Location
Education
- University of California, Hastings College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1990) Order of the Coif, Editor-in-Chief, Hastings Law Journal (1989-90)
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst (B.A., 1985)
Areas of Practice:
- Complex & High-Stakes Litigation
- Mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Domestic Arbitration
Admitted to Practice:
- California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Western District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Christopher D. Sullivan
Partner
(415) 692-5200
Fax (415) 263-9200
Chris has successfully represented a wide variety of clients in major litigation, including both plaintiffs in business litigation and large corporate defendants. He has represented bankruptcy estates and unsecured creditors’ committees, major corporations (American Honda, American Express, and Southland, the 7-11 franchisor), real estate developers, a financial institution, and a famous underwater photographer. Chris represents individuals and smaller businesses against large corporations.
Chris is also active in local politics to the Marin County Board of Supervisors and is a member of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Group.
- Diamond McCarthy Partners Mark K. Sales and Christopher D. Sullivan Recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers
- Five Diamond McCarthy Attorneys Selected as "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers
- Diamond McCarthy Wins Ninth Circuit Victory for Client Heller Ehrman LLP
- Defunct Heller Ehrman Opens Fight for Fees Before California High Court
- Chris Sullivan - named Northern California Super Lawyer AV Rated, Martindale Hubbell since 2000
- Chris Sullivan - Named one of the Top 100 California Lawyers by the Daily Journal since 2012
- Chris Sullivan has been selected by the Judges of the Northern District of California as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit for the Northern District of California
- Diamond McCarthy Partner Christopher D. Sullivan To Speak in Upcoming CLE Webcast
- Chris Sullivan to Speak in Strafford Webinar, "Litigating Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims Regarding Closely Held Entities"
- The Litigation Trust and Theories of Recovery Regarding D&O / Insurance Policy Claims
- The California Bankruptcy Forum's 2017 Insolvency Conference
- AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Conference
- The International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWRC)
- The California Bankruptcy Forum's 2014 Insolvency Conference
- Litigating and Judging Business Entity Governance Disputes in California
- The Litigation Trust and Theories of Recovery Regarding D&O / Insurance Policy Claims
- Chris Sullivan, Panelist, Eastern District Conference, United States District and Bankruptcy Court, The Bankruptcy Law Breakout Session: Judicial Estoppels, October 2017
- Litigating Fraudulent Transfer Claims to Final Judgment In and Out of Bankruptcy Court: All Is Well in the Wake of Stern
- Chris Sullivan, Panelist, Law Firm Bankruptcies: Unfinished Business and Partnership Clawbacks, Bar Association San Francisco, April 2015
- Chris Sullivan, Panelist, AICPA Forensic & Valuation Services Conference, Professional Services - Firm Bankruptcies, November 2014
- Chris Sullivan, Speaker, IWRC Fall Education on Law Firm Insolvencies, October 2014
- Chris Sullivan, Panelist, Getting Employed and Getting Paid in Bankruptcy Cases, BASF, September 10, 2013
- Chris Sullivan, Speaker, Dealing with Defendants in Bankruptcy, 2013 Class Action Litigation & Management Conference, August 2013
- Chris Sullivan, Bridgeport Moderator, An Inside View of the Ninth Circuit, June 15, 2013
- Selected for inclusion in the 23rd Edition of The Best lawyers in America, 2017
- Selected to Super Lawyers 2010-2019
- In re Heller Ehrman, LLP – recovered over $40 million to date representing the estate of Heller Ehrman against dozens of defendants, including a recovery of more than $20 million in a preference action against Bank of America; a settlement for $4.9 million in a legal malpractice action; $7.5 million from a major law firm and a former client of Heller Ehrman; and more than $4.5 million from a number of law firms in Jewel v. Boxer actions.
- In re Tri Valley Growers – recovered over $34.5 million from bringing a large number of cases representing the estate of a large agricultural corporation including a suit against its grower-members; an action against directors and officers insurers that settled for $17.5 million; and a professional malpractice case against a national accounting firm.
- Borman v. American Honda – defended American Honda in a national, federal class action filed against it by hundreds of its dealers and in related state court lawsuits.
Law Clerk to the Honorable Melvin T. Brunetti, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 1991-1992
- Teaching Fellow, Stanford Law School: Taught Legal Writing and Research as well as an undergraduate class at Stanford, Law and Literature in Society, 1990-1991
- Chair of Legislative Subcommittee and Member of Business Litigation Committee for the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California
- Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit for the United States District Court, Northern District of California
- Executive Committee Member and Past President, Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California Chapter
- Chair Elect Executive Committee, Bankruptcy Section of the National Federal Bar Association
- Executive Committee Member and Past Secretary, National Federal Bar Association
- Board of Govenors of Hastings Law School
- Mediator, Northern District of California, ADR Panel
- Mediator, Northern District of California, BDRP
