Christopher C. Lam

Chris Lam is a Member (partner) in the Business Litigation Group in Charlotte, N.C.

Mr. Lam’s broad experience includes litigating disputes related to:

• Contracts
• Trade secrets
• Pharmaceutical Product Liability
• Defamation
• Motorsports
• Professional negligence/discipline
• Private equity investments

He has tried cases before juries in State and Federal Courts and has handled arbitration proceedings.

Mr. Lam also represents professionals, including doctors, lawyers, dentists, and counselors, in disciplinary proceedings before their respective licensing boards.

Mr. Lam has earned numerous professional honors, most recently being named a North Carolina Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and a Business North Carolina Legal Elite “Young Gun” in 2010. Earlier in his career, Mr. Lam was also the inaugural recipient of the Mecklenburg County Bar Young Lawyer of the Year Award.

Additionally, he has held multiple positions with the North Carolina and Mecklenburg County Bar Associations, and participated in the Mecklenburg Bar Leadership Institute in 2007.

Mr. Lam received his undergraduate degree from Duke University, where he was a Benjamin N. Duke Scholar, Harry S. Truman Scholar, and a member of the Board of Trustees.  He earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law where he was a Chancellors Scholar.

• Named one of Charlotte's 2013 "40 Under 40" by the Charlotte Business Journal
• Mecklenburg County Bar Young Lawyer of the Year 2004-2005
• Named “Guardian of the Environment” by the The Charlotte Observer
• UNC Law Pro Bono Alumni of the Year (2008)
• Business Leader Media Pro Bono Impact Award (2008)
• Named as a North Carolina Super Lawyer® “Rising Star” (2010-2012)
• Named as Business North Carolina "Legal Elite Young Gun” (2010)

Deal/Private Equity Litigation

• Multiple representations of buyers and sellers in disputes arising out of corporate deals, including earnout disputes, indemnification claims, and merger challenges.
• Defended franchisor portfolio company and directors and officers in numerous nationwide franchisee suits alleging breach of contract, fraud, and unfair and deceptive trade practices.
• Defended private equity firm in suit brought by competitor of portfolio company alleging aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference with business and employment relationships.

Trade Secret Litigation

• Obtained summary judgment for major financial consulting company in New Jersey Federal Court in multi-million dollar claim for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets and business interference.
• Represented leading international insurance broker in lawsuit against major competitor and former executives for breach of non-solicitation agreements, unfair trade practices, misappropriation of trade secrets, and related claims.
• Defended leading manufacturer of cooking equipment against allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets, violation of confidentiality agreement, unfair trade practices, and civil conspiracy.

Product Liability Litigation

• Defended major pharmaceutical company in multi-district litigation alleging product liability for leading cancer drugs.

First Amendment/Defamation Litigation

• Obtained defense verdict for NASCAR owner in multi-million dollar unfair and deceptive trade practices suit based on alleged defamation and wrongful interference with contract.
• Defended prominent civic and business leader in defamation action filed by former executive of area charitable organization.
• Defended and advised TV station in First Amendment issues.
• Defended regional health system against claims brought by a physician who lost his hospital privileges, including one for defamation.

Motorsports Litigation

• Obtained defense verdict for NASCAR owner in multi-million dollar unfair and deceptive trade practices suit based on alleged defamation and wrongful interference with contract.
• Represented leading manufacturer of NASCAR die-cast and apparel in multiple contract disputes.
• Defended NASCAR owner in breach of contract suit.
• Represented motorsports agent in contract dispute with former client.

Professional Negligence/Disciplinary Litigation

• Defended physician and medical clinic in medical malpractice suit by former NFL player.
• Defended major law firm against claims of legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Successfully represented multiple professionals accused of improper conduct allowing them to retain their professional licenses.

Pro Bono Litigation

• Obtained permanent injunction in pro bono National Environmental Policy Act case against the United States Navy on behalf of two Eastern North Carolina counties to prevent construction of an outlying landing field for Super Hornet fighter planes. 

• Litigator Chris Lam Named to “Forty Under 40” List
  This is the Charlotte Business Journal’s 20th anniversary of the awards program, which recognizes young professionals who have “shaped our community in ways that have made the Charlotte region a better place to do business.”
• Nexsen Pruet Up in Ranking of Largest U.S. Law Firms
  Nexsen Pruet has moved up in The National Law Journal’s annual ranking of the largest law firms in the United States.
• Nexsen Pruet Boosts White-Collar & Litigation Practices
  Nexsen Pruet announced today that William R. Terpening and Christopher C. Lam have joined the firm’s Business Litigation Group as Members (partners) and will practice in Charlotte

• Defending Commercial Class Actions: Recent Cases May be Giving the Defense an Edge
  While the ripples from the United States Supreme Court’s 2011 decision in Wal-Mart v. Dukes are still being felt, the Court may make further class action waves this term with its pending decision in Comcast v. Behrend. This paper focuses on what cases like Wal-Mart and Comcast may have in store for the class certification stage on issues such as burden of proof and expert testimony.

Author and Presenter, "Defending Commercial Class Actions: Recent Cases May be Giving the Defense an Edge", IADC Midyear Meeting, 2013

Co-Author, North Carolina General Practitioner’s Guide to Litigation (2013), Federal Civil Practice chapter