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David Christian

Principal
 

dchristian@dca.law

David Christian is the founder​ of David Christian Attorneys LLC.  After becoming a partner at two of the nation's largest and most respected law firms -- McDermott Will & Emery and Seyfarth Shaw -- David embraced the changes facing the legal community by forming a boutique practice focused on his particular areas of expertise.

 

David's work led to expertise addressing mass tort liabilities, contingent claims, indemnification issues, and the scope of the discharge in bankruptcy in some of the largest, most complex, and most heavily litigated chapter 11 cases in U.S. history.  David also led successful engagements on issues of first impression involving prebankruptcy​​ planning.  David's work on distressed transactions led to creative and successful restructurings both inside and outside of bankruptcy around the U.S.

 

David is a certified Six Sigma "Green Belt" who has consulted with clients about the efficient delivery of quality legal services from both in-house legal teams and outside counsel.

 

Education

J.D., The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA (1998) (Order of the Barristers)

B.S.B.A., Rockhurst​​​ College, Kansas City, MO (1995) (major in Finance & Economics)

 

Admissions

David Christian is a member in good standing of the bars of Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits, as well as many federal district and bankruptcy courts around the United States.

 

Selected Presentations

  • "Intersection of Insurance and Bankruptcy Law," Panelist, American Bar Association (2021)

  • "Working With Experts" Panelist, Financial Poise Newbie Litigation School Webinar Series (2016)

  • "Pre-bankruptcy Planning: Stories of Pigs and Hogs," Keynote Presentation to Second Annual Bankruptcy Law Institute of Louisville Bar Association, Louisville, KY (2014)

  • "Don't Come Around Here No More: Opacity in Asbestos-Related Bankruptcies," Annual Record Newspapers Meeting, Chicago, IL (2014)​

  • "A short history – past, present, and future – of asbestos-related bankruptcies," Annual Record Newspapers Meeting, Chicago, IL (2013)

  • "Fact vs. Fiction: Bankruptcy Claims," 15th Annual National Asbestos Litigation Conference, Chicago, IL (2012)

  • "HR 101: Six Sigma," DRI's Best Practices for Law Firm Profitability, New York, NY (2010)

  • "Trusts On-Line: The Impact of Asbestos Bankruptcies on the Tort System," Perrin Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference, Chicago, IL (2010)

  • "Top Five Insurance Issues In Asbestos Litigation," Perrin Asbestos Litigation Conference, Beverly Hills, CA (2010)

  • "Ethically Advising the Troubled Business Client in Troubling Economic Times," American Bar Association, Vancouver, British Columbia (2009)

  • "Claims Estimations in Mass Tort Cases," American Bar Association, Vancouver, British Columbia (2009)

  • "Paying for Protection," Turnaround Management Conference: Leading Corporate Renewal, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (2007)

  • "Insurance Perspectives in Asbestos Bankruptcy," Mealey's Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference, Philadelphia, PA (2006)

  • "The Next Chapter in Dealing with Bankruptcy Related Issues," Mealey's Asbestos Insurance Conference, Boston, MA (2006)

  • "Insurance Issues: Recent Judicial Developments," Mealey's Asbestos Bankruptcy Conference, Chicago, IL (2006)

  • "Pre-Bankruptcy Planning," American Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (2003)

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Selected Publications

  • "Supreme Court Limits Use of Settlements to Skip Priority Creditors in Bankruptcy," The Circuit Rider: The Journal of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association (November 2017)

  • "Avoiding Missteps Over the Scope of the Bankruptcy Court's Authority to Issue Final Orders," The Circuit Rider: The Journal of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association (April 2017)

  • Co-author, "Pre-packaged plan of inequity: the financial abuse of future claimants in the T H Agriculture and Nutrition 524(g) asbestos bankruptcy," Mealey's Asbestos Bankruptcy Report (November 2011)

  • "Not All Retirement Plans Are Created Equal: ERISA Top-Hat Plans Constitute Property of the Bankruptcy Estate," American Bankruptcy Institute Journal (September 2011) (with James B. Sowka)

  • "Ensuring Insurer Standing in Insured Ch. 11 Cases," Law360 Expert Analysis (July 6, 2011)

  • "Squirreling It Away: The Business Lawyer's Role in Pre-Bankruptcy Planning," Business Law Today (January 2003) (with Nathan F. Coco)

  • "Federal Powers After Seminole Tribe: Constitutionally Bankrupt," 47 Drake Law Review 467 (1999) (with Prof. Ned W. Waxman)​

 

Honors and Affiliations

  • Knight of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta

    • Treasurer, Illinois Area, American Association (2019-present)​

  • Lumen Christi Institute

    • Development Committee (2013 - 2019)​

  • Rainbows for All Children, Inc.

    • Board Member (2010 - 2016)

    • Board Chair (2012 - 2013)

    • Strategic Planning Committee Chair (2012 - 2016)

  • ​​Boy Scouts of America

    • ​Founding Cubma​​ster, Pack 4250 (2012 - 2016)

  • Seyfarth Shaw Pro Bono Team of the Year (Lead Partner - 2010)

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