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Christopher J. Blake
Partner
301 Hillsborough Street
Suite 1400
Raleigh, NC 27603
Suite 1400
Raleigh, NC 27603
chris.blake@nelsonmullins.com
With 30 years of litigation experience, Chris has had primary responsibility for handling a range of complex commercial disputes. His litigation practice focuses on business and commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and other dispute resolution forums. Chris's approach to complex commercial disputes is to identify a client’s business objectives...
With 30 years of litigation experience, Chris has had primary responsibility for handling a range of complex commercial disputes. His litigation practice focuses on business and commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and other dispute resolution forums. Chris's approach to complex commercial disputes is to identify a client’s business objectives and then work jointly with the client to develop a litigation strategy to maximize the achievement of those objectives. He is co–leader of the Insurance Group.
and then work jointly with the client to develop a litigation strategy to maximize the achievement of those objectives. He is co–leader of the Insurance Group.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Representative Experience
- Represented a healthcare client in a complex commercial arbitration arising from the client's acquisition of the assets of another healthcare business. Upon discovery of practices by the selling company constituting possible Medicare fraud, the client commenced arbitration against the sellers alleging claims for breaches of representations and warranties and seeking damages for the reduced value of the assets purchased. Following a weeklong hearing, the arbitration panel awarded damages in excess of $5 million, plus the client's attorneys' fees and arbitration costs.
- Represented a client in seeking recovery of a deficiency judgment against a spousal guarantor arising from a failed real estate development. The spousal guarantor raised defenses under the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). Following a trial court judgment against the client after the only jury trial under ECOA in North Carolina at that time, Chris appealed the judgment to the North Carolina Supreme Court, obtained a reversal of the judgment, and had judgment entered against the spousal guarantor. RL Regi N.C., LLC v. Lighthouse Cove, LLC, 367 N.C. 425, 762 S.E.2d 188 (2014).
- Represented healthcare clients in disputes with providers involving complex issues of claims submission and adjudication, coverage under health plans, and terms and conditions of provider agreements. Chris is currently handling a class arbitration proceeding for two Medicare Advantage Plans involving claims that the Plans failed to implement fee schedule changes pursuant to provider agreements.
- Represented clients in complex financial disputes seeking to obtain judgments against high net worth individuals. These cases involve issues related to deficiency judgments arising from failed real estate developments, rights and obligations of guarantors, fraudulent conveyances, debt collection involving failed financial institutions and the FDIC, and complex judgment collection efforts. Has obtained deficiency judgments of $20 million, $2.7 million, and several amounts up to $1 million.
- Represents life and property and casualty insurers in connection with coverage litigation, and claims handling litigation involving claims of insurer bad faith and unfair and deceptive trade practices. In one bad faith case, Chris assisted in an appeal to the North Carolina Court of Appeals that resulted in discovery sanctions being vacated against the insurer. Arnold v. The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, Case No. COA14–715 (December 31, 2014) (unpublished opinion). Chris also regularly provides coverage opinions for general liability claims, including triggers of coverage and the duty to defend and indemnify.
- Has litigated cases involving liability of officers and directors for breaches of fiduciary duties, and alleged failures to follow the business judgment rule
- Has been lead trial counsel in more than 20 jury trials and arbitration hearings and complex commercial and business disputes
- Regularly appears before state regulatory agencies, including the N.C. Department of Insurance and the N.C. Industrial Commission
Previous Professional Experience
- Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Washington, DC
- Moore & Van Allen, Raleigh, NC
Education
- Catholic University of America, JD (1986)
- Pace University, BA, Journalism (1983)
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- North Carolina
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Representative Experience
- Represented a healthcare client in a complex commercial arbitration arising from the client's acquisition of the assets of another healthcare business. Upon discovery of practices by the selling company constituting possible Medicare fraud, the client commenced arbitration against the sellers alleging claims for breaches of representations and warranties and seeking damages for the reduced value of the assets purchased. Following a weeklong hearing, the arbitration panel awarded damages in excess of $5 million, plus the client's attorneys' fees and arbitration costs.
- Represented a client in seeking recovery of a deficiency judgment against a spousal guarantor arising from a failed real estate development. The spousal guarantor raised defenses under the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). Following a trial court judgment against the client after the only jury trial under ECOA in North Carolina at that time, Chris appealed the judgment to the North Carolina Supreme Court, obtained a reversal of the judgment, and had judgment entered against the spousal guarantor. RL Regi N.C., LLC v. Lighthouse Cove, LLC, 367 N.C. 425, 762 S.E.2d 188 (2014).
- Represented healthcare clients in disputes with providers involving complex issues of claims submission and adjudication, coverage under health plans, and terms and conditions of provider agreements. Chris is currently handling a class arbitration proceeding for two Medicare Advantage Plans involving claims that the Plans failed to implement fee schedule changes pursuant to provider agreements.
