Chris concentrates his practice in defending major aviation accident, mass tort and product liability litigation and class actions.

Chris joined the firm in 1987 and is internationally renowned as a leading aviation attorney with extensive experience representing air carriers, manufacturers, and other aviation related entities, in major aviation accident investigations and litigation. His notable aviation work includes the prosecution of American Airlines’ contribution cross-claims arising from the American Airlines Flight 587 accident and the defense of litigation arising from the September 11 terrorist attacks.

In the course of handling aviation accident cases, Chris has developed an intimate knowledge of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation process and regularly advises clients about this process. He has represented civilian and military aircraft and helicopter manufactures in aviation accidents (often involving the government contractor defense) and non-aviation industrial product liability litigation. He often conducts liability prevention and crisis management seminars for firm clients.  Chris is currently a member of the firm’s management committee.

Chris is representing foreign and domestic air carriers in multiple consumer class actions arising from the application of a European Union consumer protection regulation. Chris has represented civilian and military aircraft and helicopter manufacturers in aviation accidents (often involving the government contractor defense) and non-aviation industrial product liability litigation. In addition, he has handled a number of general aviation matters, including business and light aircraft and hot air balloons. He has conducted numerous liability prevention and crisis management seminars for clients of the firm.

Chris is consistently listed as a Leading Aviation Attorney by Aviation Expert Guides, The Legal 500 U.S., Chambers USA, and Who’s Who Legal: Transport – Aviation. Who’s Who Legal has named Chris as one of their “highly rated names in the field,” with his “experience in representing foreign and domestic airlines in major aviation accident investigations and litigation” making him a “bona fide expert.” Who’s Who Legal also has recognized Chris as “a standout aviation practitioner, recognized for his adept handling of complex sector-related disputes involving accidents and class action cases,” and as being “’a fantastic and consistent aviation lawyer’ who regularly represents air carriers in multi-million-dollar class actions.”

Chambers USA ranks Chris as a Notable Practitioner with “considerable experience representing a range of domestic and international carriers in high-profile air crash litigation, including managing cross-claims against manufacturers.” Chris was also commended as being “an outstanding lawyer who is well respected by everyone.” Since 2010, Chris has been consistently recognized as a New York Super Lawyer in the field of Aviation & Aerospace.

Chris is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Member, Product Liability Committee), the American (Member, Aviation Litigation Committee) and New York State Bar Associations, the Federal Bar Council and the Defense Research Institute (Product Liability Committee).

Newsletters and Bulletins

January 13, 2020 | Client Bulletins
Court of Appeals Affirms FNC Dismissal of MH370 Litigation

July 22, 2019 | Client Bulletins
European Court of Justice Extends EU 261 to Compensate Passengers for Connecting Flight Delays and Cancellations

February 7, 2019 | Client Bulletins
U.S. District Court Rejects Passenger’s Attempt to Commence Class Action Litigation Based on Class Action Waiver Provision in Ticket Contract

December 3, 2018 | Client Bulletins
Important Change to Aircraft Owner and Lessor Liability Under FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018

November 26, 2018 | Client Alerts
U.S. Court Dismisses Litigation Arising Out of Malaysia Flight MH370 on FNC Grounds

June 9, 2017 | Client Bulletins
Federal Court Rules that Montreal Convention Delay Claims From Multiple Flights Cannot Be Certified as a Class Action

February 10, 2016 | Client Bulletins
The Seventh Circuit Issues Its Second Opinion Questioning the Enforceability of EU Regulation 261 in U.S. Courts

January 25, 2016 | Client Bulletins
Supreme Court’s Ruling Limits the Effectiveness of Rule 68 Offers of Judgment in Class Action Litigation

October 8, 2015 | Client Bulletins
ECJ Further Narrows When Technical Problems Qualify as EC 261 “Extraordinary Circumstances”

April 15, 2015 | Client Bulletins
Seventh Circuit Affirms – EU 261 Is Not Judicially Enforceable Outside the Courts of the EU Member States

June 26, 2014 | Client Bulletins
The Last District Court Judge to Determine the Enforceability of EU 261 in the US “Joins the Chorus” in Holding that a Direct Claim for EU 261 Compensation Cannot be Brought in US Courts

February 21, 2014 | Client Bulletins
Court Rules that the ADA Impliedly Preempts Claims for EU 261 Compensation from Being Adjudicated in U.S. Courts

January 10, 2014 | Newsletters
Courts Interpret the Meaning of “State Law” Under the Airline Deregulation Act

November 6, 2013 | Client Bulletins
Second Court Rules No Private Right of Action for Violation of EC 261

October 9, 2013 | Client Bulletins
No Private Right of Action for Violation of Regulation EU 261 in United States Courts

June 1, 2013 | Client Alerts
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Upholds Class Action Arbitration Waivers

April 1, 2013 | Client Bulletins
The European Commission Issues Proposed Amendments to Modify EC 261

March 15, 2013 | Newsletters
Recent Federal and U.S. Supreme Court Class Action Decisions

October 15, 2012 | Client Alerts
European Court of Justice Reaffirms Application of European Regulation (EC) 261 to Flight Delays

April 1, 2012 | Client Bulletins
The European Court of Justice Reconsiders Its Interpretation of EC 261 as Providing Airline Passengers with the Right to Standardized Compensation in Cases of Delay

March 15, 2012 | Newsletters
Summary of Pending Litigation in the United States Arising from European Union Regulation EC 261

Published Works and Presentations

Speaker, “Damages Awards: Trends in Europe and the US.” Lloyd’s Market Association Aviation Claims Group Session, London, England (October 7, 2019).

Speaker, at the RAAKS Aviation and Space Insurance Conference in Moscow on February 20, 2019.  Chris led a discussion comparing aviation law, damage awards and current trends in the U.S. and Russian Federation legal systems.

Contributing co-author, “Class Action Litigation” (chapter 14), Litigating the Aviation Case, 4th edition. American Bar Association, 2017.

Panel Speaker, “Litigating the Military Aviation Accident,” at the annual conference of the American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Aviation and Space Law Committee, Washington, D.C. (November 3-4, 2016).

Co-Author, “A Guide Through the Medicare Morass: Medicare Fundamentals and Best Practices for Liability Insurers and Their Attorneys.”  Defense Counsel Journal (January 2015).

Planning Committee Member, 2013 ABA Seminar, National Institute on Aviation Litigation.

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP. (15th ed., February 2012).

The European Court of Justice Reconsiders Its Interpretation of EC 261 as Providing Airline Passengers with the Right to Standardized Compensation in Cases of Delay. Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (April 2012).

CMS Increases MMSEA Section 111 Threshold Dollar Exemptions. Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (October 2011).

U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Employment Class Action Suit Against Wal-Mart, Finds Insufficient Commonality Among Female Plaintiffs. Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (June 2011).

U.S. Litigation Arising Out of the Air France Flight 447 Accident Dismissed on Forum Non Conveniens Grounds for a Second Time: Another Significant Victory for Defendants. Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (June 2011).

Co-author, Revisiting the Apex Doctrine. IADC Privacy Project Volume IV (2011).

Co-author, Sealing your Settlement Agreement from the Public Eye. IADC Privacy Project Volume IV (2011).

Editor, The Latest Trends & Tactics in Prosecuting & Defending Foreign Mass Accident Litigation. New York City Bar ABA Section of Litigation, Aviation Litigation CLE Seminar (June 2011).

The Second and Ninth Circuits are Divided Over the Starting Point For Application of the Death on the High Seas Act in Non-Commercial Aviation Accidents. Condon & Forsyth LLP Bulletin (March 2011).

U.S. Litigation Arising Out of the TAM Linhas Areas Flight 3054 Accident: Another Significant Forum Non Conveniens Setback for Plaintiffs in Federal Court. Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (February 2011).

U.S. Litigation Arising Out of the TAM Linhas Areas Flight 3054 Accident: Another Significant Forum Non Conveniens Setback for Plaintiffs in Federal Court. Condon & Forsyth LLP Alert (February 2011).

Forum Non Conveniens in Foreign Aviation Accidents: Litigating in Federal Court is Often the Difference Between Winning and Losing. Condon & Forsyth LLP Newsletter (Fall 2010).

U.S. Litigation Arising Out of the Air France Flight 447 Accident Dismissed on Forum Non Conveniens Grounds: A Significant Victory for Defendants. Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Alert (October 2010).

Contributor, The Liability Reporter, published jointly by IATA and Condon & Forsyth LLP. (13th ed., February 2010).

Drawing a Line in the Sea: The Separate Starting Lines Under the Death on the High Seas Act for Commercial and Non-Commercial Aviation Accidents. Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Bulletin (July 2009).

“What You Need to Know to Successfully Depose a Foreign Witness or Obtain Written Evidence Under the Hague Evidence Convention”, 76 Defense Counsel Journal 247 (April 2009); originally published in IADC Committee Newsletter: Aviation and Space Law (November 2008).

Author, “Framing the Government Contractor Defense: Origin, Extension, and Potential”, American Bar Association, The Brief, Winter 2009.

Rule B Lives On: Appellate Court Affirms Wire Transfer Seizures in Maritime Disputes. Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Alert (September 2008).

Kentucky Judge Denies Protective Order For Pilot Safety Reports In Comair Suit. Condon & Forsyth LLP Client Bulletin (April 2008).

Attempts by Plaintiffs to Defeat Forum Non Conveniens Motions by Alleging Aircraft Owner or Lessor Liability. Condon & Forsyth LLP Newsletter (Winter 2008).

Christopher Christensen spoke and presented a paper at the Aviation Litigation Committee CLE Seminar, Co-Sponsored by the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section in New York on June 3, 2005 on The Montreal Convention of 1999.

Changing Tides in the Law Regarding Admissibility of NTSB Final Accident Reports. Air & Space Lawyer (Spring 2005).

Beaumont Garnault Fifth International Aviation Conference, July 5-7, 2000.

The Government Contractor Defense in Litigating the Aviation Case from Pretrial to Closing Argument. American Bar Association (1998).

Aviation Law Compendium. Co-editor, American Bar Association.