Christopher R. Bankler
Chris Bankler is a partner in Jackson Walker’s litigation section, focused on the resolution of disputes for businesses and financial institutions. His practice consists of counseling clients through the process of complex business litigation, including general business disputes, fraud claims, breach of fiduciary duty cases, and breach of contract claims. An experienced litigator, Chris has served as litigation counsel in more than 100 cases in state and federal courts, as well as FINRA and AAA arbitrations.
B.A., University of Texas at Austin
B.B.A., University of Texas at Austin
J.D., cum laude, SMU Dedman School of Law
Texas, 2009
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
Financial Institution Representation
Chris’ deep understanding of the matters important to financial institutions has made him the go-to counselor for many of Jackson Walker’s banking, trust, and private equity clients. Chris represents a diverse range of financial institutions, including:
- National Banks, 3 of the top 10 largest banks in the United States
- Trust Companies
- Community Banks and Credit Unions
- Investment Banks
- Private Equity Firms and Alternative Investment Firms
Chris has helped financial institutions resolve a variety of legal claims and disputes, including:
- Contract Disputes
- Lender Liability Suits
- Claims Involving Agented Loans
- Disputes Involving Trusts
- Customer Claims, Fair Debt Collection and Fair Credit Reporting
- FINRA Arbitrations for the Securities Industry
Officer and Director Representation
Chris frequently represents officers and directors in lawsuits relating to management disputes or a shareholder claims. Chris knows how to traverse lawsuits against directors and officers, and prides himself on being able to get his clients through litigation and back to running their companies. Chris has experience representing officers and directors not only in Texas courts, but also in other common jurisdictions for business disputes, including Nevada and Delaware. Chris has particular experience in Delaware, having appeared and argued in the Delaware Chancery Court in several cases in recent years.
Chris has represented individual officers and directors of public and private companies in high-stakes corporate defense cases involving claims for:
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Theft of Trade Secrets
- Fraud
- Bankruptcy Trustee Suits
- Shareholder Class Actions
Business Contract Disputes
Chris frequently represents businesses in breach of contract disputes. Sometimes that means filing lawsuits to protect a company’s contract rights, and sometimes that means defending companies in the courtroom, but often times that means proactively working to resolve business disputes without litigation.
- One to Watch, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 2012
- Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, 2018
- Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, Board of Directors
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Equal Access to Justice Committee, Co-Chair, 2017
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Judiciary Committee, Co-Chair
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Leadership Class and Steering Committee, 2010
- Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court
- Foundation of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Life Fellow
- Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, Young Professionals
- Dallas Museum of Art, Junior Associates
Thirty-Three Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to 'Super Lawyers – Rising Stars' List
Jackson Walker Secures Victory in Case Involving Trusts of Prominent Texas Family
Financial Institutions
One of his most recent successes includes the defense of an agent and a group of national banks that were sued for fraud, tortious interference, and breach of fiduciary duty. The claims arose out of a failed leveraged buy-out, default on loans, and a bankruptcy proceeding. In that case, the plaintiffs’ claims for $40 million in actual damages plus punitive damages against the defendant banks were successfully resolved with no liability to the banks.
Officer and Director Suits
Chris is proud to have recently resolved a multi-million dollar lawsuit against an officer and director of a real estate investment trust who was sued for breach of fiduciary duty based on decisions the officer made regarding the operations of the business. The case was quickly resolved after limited discovery, without filing motions for summary judgment, and many months before trial.
Breach of Contract Claims
Chris recently negotiated a significant settlement payment to a Texas company (without depositions, document production, or court hearings) that was damaged by its vendor’s that repeated refusal to abide by the parties’ contract.
Practice Experience
Financial Institution Representation
Chris’ deep understanding of the matters important to financial institutions has made him the go-to counselor for many of Jackson Walker’s banking, trust, and private equity clients. Chris represents a diverse range of financial institutions, including:
- National Banks, 3 of the top 10 largest banks in the United States
- Trust Companies
- Community Banks and Credit Unions
- Investment Banks
- Private Equity Firms and Alternative Investment Firms
Chris has helped financial institutions resolve a variety of legal claims and disputes, including:
- Contract Disputes
- Lender Liability Suits
- Claims Involving Agented Loans
- Disputes Involving Trusts
- Customer Claims, Fair Debt Collection and Fair Credit Reporting
- FINRA Arbitrations for the Securities Industry
Officer and Director Representation
Chris frequently represents officers and directors in lawsuits relating to management disputes or a shareholder claims. Chris knows how to traverse lawsuits against directors and officers, and prides himself on being able to get his clients through litigation and back to running their companies. Chris has experience representing officers and directors not only in Texas courts, but also in other common jurisdictions for business disputes, including Nevada and Delaware. Chris has particular experience in Delaware, having appeared and argued in the Delaware Chancery Court in several cases in recent years.
Chris has represented individual officers and directors of public and private companies in high-stakes corporate defense cases involving claims for:
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Theft of Trade Secrets
- Fraud
- Bankruptcy Trustee Suits
- Shareholder Class Actions
Business Contract Disputes
Chris frequently represents businesses in breach of contract disputes. Sometimes that means filing lawsuits to protect a company’s contract rights, and sometimes that means defending companies in the courtroom, but often times that means proactively working to resolve business disputes without litigation.
Recognition & Accolades
- One to Watch, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 2012
- Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, 2018
Community Involvement
- Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, Board of Directors
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Equal Access to Justice Committee, Co-Chair, 2017
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Judiciary Committee, Co-Chair
- Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Leadership Class and Steering Committee, 2010
- Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court
- Foundation of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Life Fellow
- Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, Young Professionals
- Dallas Museum of Art, Junior Associates
Career Highlights
Financial Institutions
One of his most recent successes includes the defense of an agent and a group of national banks that were sued for fraud, tortious interference, and breach of fiduciary duty. The claims arose out of a failed leveraged buy-out, default on loans, and a bankruptcy proceeding. In that case, the plaintiffs’ claims for $40 million in actual damages plus punitive damages against the defendant banks were successfully resolved with no liability to the banks.
Officer and Director Suits
Chris is proud to have recently resolved a multi-million dollar lawsuit against an officer and director of a real estate investment trust who was sued for breach of fiduciary duty based on decisions the officer made regarding the operations of the business. The case was quickly resolved after limited discovery, without filing motions for summary judgment, and many months before trial.
Breach of Contract Claims
Chris recently negotiated a significant settlement payment to a Texas company (without depositions, document production, or court hearings) that was damaged by its vendor’s that repeated refusal to abide by the parties’ contract.