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S. Christopher Collier

Partner

Chris Collier is a partner in the Atlanta office of Lewis Brisbois. Chris represents individuals as well as businesses, ranging from family-owned to Fortune 250 national and multinational corporations. He concentrates his litigation practice in the areas of premises liability, product liability, toxic tort, environmental, transportation, and general negligence.

Chris focuses his practice in federal and state courts in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, and West Virginia but has represented clients in numerous jurisdictions throughout the United States. Chris also manages and coordinates litigation on a nationwide basis for several clients, in addition to serving as trial counsel.

Chris believes in being readily available to his clients. Likewise, he understands the time demands and financial constraints faced by his clients, as he previously served in the role of Counsel-Litigation & Environmental for one of the nation’s Class I railroads.

Professional Expertise 

Asbestos, Toxic Tort & Environmental Litigation

Chris has defended toxic tort and environmental litigation claims, including a substantial number of asbestos and talc lawsuits, throughout his legal career. He has also defended claims involving exposures to plastics, mixed chemicals, benzene, formaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone, and mold. He has participated in all phases of the defense of these matters, from initial discovery through dispositive motions, expert discovery, settlement negotiations, and trial.

Chris serves as national counsel to several companies involved in both premises and product liability claims related to alleged asbestos and chemical exposures. In these roles, Chris coordinates national defense issues and serves as trial counsel. He also serves as counsel for several additional clients on a regional and state-wide basis. Chris understands the complexities faced by companies in toxic tort and asbestos litigation, having advised one of the nation’s Class I railroads on issues related to asbestos liability from both a legal and business standpoint.

Premises Liability

Chris has successfully defended property owners and managers and major retail, commercial, residential, food processing, and industrial companies in premises liability claims involving personal injury and wrongful death in Georgia and throughout the United States. He has also represented and advised a nationally-renowned resort in a variety of litigation ranging from slip and fall cases to injuries sustained during resort activities.

Recently, Chris obtained summary judgment in a difficult jurisdiction on behalf of an auto parts supplier. This premises liability matter involved the definition of a static condition under Georgia law. Chris also successfully defended the appeal of this matter before the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Chris also recently obtained summary judgment on behalf of a large retail shopping center. This premises liability claim focused on the issue of superior knowledge with respect to whether the condition was known prior to a patron’s slip and fall following a large snow and ice storm.

Product Liability

Chris has represented a number of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in product liability actions involving a wide variety of products, including automotive parts, food services, and chemicals. He has defended against allegations of spoliation, product design defect, and failure to warn, among others. Chris recently defended and obtained several favorable resolutions for a brake remanufacturer in a number of claims involving a multi-vehicle accident due to an alleged product defect. Chris also recently favorably negotiated a dismissal of a client in a case involving contaminated food allegations.

Transportation

Chris has defended and advised railroads, trucking companies, transloaders, and companies with fleets of delivery vehicles. He has represented these entities in all aspects of litigation, including claims involving personal injury and death. Recently, Chris defended and favorably resolved a railroad grade crossing case involving a fuel tanker that was struck by a train after becoming lodged on a humped railroad crossing.

General Liability

Chris has handled numerous cases and advised clients in matters involving allegations of construction defects, bridge safety, insurance issues, computer security breach protocol, and general liability claims.

 

Pro Bono & Philanthropy

  • Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation (AVLF) Saturday Lawyer Program (2019-present) 
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Everybody Wins! Atlanta (weekly reading mentor to at-risk elementary school students) (2007-2019)
  • Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition Judge (2019)
  • Emory University School of Law Moot Court Competition Judge (1999, 2004, 2010) 

Publications

  • Looking For Judicial Activists? Check The Footnotes, Law360 Expert Analysis, November 18, 2020
  • Protecting Your Hotel From Liability During COVID-19, May 15, 2020
  • Lead Risks Upon Buildings Reopening from COVID-19 Closures & Initial Litigation Inquiries for Lawsuits Based on Such Exposures, May 1, 2020
  • Where High Court May Land On 'Defense Preclusion' Question, Law360 Expert Analysis, April 13, 2020
  • Can Text Messages Or An Airbag Cause A Suicide?, Law360 Expert Analysis, August 21, 2019
  • Transportation Law Compendium: Georgia (2019 Edition), ALFA International Transportation Practice Group, 2019
  • The Immodest Textualism Of Justices' Retirement Tax Opinion, Law360 Expert Analysis, March 15, 2019
  • Refreshingly Boring? High Court Considers Statutory Context, Law360 Expert Analysis, November 5, 2018
  • How High Court May Rule On The Bare-Metal Defense, Law360 Expert Analysis, October 16, 2018
  • How Settlement Credits Work: Washington, September 2018
  • Looking Forward To Oral Argument In BNSF V. Loos, Law360 Expert Analysis, August 8, 2018
  • Cautious Optimism Over the Increasingly Prevalent Alternative Fee Arrangements, Texas Lawyer, August 1, 2018
  • Amending FELA Judgments for Tax Withholdings: Supreme Court Set To Resolve Circuit Split, June 2018
  • How Settlement Credits Work: South Carolina, June 2018
  • Who Goes on the Verdict Form: Tinkering Toward Utopia Leads to Complexity in Connecticut, April 2018
  • Who Goes on the Verdict Form: Contributory Negligence & Pro Rata Apportionment in North Carolina, November 2017
  • Who Goes on the Verdict Form: Pointing Fingers Across “the V” in Alabama, August 2017
  • Who Goes On a Verdict Form: South Carolina Law Needs Clarification, April 2016
  • A Comparison of State Case Filing Criteria, HarrisMartin's Lung Cancer Conference, October 2014
  • Hindsight is 20/20, Defense Research Institute Asbestos Medicine Seminar, 2011

Professional Presentations

Chris has been invited to speak at numerous national, regional and client professional seminars and meetings, a selection of which are included below. He has also frequently served as a faculty member at professional educational programs and for some of the nation’s leading law schools.

