Mr Christopher Schmidt > Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner > St Louis, United States > Lawyer Profile

CLASS & MASS ACTIONS

Chris has defended clients in multiple high-stakes class action matters across industries. His experience encompasses all aspects of class and mass actions, including opposition to class certification, dispositive motions, critical depositions, expert strategy, class certification hearings, trial, complex settlement strategies and administration in state and federal courts around the country.

Chris is especially adept at distilling complex expert issues and conveying evidence-based opinions in the courtroom. Chris knows that cases are not won on the experts alone, and invests time early in the case to learn and tell his client’s fact-based story.

PRO BONO, CIVIC & FIRM SERVICE COMMITMENT

Chris has maintained an active pro bono practice throughout his career and has been lead trial counsel on a wide variety of high-profile cases, including an asylum case for a victim of human sex-trafficking, the successful defense of a young man accused of murder, and numerous international child abduction cases. He leads the firm’s commitment to helping children who are victims of international child abduction and serves as the firm’s primary contact with the U.S. State Department.

Chris is committed to making a difference by serving on various charitable boards, including the Great Rivers Greenway Foundation where he is co-leading the firm’s pro bono effort to build the Brickline Greenway in St. Louis. This project has been recognized as one of the most ambitious, inclusive efforts to remake the core of an American city in decades.

Chris has a long history of firm service. In addition to leading the Firm’s Class Action & Mass Torts Practice Group, he has served on the firm’s Project Advance advisory group, Partner Advisory Board, and the Recruiting Committee, where he worked to expand recruitment of the best and brightest diverse talent in the country.