Atty. Christopher L. "Chris" Schaeffer
While Christopher Schaeffer counsels his clients, including leading financial services firms and educational institutions, on high-stakes and often contentious matters, his focus is on finding positive resolutions that enable both sides to move past their disputes and achieve their strategic goals. An experienced first chair trial lawyer who has also represented clients before administrative agencies and regulatory bodies as well as at the bargaining table, Chris takes a clear and straightforward approach to advancing his clients’ interests.
Profile Summary
About Christopher L. "Chris" Schaeffer at a glance
Christopher L. "Chris" Schaeffer is a business and litigation attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association. Educated at Loyola University Chicago (J.D., 2015). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- While Christopher Schaeffer counsels his clients, including leading financial services firms and educational institutions, on high-stakes and often contentious matters, his focus is on finding positive resolutions that enable both sides to move past their disputes and achieve their strategic goals
- An experienced first chair trial lawyer who has also represented clients before administrative agencies and regulatory bodies as well as at the bargaining table, Chris takes a clear and straightforward approach to advancing his clients’ interests
- With strong writing and oral communication skills informed by his clerkship experience, Chris is adept at crafting litigation strategy, writing dispositive motions, drafting discovery requests, taking and defending depositions, and conducting oral arguments or witness examinations in a range of complex commercial litigation matters, including conflicts surrounding mergers & acquisitions, derivative lawsuits, shareholder disputes, defamation, breach of contract, fiduciary duties, intellectual property, and trade secrets
- Chris also has particular experience in helping employers navigate issues regarding restrictive covenants, including handling litigation around their applicability
- He also applies the insights gained in litigation to offer counsel to businesses seeking to mitigate risk and avoid conflict, advising them on policies and procedures around labor and employment practices such as hiring, terminations, union organization efforts, and compensation plans
- In addition to his trial and advisory work, Chris has drafted appellate briefs in both state and federal appeals throughout the country
- He is an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he teaches a class on civil appeals
Practice Areas Explained
Christopher L. "Chris" Schaeffer's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Christopher L. "Chris" Schaeffer handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Christopher L. "Chris" Schaeffer is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Illinois →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Christopher L. "Chris" Schaeffer is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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