Christopher B. Deem

Christopher B. Deem

Partner
chris@smithhawks.com
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Bachelors of art in Rhetoric from Bates College

Juris doctorate magna cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Chris is a litigation attorney who understands and represents businesses and organizations. With the practical and rational mind of a management information systems director (that was his first career), he embraces every challenge and enjoys finding solutions to complex issues.

Chris has worked for two of the most prestigious and selective law firms in the country, Quinn Emanuel in Los Angeles and GrayRobinson in Tampa. At both firms, he focused on complex corporate and financial litigation. From this experience, he gained elite business knowledge and a unique insight into the financial industry, which he uses to solve problems for organization of all shapes and sizes. He has also worked at Donnelly + Gross, a Tier 1 Employment law firm in Gainesville, Florida, representing business owners, professionals, pension funds, fire fighters, and law enforcement officers. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Robert P. Cates, Circuit Judge for the 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida.

Chris has experience representing clients before federal and state trial and appellate courts, administrative agencies, local government boards, special magistrates, arbitrators and mediators.

Recent Representations

  • Representation of national bank in statutory analysis case
  • Representation of association in complex Title VII litigation involving Department of Justice, EEOC, and municipality
  • Representation of small business owners in FLSA and ADA suits
  • Representation of association in appeal before the First DCA in statutory case of first impression
  • Representation of association in appeal before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in First Amendment case
  • Representation of financial institutions in “clawback” proceedings in bankruptcy court
  • Representation of financial institutions in litigation over complex financial instruments

Memberships

  • Florida Bar, California Bar, 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, N.D. Fla, M.D. Fla., C.D. Cal.