation