Chris Banks is a trial lawyer who helps companies from startups to the Fortune 500 solve problems concerning unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation and data security, employee departures, wage and hour disputes, and other labor and employment matters. He also advises on intellectual property rights, technology licensing and development arrangements, and breach of fiduciary duty and other business torts. His accomplishments include serving as lead trial counsel for Japanese pharmaceutical company Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp. in a three-month trial that resulted in the largest contested jury verdict in the United States for 2011. In 2014, he helped uphold that judgment on appeal to the California Supreme Court, with Asahi Kasei recovering more than $523 million.
Chris focuses on taking complex matters and simplifying them for presentation to a judge or jury. He has spent a substantial portion of his career in court, examining witnesses, arguing motions, and leading or helping lead trial teams. He also counsels companies to help them avoid disputes or resolve disputes that do arise prior to litigation.
Chris was named an Attorney of the Year by The Recorder in 2011, to the Winning Litigators Hot List by the National Law Journal in 2012, one of the top 20 lawyers in California under 40 by the Daily Journal in 2013, and a Northern California Super Lawyer in 2015. Today, Chris continues to advise technology and life sciences companies facing potential employment, competitive, and contractual disputes.
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2017)
Top 20 Under 40, Daily Journal (2013)
Recognized, Northern California Super Lawyers (2013–2015)
Rising Star, Northern California Super Lawyers (2011–2012)
Recognized, Winning Litigator Hot List, National Law Journal (2012)
2011 Attorney of the Year, The Recorder
Member, Georgetown Journal of Law & Policy in International Business
December 2016 - New California Employment Laws 2016
5/10/2016 - New Federal Law to Require Immediate Change to Agreements Governing Trade Secrets
10/6/2015 - "California Fair Pay Act" Becomes Law
12/30/2016 - California Fair Pay Act gets an update Jan. 1. What changes?, KPCC
7/23/2016 - Here's What Happens When Lawyers Discuss HBO's 'Silicon Valley,' Fortune
7/21/2016 - What 'Silicon Valley' Teaches Lawyers About Advising Tech Clients, The Recorder
4/21/2015 - Morgan Lewis Trial Academy Begins
3/13/2014 - California High Court Preserves $415M Verdict Against Actelion, Law360
12/20/2013 - $407 Million Final Judgment Affirmed in Morgan Lewis Victory for Asahi Kasei Pharma
2/27/2013 - 20 Under 40, Daily Journal
2/20/2012 - Attorneys of the Year, The Recorder
2/15/2012 - Top Verdicts of 2011, Daily Journal
8/19/2011 - $516.7 Million Judgment Entered in Morgan Lewis Victory for Asahi
5/4/2011 - Morgan Lewis Wins $577M, Including $30M in Punitive Damages, for Asahi Kasei Pharma
7/6/2010 - Morgan Lewis Promotes Thirteen Lawyers to Partnership
11/8/2017 - 2017 California Employment Law Year in Review – New California Employment Legislation
8/2/2017 - Doing Business in the Golden State – Trade Secrets and Noncompetition
11/16/2016 - Silicon Valley Association of General Counsel 2016 All Hands Meeting
11/9/2016 - California Beer & Beverage Distributors Annual Convention
11/7/2016 - California Employment Law Year In Review: New California Employment Laws
6/7/2016 - Landmark Trade Secret Law Establishes New Rights and Remedies
6/1/2016 - The New Federal Trade Secrets Act & You
5/18/2016 - 2016 Technology May-rathon: Parody or Parable? A Legal Perspective on Silicon Valley
12/9/2015 - California Employment Law Year in Review — Part 2: New California Employment Laws
11/20/2015 - The South Florida Group of Regional Counsel Seminar 2015
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