Christopher R. Blazejewski represents businesses, law firms, and individuals in complex commercial litigation, legal malpractice defense, and business disputes.
Chris defends national and regional law firms listed on the AmLaw 100 and NLJ 500 against legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and other professional liability claims. As a lawyer who other lawyers go to for legal advice, he assists law firms and attorneys in client disputes, risk management, and professional ethics. He also represents attorneys in disciplinary proceedings and accounting firms in client disputes.
For his business clients, Chris litigates contract, real estate, and intra-corporate disputes in a wide range of industries. He assists national and regional clients in solving problems and getting results through innovative and effective legal advice, strategy, and advocacy. He helps them achieve their business objectives while protecting their legal rights.
Chris represents clients in Massachusetts and Rhode Island state and federal courts as well as in alternative dispute resolution, including pre-litigation negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Licensed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, he shares his time at both the Boston and Providence offices.
Prior to joining the firm, Chris worked in the Litigation Department of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP in Boston. He currently serves in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing Providence. He has been recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and Providence Business News.
Experience
- On behalf of an AmLaw 100 law firm, Chris obtained complete dismissal after a jury trial of legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and Chapter 93A claims seeking over $13 million against the law firm and four of its attorneys by a former corporate client.
- On behalf of an AmLaw 100 law firm, Chris obtained complete dismissal of legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and other claims by a former corporate client seeking over $2 million against the law firm and two of its attorneys. The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed the complete dismissal on appeal.
- On behalf of a NLJ 500 law firm, Chris obtained complete dismissal of legal malpractice, misrepresentation, and other claims against the law firm and two of its attorneys relating to a $5 million intra-family dispute.
- On behalf of a partner at a NLJ 500 law firm, Chris obtained complete dismissal of Chapter 93A and other claims asserted against the partner relating to a $4 million business acquisition.
- On behalf of the sellers in a $1.5 million real estate transaction, Chris obtained complete dismissal of all claims asserted against them by prospective buyers. The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the complete dismissal on appeal.
- On behalf of two attorneys, Chris obtained complete dismissal of legal malpractice, Chapter 93A, and other claims relating to a real estate transaction. The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed the complete dismissal on appeal.
- On behalf of a NLJ 500 law firm, Chris obtained complete dismissal of breach of fiduciary duty, Chapter 93A, and other claims asserted against the law firm and one of its attorneys relating to an intra-corporate dispute.
- On behalf of a manufacturer, Chris obtained summary judgment against a distributor in a $1.3 million contract dispute. The Rhode Island Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of the trial court’s decision.
Accolades
Speaking Engagements & Publications
- “Year in Review: Top 10 Cases,” panelist, MCLE 22nd Annual Business Litigation Conference, February 3, 2023
- “Conflicts of Interest in Complex Commercial Litigation,” speaker, Massachusetts Bar Association, May 14, 2019
- “Bankruptcy Ruling Reminds Corp. Counsel to Mind Rule 1.13,” Law360, February 2019
- “The attorney-client relationship 101,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, December 31, 2018
- “How To Withdraw From Representation Ethically In Mass,” Law360, May 7, 2018
- “Who Can You Talk to Confidentially About a Client Dispute?” Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, January 22, 2018
- “Four Factors for lawyers seeking the right mediator,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, January 15, 2018
- “Corporate Counsel and Duties Beyond the Client“, Law360, January 3, 2018
- “Duties to Non-Client Third Parties,” speaker, Boston Bar Association, October 2017
- “The Future of Providence & Rhode Island,” speaker, Bisnow, October 17, 2017
- “The Law of Lis Pendens in Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” Law360, August 8, 2017
- “Look Before You Leap,” Providence Business News, August 7, 2017
- “2017 Legislative Wrap Up,” panelist, Common Cause Rhode Island, July 28, 2017
- “Social media and the workplace: takeaways from ‘Beagan,’” Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, July 17, 2017
- “50-State Survey of Accounting and Auditing Liability Issues,” author, Rhode Island Chapter, American Bar Association, 2017
- “Ethics from the Trenches for Law Firms,” speaker, MCLE New England, February 2017
- “Legal-mal decision offers guidance to trusts and estate bar,” Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, February 2016
- “6 Steps to Becoming A Superior Supervising Attorney,” Law360.com, January 2016
- “Protecting Confidential Client Information in the Digital Age,” Legal Management, October 2015
- “Caveat venditor: pitfalls await lawyers selling unbundled services,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, with Debra Squires-Lee, August 2015
- “3 Ethical Traps For ‘Gladiator’ Litigators,” Law360.com, August 2015
- “3 Policies to Protect Confidential Information in the Digital Age,” Law Technology Today, June 2015
- “PR crisis management,” Providence Business News, April 2015
- “Prosecutor’s admission in Ferguson case troubling in many ways,” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, January 2015
- “For law firms, rogue attorneys present risk” Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, October 2014
- “Making R.I. Fertile for Social Ventures,” Providence Business News, May 2012
- “Make Sure You ‘Net’ Right Commercial Lease,” Providence Business News, August 2012
- “Calling Up Dangers to Privilege,” Corporate Counsel, with Edward S. Cheng, November 2009
Related Blog Posts
- Bankruptcy Court Weighs in on Conflicts of Interest in Business Transactions, January 25, 2019
- How to Withdraw from Representation Ethically in Mass, May 16, 2018
- Who Can You Talk to Confidentially About a Client Dispute?, March 8, 2018
- Corporate Counsel And Duties Beyond The Client published on Law360.com, February 15, 2018
- Look Before You Leap, August 7, 2017
- Massachusetts and Rhode Island Courts Agree – and Disagree – on the Rights of Medical Marijuana Patients in the Employment Context, August 2, 2017
- The Law of Lis Pendens in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, July 26, 2017
Memberships
Community Involvement
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Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 2 (Providence)
