Christopher Lovrien (Chris)

Partner

Los Angeles + 1.213.243.2316

Connect:

Share

Christopher Lovrien is a trial lawyer who represents major companies in high-stakes commercial disputes across the United States. He has been repeatedly named a "Top 100" lawyer in California by The Daily Journal and honored as a BTI Client Service All-Star.

Chris has served as lead counsel for Fortune 200 companies and other significant enterprises in complex, bet-the-company litigation. His experience includes defending thousands of public nuisance cases brought by states and municipalities regarding prescription opioids; defeating Anti-Terrorism Act and Alien Tort Statute claims on behalf of a global energy company; defending class and mass actions involving industrial fires, chemical discharges, and other alleged environmental harms; and representing clients in the energy sector in upstream and downstream litigation, disputes involving international joint ventures and operating agreements, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance)-related matters.

In addition, Chris is regularly called on by clients to handle deal disputes involving earn-out provisions, breach of contract, and fraud allegations, as well as related securities and derivative litigation. He has successfully defended First Amendment lawsuits implicating media and corporate speech, for which he was recognized as a First Amendment "Trailblazer" by The National Law Journal.

Chris earned his J.D. from Harvard University and his B.A. summa cum laude from the University of St. Thomas. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the RAND Institute for Civil Justice and the Board of Trustees for the Children's Bureau. He also oversees Jones Day's four offices in Australia.

Experience

  • Chevron defeats ATA and ATS claims brought by 298 plaintiffs relating to terrorist attacks in IsraelChevron Corporation, represented by Jones Day, defeated claims under the Anti-Terrorism Act ("ATA") and Alien Tort Statute ("ATS") brought by 298 plaintiffs who sought to hold Chevron responsible for injuries sustained in terrorist attacks in Israel between November 2000 and April 2002.
  • Fox defeats first amendment lawsuit relating to COVID-19 news coverageJones Day successfully defended Fox Corporation and Fox News in a First Amendment lawsuit filed in state court in Seattle, Washington in April 2020.
  • Former managers and executive officers of Quiznos restaurant brand obtain dismissal of federal and state securities fraud actionsJones Day defended former owners, members of the Board of Managers, and executive officers of the Quiznos restaurant brand against claims brought by subsequent purchasers and operators of the company who alleged that defendants’ misstatements induced the plaintiffs to enter into a 2012 restructuring transaction.
  • Chevron defends against lawsuit relating to accidental fire at California refineryJones Day represented Chevron Corporation and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. in defense of a lawsuit filed by the City of Richmond relating to an accidental fire that occurred at CUSA's Richmond (California) refinery in August 2012.
  • MF Global Litigation Trust pursues claims against Jon Corzine and other former officersAs part of MF Global Holdings' confirmed plan of reorganization, Jones Day is representing the Litigation Trustee as plaintiff pursuing claims on behalf of creditors brought against Jon Corzine and other former officers for damages resulting from MF Global's demise.
  • Leading restaurant chain obtains dismissal in unlawful interference with contract actionJones Day successfully represented a leading casual restaurant chain and defeated claims of unlawful interference with a contract related to the operations of its Mexican franchisee.
  • Abercrombie defeats putative class action under California's UCL and CLRAJones Day defended Abercrombie & Fitch in a case alleging that Abercrombie's gift card redemption policies violated California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
  • Hollister defeats class certification in gift card caseJones Day represented Hollister Co., in a putative class action filed under California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
  • Manufacturer of medical equipment obtains dismissal of False Claims Act qui tam action related to patent applicationsA manufacturer of medical equipment represented by Jones Day obtained dismissal of a False Claims Act qui tam action in which the relator alleged that the manufacturer lied on the patent applications for one of its medical products, making the patents invalid and unenforceable.
  • Chevron defeats class action over oil-change feesJones Day defended Chevron U.S.A. Inc. in a putative nationwide class action involving oil-change stations.
  • Childrens Hospital of L.A. wins $2M in overcharges on computer systems outsourcing contractJones Day successfully represented Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) in an AAA-administered arbitration involving a complex contract dispute between the hospital and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC).
  • Chevron defeats state court action alleging fraud and violations of California's UCL concerning gas station franchise agreementsJones Day was retained by Chevron U.S.A., Inc. to defend the company after the plaintiff sued in state court alleging fraud and violations of California's UCL relating to certain gas station franchise agreements
  • Leading retailer prevails in commercial lease disputeJones Day achieved a complete victory for its client, a leading retail department store, in a JAMS arbitration concerning the effectiveness of the store’s exercise of its option rights under its long-term commercial lease.
  • Los Angeles County successfully defends against FEHA age and disability discrimination suitJones Day obtained a demurrer without leave to amend as to all causes of action in a suit alleging Los Angeles County engaged in age and disability discrimination in violation of California's Fair Employment and Housing Act.
  • Los Angeles County secures dismissal of claims of retaliation and discriminationJones Day secured a victory for Los Angeles County in a federal retaliation/discrimination lawsuit brought by four former officers of the now-defunct Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety ("OPS").
  • Fortune 200 company seeks representation in investigation involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism programJones Day represented a Fortune 200 company in an investigation that arose after U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") discovered a large amount of narcotics that, unbeknownst to the company, had been secretly hidden inside a container used to transport the company's products across the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • Los Angeles County obtains dismissal of discrimination suitJones Day client Los Angeles County obtained dismissal of a suit alleging civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and age and disability discrimination in violation of the California Peace Officers Bill of Rights.
  • Albertson's successfully defends California AG antitrust litigation related to labor union negotiationsJones Day defended supermarket chain Albertson's, Inc. against antitrust claims asserted by the California Attorney General in connection with a "mutual strike assistance agreement" that Albertson's entered into with Vons and Ralphs, two other grocery store companies.
  • Bayer prevails in Supreme Court, ending federal Cipro antitrust class actionsOn March 7, 2011, the Supreme Court of the United States denied certiorari in In re Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride Antitrust Litigation, bringing to an end an eleven-year battle between Jones Day client Bayer and antitrust class plaintiffs arising from a patent settlement concerning Bayer's popular antibiotic, Cipro.
  • Novatel Wireless defends shareholder class action and shareholder derivative actions regarding misrepresentations concerning their financial resultsJones Day represents Novatel Wireless, Inc. and certain of its officers and directors in shareholder class and derivative actions alleging that Novatel made misrepresentations concerning their financial results and the status and scope of the Company's internal investigation.
  • Park-Olson Lumber successfully defends against alleged fraudulent investment schemeJones Day defended Park-Olson Lumber Company in a case involving claims by two dozen plaintiffs alleging a fraudulent investment scheme.
  • Los Angeles MTA defeats wage and hour class action lawsuitJones Day successfully defended the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in a hybrid class and collective action wage and hour lawsuit filed by Nathan Flowers, a former bus driver, alleging failure to comply with state and federal wage and hour laws.
  • Vibram obtains First Circuit affirmation of class action settlement agreement related to its advertisingOn December 31, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed a $3.75 million class action settlement involving Jones Day clients, Vibram USA, Inc. and Vibram FiveFingers LLC, makers of the popular FiveFingers shoes.
    • View All

