Chris Chauvin

Chris Chauvin is a Texas litigation attorney who represents clients before federal and state trial and appellate courts. He focuses his practice on litigation, arbitration and counseling on matters involving real estate, including real estate capital markets, with an emphasis on special servicers in the commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) market.

Mr. Chauvin represents clients in all phases of commercial litigation, including serving as lead trial counsel for lenders, financial institutions and private equity funds in jury trials and bench trials, obtaining injunctive relief and securing appointment of receivers in state and federal courts. He also handles complex commercial litigation matters, including matters involving non-compete, defamation and trade secret issues.

Mr. Chauvin clerked for the Honorable W. Eugene Davis in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Representative Experience

Commercial Real Estate and Financial Services Litigation

• Represents lenders, all manner of predecessor noteholders and special servicers in connection with commercial real estate litigation in state and federal courts, including matters involving claims for breach of contract, fraudulent transfer, common-law fraud, conspiracy, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and tortious interference
• Represents banks and special servicers in first-chair jury trial and bench trial.
• Represented major private equity fund and national bank as lead counsel in matter involving fraud and negligence claims involving commercial loan, resulting in favorable jury verdict, including attorneys’ fees
• Represented real estate developer as plaintiff in arbitration proceeding resulting in complete victory for client, including award of attorneys’ fees
• Obtained receivership for a bank over secured collateral including more than 1,000 auto loans under threat of interference
• Obtained partial summary judgment dismissing Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (DTPA) claims against major banking client

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Represented oil and gas transportation company in parallel state court and arbitration proceedings involving claims for breach of non-compete agreement, fraud and tortious interference
• Represented offshore drilling company in case alleging antitrust and RICO violations, resulting in summary judgment in favor of client upheld by U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court
• Represented an international energy company’s affiliates in a lawsuit involving claims for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, indemnification and other relief
• Represented a major telecommunications company in a lawsuit involving claims for business disparagement, breach of contract, copyright infringement, and patent infringement
• Represented national oil and gas company of foreign sovereign in federal lawsuit alleging fraud and breach of contract and involving issues of foreign sovereign immunity
• Represented Fortune 500 telecommunications company in arbitration involving claims for misappropriation of trade secrets, business disparagement, and breach of contract
• Resolved fraud and breach of contract matter for major medical device distributor
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of public figure client dismissing claims of defamation, misappropriation of image, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and conversion
• Obtained summary judgment from federal court dismissing premise liability claims against major retail client
• Obtained temporary restraining order on behalf of oil and gas start-up company that allowed major credit facility to close