Atty. William G. Chris

Atty. William G. Chris

William G. Chris is a partner of Roderick Linton Belfance, LLP with extensive experience in the areas of insurance defense, insurance coverage, fraud investigation, collections, and business litigation.

Akron Akron 41 yrs experience 41 year
Call (234) 368-0320 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About William G. Chris at a glance

William G. Chris is a Principal based in Akron, Ohio, practicing at Roderick Linton Belfance, LLP. They have 41+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1985. Their practice focuses on wrongful death, personal injury, business, real estate, and construction. Admitted to practice in Ohio (1985), Florida (1986), U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio (1986), and U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (1986). Educated at University of Toledo College of Law (J.D., 1984) and University of Akron (B.A., 1982). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in Akron, OH and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • William G. Chris is a partner of Roderick Linton Belfance, LLP with extensive experience in the areas of insurance defense, insurance coverage, fraud investigation, collections, and business litigation
  • William began practicing law in 1985 and joined Roderick Linton Belfance in 2001
  • During his legal career, William has tried many cases to verdict before both judges and juries in Ohio
  • Several of these trials included the successful defense and prosecution of insurance companies in bad faith actions
  • He also handled the successful defense, during a five-week jury trial, of a $27 million securities fraud litigation case
  • Recently, he and his Roderick Linton Belfance associate Brandon T. Pauley successfully represented Grace Cathedral in the Ohio Supreme Court Case of Grace Cathedral, Inc. v
  • Testa, 143 Ohio St. 3d212, 2015-Ohio-2067
  • In addition to his work with Roderick Linton Belfance, William has been active on the Akron Bar Association’s Certified Grievance Committee arguing several cases before the Ohio Supreme Court and serving as Bar Counsel from April 2009 through September 2012
  • He has also served as a Trustee and held numerous committee and chair positions with the Akron Bar Association
  • William is also a Fellow of the Akron Bar Association Foundation and currently serves on the Board of Governors as secretary
  • William is a frequent lecturer on Legal Ethics, Professionalism, and insurance-related matters
  • He has served on both the State (Ohio) and National Board for the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators, an organization established for the purpose of providing recognition, training, professionalism, and support for those conducting insurance investigations
  • William currently serves as the 1st Vice President of the Ohio Chapter of NSPII
  • He has also served as a prosecutor for the city of Hudson, Ohio
  • William is admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio (1985)
  • U.S
  • District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S
  • Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • and the State of Florida (1986)
  • In addition to his membership in the Akron Bar Association, William is a member of the American Bar, Ohio Bar and Florida Bar associations, along with the Defense Research Institute
  • William is also AV rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
  • He has been honored as a SuperLawyer for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016
  • Born in Akron and growing up in North Canton, Ohio, William graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1984 and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Akron in 1982

Practice Areas Explained

William G. Chris's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases William G. Chris handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Wrongful Death

William G. Chris is one of 31,253 wrongful death attorneys indexed nationally. Browse wrongful death attorneys in Ohio →

Personal Injury

Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.

William G. Chris is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Ohio →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

William G. Chris is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Ohio →

Real Estate Law

Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.

William G. Chris is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Ohio →

Construction Law

William G. Chris is one of 40,689 construction attorneys indexed nationally. Browse construction attorneys in Ohio →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Ohio

Practicing law in Ohio. Legal matters in Ohio are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Akron are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Ohio state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Ohio 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 Ohio courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Ohio attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Akron or all attorneys in Ohio.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about William G. Chris

Where is William G. Chris's law office located?
William G. Chris's law practice is located in Akron, Ohio. The firm is Roderick Linton Belfance, LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does William G. Chris handle?
William G. Chris focuses on wrongful death, personal injury, business, real estate, construction. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Ohio.
How long has William G. Chris practiced law?
William G. Chris has 41+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1985.
Where did William G. Chris go to law school?
William G. Chris earned their education at (J.D., 1984); (B.A., 1982).
How can I contact William G. Chris for a consultation?
You can contact William G. Chris directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has William G. Chris received?
William G. Chris's notable recognition includes: AV Preeminent.

Education

J.D.
University of Toledo College of Law
- 1984
B.A.
University of Akron
- 1982

Awards

AV Preeminent

Bar Admissions

Ohio
Admitted: 1985
Florida
Admitted: 1986
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
Admitted: 1986
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Admitted: 1986

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