Christian Novay is a Senior Partner and Trial Lawyer in the firm's Chicago office. He handles complex litigation matters in both state and federal courts with an emphasis on employment practices liability, general liability, trucking and transportation litigation, Hospitality, and commercial litigation. Christian frequently defends catastrophic multi-party litigation cases, and he has defended dozens of lawyers/law firms in matters where it is alleged they were negligent in representing their clients.  He has tried to verdict more than 30 jury trials and bench trials in state courts in Illinois and New York and federal courts nationally. He has handled mediations (binding and non-binding) and arbitrations and represented his clients before administrative commissions and tribunals across the nation. 

Christian specializes in litigation of companies in the Retail and Hospitality and Property Management sectors and serves as National Counsel for national hotel chains, franchisees/franchisors and national hospitality management companies for multi-family residential properties.

He has over 15 years experience handling catastrophic trucking/transportation claims for public and private insurers and client companies.

Christian has experience defending companies in product liability matters involving products manufactured in the United States and abroad. These include, industrial machinery, sporting goods and consumer products.  He served as Board Member on the Counsel on Litigation Management Alliance, Product Liability, Consumer Goods Committee for several years.

In his over 25 years of practice he has defended contractors and sub-contractors in construction and construction defect claims with a focus on the defense of contractors and owners, as well as their insurers, in a variety of matters. 

Christian's clientele includes a Fortune 200 technology company, national hotel chains and management companies and national property management companies and manufacturer/distributors to name a few. 

Prior to joining Lewis Brisbois, Mr. Novay was a partner at a large national law firm and received an appointment to serve as Assistant District Attorney in New York.  He has garnered peer nominated recognition having been named Litigator of the year by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers and Lawyers of Distinction in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Offices Held

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
  • New York
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Admissions

Illinois

New York

USDC Eastern District of New York

USDC Northern and Southern District of Illinois

Associations

Counsel on Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)

Education

Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Florida Southern College