    November 2025 Alert

    Ninth Circuit Enjoins SB 261's Climate-Related Risk Reporting Requirements, Declines to Enjoin SB 253

    May 2025 Alert

    Georgia Limits Liability for Pesticide Manufacturers

    January 2025 Alert

    New York Enacts Climate Change Law That Fines Companies for Historical Emissions

    December 2024 White Paper

    Class Actions Worldview Compendium

    NOVEMBER 2024 Alert

    California Imposes Mandatory Disclosure Law for Voluntary Child Labor Audits

    September 2024 Alert

    California's Climate Disclosure Laws Move Forward After Governor Newsom's Proposal to Delay Implementation Fails

    August 2024 Commentary

    Coming Soon: Mandatory Climate Disclosure Laws in Australia

    June 2024 Alert

    U.S. Corporation Found Liable for Complicity in Human Rights Violations in Colombia

    May 2024 Commentary

    California Supreme Court Will Review Novel Negligence Theory for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

    May 2024 White Paper

    Class Actions Worldview: Part IV—China, Japan, Belgium, The Netherlands, and England and Wales
    View All

    Additional Publications

    • July 2020
      Last days of judicial imperialism? (Daily Journal) – An article about the U.S. Supreme Court's grants of certiorari in two cases that could significantly rein in and clarify the scope of the Alien Tort Statute.

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • May 8, 2024
      Insights on US Litigation Trends and Regulatory Risks: The Rise of ESG, Mass Actions and Public Nuisance Claims
    • May 6, 2024
      Global Perspectives on Litigation Trends and Regulatory Risks
    • October 24, 2012
      Outbound Seminar "Managing Legal Risks in Global Expansion of Chinese Companies"
    • 2012年10月24日
      对外投资研讨会：中国公司全球扩展中的法律风险管理
    • August 2, 2011
      Cal CPA Economic Damages & Fraud Sections--Causation Scenarios for the Damages Expert
    • January 27, 2011
      Hot Ethical Issues Facing In-House Counsel
    • January 28, 2010
      Ethical Pitfalls in Internal Investigations: Issues of Privilege, Cooperation with the Government, and Conflicts of Interest
    • September 25, 2007
      Crisis Management -- Protecting the Attorney-Client Privilege When the Stakes are High, ACCA Double Header Program

    Before sending, please note:

    Information on www.jonesday.com is for general use and is not legal advice. The mailing of this email is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Anything that you send to anyone at our Firm will not be confidential or privileged unless we have agreed to represent you. If you send this email, you confirm that you have read and understand this notice.