Christopher A. Tipping is a partner in Stark & Knoll Litigation & Employment Group. Chris maintains a civil litigation practice with principal focus in the areas of business, employment, personal injury, and all facets of insurance defense litigation, including automobile, dealership operations, negligence, construction, medical and nursing home liability, liquor liability, premises liability, insurance coverage, and personal, commercial and products liability defense.

Experience
Since 1995, Chris has been actively engaged in the practice of civil and complex civil defense litigation in both State and Federal Courts throughout the State of Ohio, with an emphasis on Northeastern and Central Ohio. Chris has over 15 years experience in litigating cases on behalf of individuals, businesses, and insurance companies in the principal areas of automobile, dealership operations, employment, business, personal injury, negligence, construction, medical and nursing home liability, liquor liability, premises liability, insurance coverage, and personal, commercial and products liability defense. Chris has successfully litigated cases on behalf of his clients in Trial Courts spanning more than ten counties throughout the State of Ohio, the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, The Ohio Court of Claims, Ohio Appellate Courts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Selected reported cases include: Steiner v. Ganley Toyota-Mercedes Benz (2003), 99 Ohio St. 3d 211; Rigby v. Fallsway Equip. Co. (2002), 150 Ohio App. 3d 155; Sorrell v. Estate of Datko (2001), 147 Ohio App. 3d 319; Brott Mardis & Co. v. Camp (2001), 147 Ohio App. 3d 71; and Hitt v. Anthem Ins. Group (2001), 142 Ohio App. 3d 262.

In addition to trial practice, Chris also has a great depth of experience in successfully resolving contested litigation matters through pre-trial dispositive motion practice and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. He routinely works with clients both prior to and subsequent to the filing of litigation to assess liability exposure and develop strategies to meet the clients’ goals of resolving litigation matters in a beneficial and cost effective manner. Through personalized client service, effective advocacy, experience and proficiency in the courtroom, and attention to detail, Chris has been selected by his peers as an Ohio Super Lawyer – Rising Star in Civil Defense Litigation for 2009 and 2010, a distinction awarded to less than 3% of Attorneys under the age of 40 in the State of Ohio.

Court Admissions

• Ohio, 1995
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 1996
• District of Columbia, 1998
• United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2003

Bar Associations

• Akron Bar Association

Education

• The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Juris Doctor, 1995
• The George Washington University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, cum laude, 1992

Professional & Community Leadership

• Akron Bar Association Foundation – Fellow, Class of 2005
• City of Fairlawn Community Improvement Corporation - Member, 2011-present
• City of Fairlawn Archives and Artifacts Historical Commission – Member, 2006-2008
• City of Fairlawn Real Property Maintenance Board – Member, 2008-present
• St. Sebastian Parish Council – Past President, 2007-2008
• Walsh Jesuit High School – Member, Board of Trustees, 2009–present
• Walsh Jesuit High School Alumni Association – President, 2006–present

Honors & Awards

• Ohio Super Lawyer - Civil Defense Litigation - 2011 - 2012
• Ohio Super Lawyer - Rising Star in Civil Defense Litigation - 2009 - 2010 Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, a distinction awarded to less than 3% of attorneys under the age of 40 in the State of Ohio
• Member, Madison Who’s Who Executive and Personal Registry, 2008
• Martindale-Hubbell “BV” rating
• American Jurisprudence Award in Civil and Political Law, 1994
• Ohio State University Law Journal, Articles Editor, 1994-95; Staff Member, 1993-94
• Phi Beta Kappa, Elected, 1991

View Chris’ complete biography (PDF)