 

 

 

 

 
  • Faculty Member, Kessler-Eidson Program for Trial Techniques, Emory University School of Law (2014-2024)
  • Faculty Member, National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Deposition Skills Program, Atlanta, GA (December 2023, 2022, 2019, 2015, 2010-2012)
  • Faculty Member, National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Deposition Skills Program, Charlotte, NC (September 2023)
  • Faculty Member, National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Deposition Skills: Online Program (August 2023, December 2020)
  • Presenter, “Changing Plaintiff Demographics, Exposure Profiles and Coverage Issues Associated with Late Exposure Claims,” Perrin National Asbestos Litigation Conference, Charleston, SC (September 2022)
  • Presenter, "Lung Cancer Update: Alternative Causes of Lung Cancer," Perrin Conferences Asbestos Litigation Trends & Trial Overview Conference, Virtual (June 2022)
  • Presenter, "Hindsight Is 2020: Planning for Tomorrow's Crisis," ALFA International 2021 Hospitality & Retail Practice Group Seminar, Charleston, SC (November 2021)
  • Presenter, DRI Asbestos Medicine Young Lawyers Session, "Fact Witness Depositions: Interactive Session on How to Handle the Three Bs," Virtual (December 2020)
  • Presenter, The National Forum for Environmental & Toxic Tort Issues (FETTI) 2019 Annual Conference, "BAP-1: Red Herring, Eggshell, or Silver Bullet," Chicago, IL (September 2019)
  • Moderator and Presenter, ALFA International 2019 Hospitality & Retail Law Practice Group Seminar, "Who the Hack Are You? Data Breaches and Privacy Concerns Facing the Hospitality and Retail Industry," Seattle, WA (August 2019)
  • Chair, ALFA International Transportation Regional Seminar, Atlanta, GA (June 2019, August 2018)
  • Presenter, ALFA International Regional Seminar on Product Liability Legal Issues, "Product Hacking, Cyber Security for Products, and the Internet of Things," Charlotte, NC (April 2019)
  • Trial Counsel Panelist, Defense Lawyers Asbestos Symposium, Austin, TX (November 2018)
  • Trial Counsel Panelist, Defense Asbestos Litigation Seminar, Nashville, TN (June 2018)
  • Presenter, FETTI Conference, "Practical Considerations for Communicating "State of the Art" to Younger Jurors," Chicago, IL (October 2017)
  • Presenter, Cardno ChemRisk Science Seminar, Orlando, FL (June 2017)
  • Presenter, "The Emergency Response to Catastrophic Accidents - Both In-­House and Outside Counsel Perspective," Claims Litigation Management Alliance, Greater St. Louis Chapter (May 2016)
  • Presenter, Cardno ChemRisk Science Seminar, Las Vegas, NV (June 2015)
  • Member/Presenter, HarrisMartin's Lung Cancer Conference, Miami, FL (October 2014)
  • Co-Chair, HarrisMartin's Southeast Asbestos Litigation Conference, Charleston, SC (March 2014)

Admissions

  • State Bar Admissions
    • Alabama
    • Connecticut
    • Georgia
    • Illinois
    • Missouri
    • West Virginia
  • State Supreme Courts
    • Alabama Supreme Court
    • Connecticut Supreme Court
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • Illinois Supreme Court
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
  • State Appellate Courts
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • United States District Courts
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
    • United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
    • United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
    • United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
    • United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
  • United States Courts of Appeals
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Admissions

Associations

  • Alabama State Bar 
  • Connecticut Bar Association 
  • State Bar of Georgia 
  • Illinois State Bar Association 
  • The Missouri Bar 
  • West Virginia State Bar 
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (2016-present)
    • Secretary, Atlanta Chapter (2016-2021) 
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (2020-present) 
  • Lawyers Club of Atlanta (2007-present)
  • American Bar Association (1999-2016)
    • Advisory Panel (2011-2013) 
  • Atlanta Bar Association (2001-2022)
    • Environmental & Toxic Tort Section - Board Member at Large (2014)
    • Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers - Board Member at Large ( 2008-2010)
  • DRI (2001-2022) 
  • Georgia Defense Lawyers Association (2007-2022) 

Awards & Honors

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America® 2024 — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America® 2023 — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Transportation Law
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® 
  •  The Best Lawyers in America©, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants (2022) 
  • Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2009, 2012-2013)

Education

Emory University School of Law

Juris Doctor, 1999

  • Dean's Fellow
  • Moot Court Society

Wake Forest University

Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, 1996

Representative Matters

  • Marvalyne Arnold v. Hampton Court, L.P., Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia 
  • Sherrie Holdsworth, Individually and as Personal Representative for the Estate of Kevan Holdsworth v. 3M Company, et al., Superior Court of Washington for King County 
  • Geraldine Barabin v. Scapa Dryer Fabrics, Inc., U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington 
  • Stephen R. Edwards, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Steven Redfearn Stewart v. Albany International Corp., et al., Court of Common Pleas, York County, South Carolina 
  • Anna Sanders, Individually and as Executor of the Estate of Dansby W. Sanders v. Bill Vann Company, Inc., et al., Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama 
  • Jesus Payan and Francisca Payan v. CBS Corporation, et al., Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 
  • Angela D. Keene, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Dennis Seay, Deceased, and Linda Seay v. 3M Company, et al., Court of Common Pleas, Spartanburg County, South Carolina 
  • Henry and Geraldine Barabin v. E.J. Bartells, et al., U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
  • George Adams, et al v. A. W. Chesterton, et al., Circuit Court of Little River County, Arkansas 
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