Chris L. Gilbert is a trial and business attorney who devotes his practice primarily to high-stakes, complex litigation. The General Counsel for one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world describes Chris as “in the top 5” of all outside counsels. Other clients, as “outstanding,” “responsive,” a “total professional,” delivering “great successes and results” in litigation, a “master strategist and negotiator” and “tough as nails.” Chris uses state-of-the-art legal technology and jury expertise in the courtroom to put his clients in the best position to win at trial or on appeal. Chris makes extensive use of focus groups and mock trials for case evaluation, discovery planning and trial preparation. A jury consultant notes, “Chris’ talent for storytelling and his gift for understanding what is important to jurors make him a very strong advocate for his clients at trial.”

For 25 years, he has litigated cases across the country in trial and appellate courts from New York to California, as well as multidistrict litigation panels, bankruptcy courts, the International Trade Commission, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, mediations and arbitrations before panels at JAMS, the AAA, the IAC and the ICC, among others. Chris focuses his trial practice on business litigation (particularly protecting the interests of investors), intellectual property, entertainment and art law. Chris has substantial experience in the defense of patent infringement litigation brought by non-practicing entities (NPEs) in numerous venues, including the Eastern District of Texas. Over the years, the total amount in controversy of the cases he has handled is in the billions of dollars. Chris regularly co-counsels with the most prominent law firms and attorneys worldwide forming formidable trial teams on high stakes matters.

Chris also represents business owners and entrepreneurs in business transactions, governance and ventures. As a business attorney, Chris uses the skills he has developed in the courtroom to negotiate for and advise management and board members on corporate governance, transactions and protection of business assets. He routinely provides his expertise in negotiating the sale and purchase of businesses that are subject to litigation or material litigation risk as well as counseling owners and management of distressed companies. The firm has recovered millions of dollars of assets for clients.

Prior to starting Gilbert PC, Chris was a partner in three AmLaw 100 firms – K&L Gates; Patton Boggs and Bryan Cave – serving on numerous committees and also a chair of litigation and intellectual property sections. After law school, Chris began his legal career in the prominent Nashville law firm Boult Cummings Conners & Berry (now Bradley Arant Boult Cummings), where he was a summer associate, associate and partner, before returning to his home state of Texas. While in Nashville, Chris served as the North American Litigation Co-Chair for TAGLaw®, an international alliance of independent law firms recognized as “Elite” in the Chambers Global rankings guide.

Chris is a native Texan whose family settled in Texas in the 1860s. Chris is also an entrepreneur involved in a number of for-profit and charitable ventures. He is a member of the Dallas Business Journal Leadership Trust. Chris is the Chair of The Sam Gilbert Foundation (thesamgilbertfoundation.com) supporting ranching, agribusiness education and the Western lifestyle in honor of his late son Samuel. Chris writes, lectures frequently and has taught seminars on international law at universities in China and in the EU and Canada.