Christian is a business attorney and litigator with first-chair jury trial and arbitration experience. He maintains a diverse legal practice representing businesses and individuals across a broad spectrum of industries. He is licensed to practice law in all state and federal courts in North Carolina and South Carolina, and in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Christian also is a certified mediator by the N.C. Dispute Resolution Committee.
As Co-Chair of Shumaker’s Retail and Consumer Industry Sector, Christian handles cases involving the following:
- Breach of contract
- Real estate and commercial leasing disputes, including evictions
- Negligence and intentional torts
- Business divorces and owner disputes
- Alcoholic beverage regulation
- Products liability/breach of warranty
- Construction defect litigation
- Unfair trade practices
- Debt collection, including defense of FDCPA/TCPA claims
- Class action defense
- Labor and employment disputes
- Intellectual property disputes
- Contract drafting and negotiation
- LLC Formation and operating agreements
Outside of his practice, he serves on the board of the Charlotte Alumni Chapter of Woodberry Forest School. He previously served on the board of directors for the Mecklenburg County Bar and as Chair of its Young Lawyers Division.
Education
J.D., Campbell University, 2009
B.A., Wake Forest University, 2005
Professional Associations
- Charlotte Alumni Chapter, Woodberry Forrest School, President and Board Member
- Advisory Board Member and Lead Instructor, UNC-Charlotte Craft Beer Business Essentials Certificate Program (2018-2023)
- Mecklenburg County Bar Association, Board of Directors (2016-2018)
- Mecklenburg County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Chair (2015-2016), Vice-Chair (2014-2015), Secretary/Treasurer (2013-2014)
Honors
- North Carolina Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine, 2014 – 2022
- North Carolina Legal Elite, Business North Carolina Magazine, Young Guns, 2016, 2017
- Leader in the Law, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2017
Representative Matters
- Successfully represented chiropractor/business owner in business divorce case in private arbitration.
- Successfully represented wine bar owners in breach of lease and option to purchase claims against developer/landlord in South Carolina jury trial.
- Represents manufacturers and suppliers in product liability actions and other litigation matters.
- Represents commercial property owners in landlord-tenant disputes, summary ejectment proceedings, and actions to recover money damages.
- Represents insurance companies and their insureds in defense litigation
- Represents bars, restaurants, and other hospitality clients in commercial leasing and general business matters.
- Represents craft breweries and distilleries in general corporate matters, leasing and real estate transactions, licensing/permitting, zoning, distribution agreements, trademarks and intellectual property, and other related matters.
- Represents owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in all stages of construction litigation.
- Represents banks and financial institutions in debt collection actions and other litigation matters.
- Represents individual and business clients in a variety of business and litigation matters, on both the plaintiff and defense side.