Chris is one of the most accomplished trial and appellate lawyers in the United States. He has tried more than 75 cases to jury verdict in federal and state courts across Massachusetts and in several other New England states. His clients include publicly traded and privately held companies, insurers and reinsurers, and individuals in complex, large risk litigation across a broad variety of matters including product liability, premises liability, professional malpractice, aviation, insurance coverage disputes and other high profile, media sensitive matters. Ironically, his love for trying cases often results in quicker resolution of cases that can be settled.

Chris regularly appears for consumer product manufacturers and large retailers in matters across New England. He has won verdicts for clients in several states in cases involving the design and manufacture of power tools, industrial products, hand tools, electronic sensors and consumer appliances. In these cases, a thorough knowledge of science, design principles and industry standards is critical, and the ability to translate those concepts to a jury is central to achieving favorable outcomes.

His aviation practice includes representing a Part 139 certified airport and FBOs throughout Massachusetts for over two decades. He has represented aircraft manufacturers and manufacturers of component parts in high stakes litigation involving alleged defects in both fixed wing and rotocraft accidents. He also has successfully litigated cases involving interpretation of aviation insurance policies, including a recent precedent-setting decision from the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. In fact, he has argued more than 25 cases in several federal and state appellate courts.

An avid historian, Chris enjoys representing universities, museums and collectors in cases involving authenticity and title to works of art and historic artifacts. He prevailed in a case tried in the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for an owner of a highly coveted Civil War Tiffany presentation sword that had been stolen from a university museum and appeared almost four decades later in the possession of a noted Virginia collector. The case garnered national interest among museums and collectors of art and historic artifacts.

Chris is also a founder and board member of Lawyers Honoring COVID-19 Caregivers, Inc., a most deserving Charity created by leading members of the Massachusetts Bar to provide financial support for those who have so bravely cared for the citizens of the Commonwealth and continue to do so selflessly and at great personal risk.

Chris founded Smith Duggan with Scott Smith in 1989 as a two-lawyer practice, which is now ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the “Best Law Firms.” In addition, he has received the highest rating possible from Martindale-Hubbell, AV-Preeminent, for 32 years. He has also been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the following practice areas Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants for a decade.