- Represented clients in complex financial disputes seeking to obtain judgments against high net worth individuals. These cases involve issues related to deficiency judgments arising from failed real estate developments, rights and obligations of guarantors, fraudulent conveyances, debt collection involving failed financial institutions and the FDIC, and complex judgment collection efforts. Has obtained deficiency judgments of $20 million, $2.7 million, and several amounts up to $1 million.
- Represents life and property and casualty insurers in connection with coverage litigation, and claims handling litigation involving claims of insurer bad faith and unfair and deceptive trade practices. In one bad faith case, Chris assisted in an appeal to the North Carolina Court of Appeals that resulted in discovery sanctions being vacated against the insurer. Arnold v. The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, Case No. COA14–715 (December 31, 2014) (unpublished opinion). Chris also regularly provides coverage opinions for general liability claims, including triggers of coverage and the duty to defend and indemnify.
- Has litigated cases involving liability of officers and directors for breaches of fiduciary duties, and alleged failures to follow the business judgment rule
- Has been lead trial counsel in more than 20 jury trials and arbitration hearings and complex commercial and business disputes
- Regularly appears before state regulatory agencies, including the N.C. Department of Insurance and the N.C. Industrial Commission
Previous Professional Experience
- Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Washington, DC
- Moore & Van Allen, Raleigh, NC
Media
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Commercial Litigation and Insurance Sections
Leadership
- Board member, Kid's Voting–North Carolina/Wak
With 30 years of litigation experience, Chris has had primary responsibility for handling a range of complex commercial disputes. His litigation practice focuses on business and commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and other dispute resolution forums. Chris's approach to complex commercial disputes is to identify a client’s business objectives... and then work jointly with the client to develop a litigation strategy to maximize the achievement of those objectives. He is co–leader of the Insurance Group.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Representative Experience
- Represented a healthcare client in a complex commercial arbitration arising from the client's acquisition of the assets of another healthcare business. Upon discovery of practices by the selling company constituting possible Medicare fraud, the client commenced arbitration against the sellers alleging claims for breaches of representations and warranties and seeking damages for the reduced value of the assets purchased. Following a weeklong hearing, the arbitration panel awarded damages in excess of $5 million, plus the client's attorneys' fees and arbitration costs.
- Represented a client in seeking recovery of a deficiency judgment against a spousal guarantor arising from a failed real estate development. The spousal guarantor raised defenses under the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). Following a trial court judgment against the client after the only jury trial under ECOA in North Carolina at that time, Chris appealed the judgment to the North Carolina Supreme Court, obtained a reversal of the judgment, and had judgment entered against the spousal guarantor. RL Regi N.C., LLC v. Lighthouse Cove, LLC, 367 N.C. 425, 762 S.E.2d 188 (2014).
- Represented healthcare clients in disputes with providers involving complex issues of claims submission and adjudication, coverage under health plans, and terms and conditions of provider agreements. Chris is currently handling a class arbitration proceeding for two Medicare Advantage Plans involving claims that the Plans failed to implement fee schedule changes pursuant to provider agreements.
- Represented clients in complex financial disputes seeking to obtain judgments against high net worth individuals. These cases involve issues related to deficiency judgments arising from failed real estate developments, rights and obligations of guarantors, fraudulent conveyances, debt collection involving failed financial institutions and the FDIC, and complex judgment collection efforts. Has obtained deficiency judgments of $20 million, $2.7 million, and several amounts up to $1 million.
- Represents life and property and casualty insurers in connection with coverage litigation, and claims handling litigation involving claims of insurer bad faith and unfair and deceptive trade practices. In one bad faith case, Chris assisted in an appeal to the North Carolina Court of Appeals that resulted in discovery sanctions being vacated against the insurer. Arnold v. The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, Case No. COA14–715 (December 31, 2014) (unpublished opinion). Chris also regularly provides coverage opinions for general liability claims, including triggers of coverage and the duty to defend and indemnify.
- Has litigated cases involving liability of officers and directors for breaches of fiduciary duties, and alleged failures to follow the business judgment rule
- Has been lead trial counsel in more than 20 jury trials and arbitration hearings and complex commercial and business disputes
- Regularly appears before state regulatory agencies, including the N.C. Department of Insurance and the N.C. Industrial Commission
Previous Professional Experience
- Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Washington, DC
- Moore & Van Allen, Raleigh, NC
Education
- Catholic University of America, JD (1986)
- Pace University, BA, Journalism (1983)
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- North Carolina
Practice Areas
- American Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Commercial Litigation and Insurance Sections
- Board member, Kid's Voting–North Carolina/Wak
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