Chris focuses his practice on real estate and land use litigation, primarily representing energy companies in right-of-way acquisition and enforcement, and infrastructure protection litigation. He also has extensive experience in commercial, environmental, construction, and tort litigation.
He has significant hands-on experience managing all phases of litigation, including initial case intake and evaluation, discovery, preparing fact and expert witnesses, taking and defending fact and expert depositions, motion practice, arguing in open court, trial, and alternative dispute resolution. Chris currently serves as lead counsel in infrastructure protection litigation for an interstate natural gas pipeline company.
Chris earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from American University Washington College of Law in 2015, and his B.A. from Middlebury College in 2010. While attending law school, he served as the Associate Managing Editor of the American University Law Review, and externed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Representative Experience
- Represented a natural gas pipeline company in a dispute over access to property after a landslip threatened the structural integrity of a critical pipeline. Benesch secured injunctive relief, granting immediate access for repairs.
- Represented a natural gas pipeline company in a dispute over property damage caused by a contractor exceeding mowing limits on a pipeline right-of-way. Benesch secured dismissal of claims against the parent company and obtained voluntary dismissal of our client after clarifying easement terms and contractor responsibility.
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Represented energy company in a breach of lease litigation at a decommissioned power plant.
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Represented interstate natural gas pipeline company against landowners’ claims for ejectment of the pipeline and trespass.
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Represented interstate natural gas pipeline company in condemnation proceedings for an above-ground pipeline facility.
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Represented interstate natural gas pipeline company in TRO proceeding to allow access to pipeline for safety upgrades.
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Represented landlord in adverse possession litigation filed by encroaching neighbor.
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Represented municipality in condemnation proceedings to widen state highway.
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Represented natural gas distribution company in condemnation negotiations to lay a new pipeline.
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Represented natural gas distribution company in TRO proceeding to obtain access to property to conduct a survey for a new pipeline and subsequent condemnation negotiations.
