Chris Chauvin

Chris Chauvin is a real estate capital markets attorney in Holland & Knight's Dallas office. Mr. Chauvin focuses his practice on workouts and remedies involving distressed commercial loans associated with all classes of commercial real estate.

Mr. Chauvin's practice also includes structuring and executing resolutions involving commercial real estate, including foreclosures, receiverships and litigation. He frequently represents commercial lenders, with an emphasis on matters involving real estate capital markets, servicers, real estate mortgage investment conduit (REMIC) trusts, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and court-appointed receivers.

In addition, 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 trials
• Represented a major private equity fund and national bank as lead counsel in a matter involving fraud and negligence claims involving a commercial loan, resulting in a favorable jury verdict, including attorneys' fees
• Represented a real estate developer as plaintiff in an arbitration proceeding, resulting in a complete victory for client, including award of attorneys' fees
• Obtained a receivership for a bank over secured collateral, including more than 1,000 auto loans under threat of interference
• Obtained a partial summary judgment dismissing Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (DTPA) claims against a major banking client

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Represented an 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 an offshore drilling company in a case alleging antitrust and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) violations, resulting in summary judgment in favor of the client upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit 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 a national oil and gas company of foreign sovereign in a federal lawsuit alleging fraud and breach of contract and involving issues of foreign sovereign immunity
• Represented a Fortune 500 telecommunications company in an arbitration involving claims for misappropriation of trade secrets, business disparagement and breach of contract
• Resolved a fraud and breach of contract matter for a major medical device distributor
• Obtained a summary judgment on behalf of a public figure client, dismissing claims of defamation, misappropriation of image, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and conversion
• Obtained a summary judgment from a federal court dismissing premise liability claims against a major retail client
• Obtained a temporary restraining order on behalf of an oil and gas start-up company that allowed a major credit facility to close