Chris Stevenson is a dedicated advocate who has been working for more than 10 years to get the best possible outcomes for his clients. Chris has an extensive background representing businesses and individuals in many types of commercial litigation including breach of contract, copyright infringement, employment disputes, business divorces, real estate, collections, and commercial landlord/tenant. Chris has also handled many probate and estate administration cases as well as administrative claims brought against businesses by state and federal agencies.
Chris received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. After spending several years in the workforce he went on to attend law school at South Texas College of Law where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi, a Langdell Scholar, and named to the Dean’s List. Chris was also a part of South Texas’ esteemed advocacy program and mock trial team where he won numerous team and individual awards. During law school, Chris served as a law clerk for Adams & Boswell, P.C.
Upon graduating from South Texas College of Law and becoming a member of the Texas Bar in 2006, Chris joined Adair & Myers, eventually becoming a partner and forming Adair Myers Graves Stevenson in 2017 and Adair Myers Stevenson Yagi in 2021.
In his time at Adair Myers Stevenson Yagi, Chris’ practice has focused primarily on representing businesses and individuals in lawsuits. Chris has handled a wide variety of civil matters involving employment disputes, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, non-competes and nondisclosure agreements. Chris has also handled the prosecution and defense of collection matters, often navigating bankruptcies, discovering hidden assets and pursuing judgment collection. On the debtor side, Chris has developed a track record of successfully negotiating substantially reduced liabilities for his clients.
Chris has also assisted numerous clients in intellectual property matters including copyright infringement, patent infringement, trademark, and trade secrets infringement.
Chris Stevenson prides himself on being practical in the practice of law. While he can be ferocious in the courtroom, oftentimes it makes more sense to settle disputes out of court where a calmer approach is warranted. Chris is always focused on obtaining the best outcome for his clients, whatever that might mean in any given case. He has the proven track record to show that he will act intelligently and tirelessly to help his clients succeed, and this dedication was recognized for Professional Involvement by Lawyer Legion in 2021.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Commercial
- Represented a fuel mixer and broker in a contract dispute with a supplier over the specifications and quality of the material being purchased. After protracted litigation, Chris was able to successfully negotiate a favorable settlement for his client at mediation.
- Represented a contractor in a lawsuit against a materials supplier where the contractor was forced by the project owner to redo a job three times because of faulty materials. Chris obtained a favorable settlement for his client at mediation.
- Represented plaintiff in a business divorce against an out of state partner. Partner filed a motion for summary judgment challenging personal jurisdiction of federal district court in Houston. Chris won on summary judgment forcing the defendant to litigate long distance. The case settled shortly afterward favorably for the plaintiff.
- Represented loan broker, general partner and principal in a dispute with the borrower over breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty involving a real estate venture. Chris obtained a dismissal with prejudice as to his clients and the case was settled between other parties to the litigation.
- Represented defendant in a suit involving the alleged breach of a non-circumvention agreement related to the purchase of an oilfield equipment manufacturing company. After protracted litigation, Chris was able to negotiate a favorable settlement with the plaintiff.
- Chris represented a clinic against an investor in a breach of contract matter involving the calculation of investment returns. During the course of litigation, Chris compiled data showing the income of the clinic and drafted a thorough letter to opposing counsel showing that the investor had no damages. Soon thereafter the investor’s attorney withdrew from the case and the case was eventually dismissed.
- Successfully collected one hundred percent of an unpaid debt for a client who had done work under a verbal contract to repair drill pipe after being tested for microfissures.
- Chris has represented numerous companies in collections matters, often navigating bankruptcies, hidden assets, judgment collections and many of the other pitfalls associated with debt collection. Chris has also represented debtors in a wide range of collections cases and has developed a track record of successfully negotiating substantially reduced liabilities on their behalf.
- Chris represented a pet products supplier in a dispute with an engineer who had worked on the design of one of their products. Chris filed a counterclaim on behalf of his client, alleging that delays and shoddy work had damaged the company. At mediation, Chris negotiated a “walk away” where the parties agreed to dismiss the case.
Copyright Infringement
- Represented three principals of a bankrupt residential builder against an architect suing on copyright infringement based on the failure to pay a license fee contained in a contract for reuse of plans created by the architect. Chris tried the case to a jury and obtained a take-nothing judgment as to all of his clients. The co-defendant entity had a $3.2 million verdict against.
- Chris represented a nutrition consulting company in a copyright infringement suit against a former employee. Chris’ client is an innovator and a leader in the field of nutrition consulting, weight loss and specialized diets. The former employee took copyrighted works and opened a competing business using the works. At mediation, after months of litigation, Chris successfully negotiated a favorable settlement for his client.
- Chris represented a residential treatment facility against a former employee and the former employee’s competing entity in a copyright infringement suit. The suit involves materials that were created by Chris’ client that were taken by the former employee who then created an identical company in direct competition. At mediation, Chris was able to negotiate a sizable settlement for his client.
Patent Infringement
- Represented the manufacturer of cross coupling protectors, an oilfield downhole tool, against a competitor for patent infringement. Chris was able to obtain a favorable settlement, including a substantial licensing fee, after prevailing at the Markman hearing on disputed claim construction.
TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS INFRINGEMENT
- At the demand stage of a potential trademark and trade dress infringement suit, Chris presented a strong functionality defense that caused the plaintiff to withdraw the demand and settle with Chris’ client on favorable terms.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
- Represented employer in a sexual harassment case in the U.S. Department of Labor Administrative Law Court. Summarily disposed of the case after negotiating a reasonable settlement with the claimant.
- Chris represented a transportation company in an administrative law court against allegations made by the U.S. Department of Justice related to visa applications for foreign workers. The case is ongoing.
- Chris has represented employers in several wage claim disputes in front of the Texas Workforce Commission including failure to pay, calculation of overtime and over payment of unemployment benefits.
PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
- Chris has represented dozens of executors and administrators in the estates of decedents. He has experience with the probate of wills, probate of copies of wills where the original cannot be located, probate of handwritten wills, estate administration and heirship determination in the absence of a will and heirship contests. Chris also has experience with estates where there is a deficiency of assets to pay creditors and has often successfully negotiated with creditors to lessen the financial burden on the estate to increase the amounts available to beneficiaries and heirs.
- Chris represented an heir in a contested heirship where a person was claiming to be the wife of the decedent through common law marriage, thus entitled to all of the decedent’s estate. After presenting numerous witnesses and evidence at the heirship hearing, the judge found that Chris’ client was the sole heir and entitled to one hundred percent of the decedent’s estate.
- Represented an executor against an investment advisor for fraud and negligent misrepresentation stemming from an estate plan and investment strategy created for the decedent, who was the executor’s elderly father. The investment strategy resulted in all of the decedent’s assets being owned by another relative, who conspired with the advisor for this purpose. The transactions resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses to the decedent’s estate. Chris fought for the estate and obtained a favorable settlement from the investment advisor.
GUARDIANSHIP
- Chris has guided prospective guardians, wards and their families through the guardianship process, including the creation of management trusts.