06/13/2025
- Offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California
Overview
Christopher J. Major is a Partner in the New York Office of Meister Seelig & Fein and a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice. Mr. Major represents clients in a variety of complex commercial litigation cases in federal and state court as well as before arbitration panels. Mr. Major’s practice focuses on breach of contract, business torts, cross-border disputes, real estate disputes, financial services disputes, as well as bankruptcy and other insolvency matters.
In addition to jury and bench trials, Mr. Major has extensive experience in arbitration hearings, injunctions, and other pre-judgment evidentiary hearings.
Education & Admissions
EDUCATION
J.D., Quinnipiac University School of Law (Magna Cum Laude/Dean Scholar/Law Review)
B.A., Salisbury University
ADMISSIONS
State of New York
State of Connecticut
Southern District of New York
Eastern District of New York
Western District of New York
District of Connecticut
Second Circuit Court of Appeals
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court
Prior Experience
Before joining MSF, Mr. Major was an Associate and then Partner with Robinson & Cole LLP.
Representative Matters
An energy trading firm in a cross-border dispute against foreign bank concerning the foreign bank’s restraint of more than $1.2 billion.
A prominent real estate development firm and its principals in sprawling multi-jurisdiction litigation arising out of a failed $600 million restructuring of a construction loan and more than $300 million in guaranty claims.
A sovereign in a cross-border dispute arising out of a more than $10 billion arbitral award.
A leading private equity firm and Fortune 500 real estate services company defending against business tort claims by another private equity firm concerning a $30 million real estate investment.
The owner in cross-border litigation arising out of the theft and laundering of tens of millions of dollars of the owner’s cryptocurrency.
Guarantors in the trial of an action in New York Supreme Court by a syndicate of lenders seeking to collect in excess of $60 million under a payment guaranty.
A foreign healthcare company and its founder prosecuting fraud claims arising out of a more than $7 billion loss.
A private equity group in multi-jurisdiction litigation to enforce its controlling $50 million investment in a publicly traded holding company.
A European hotel in a federal jury trial in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts arising out of more than $20 million in structural and business interruption damages caused by a fire.
An international cargo airline in a federal jury trial against a former employee who claimed he was entitled to a large award under an employee innovation reward program.
A leading international law firm in New York Supreme Court and arbitration in a dispute with its landlord concerning a lease for more than 600,000 square feet of office space in midtown Manhattan.
An AM Law 200 law firm in an action filed in the Southern District of New York by the Chapter 7 trustee of a bankrupt national law firm that sued our client for fees earned after it hired several partners from the national firm.
A broker-dealer and its CEO in a FINRA arbitration hearing against traders who alleged they were owed more than $8 million in compensation.
Real estate developers in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada to recover damages from a hedge fund for tortious interference with a prospective restructuring of a shopping mall construction loan.
The purchaser of intellectual property assets acquired at a bankruptcy auction in a subsequent federal court trade secret misappropriation case.
A foreign liquidator of overseas banks in litigation in the Southern District of New York and the Second Circuit to recover more than $140 million in U.S. assets seized by the New York Superintendent of Banks.
Honors & Involvement
HONORS
Super Lawyers Rising Star in both New York and Connecticut
New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2024
Forty Under Forty, Fairfield County Business Journal
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
“Bankruptcy & Foreclosure: Obstacles & Opportunities,” New York University, Distressed Debt Graduate Course (2016)
“A Primer on Law Firm Dissolutions,” International Association of Defense Counsel (2015)
“Under the Gun: A Primer on Preliminary Injunctive Relief in Non-Compete and Trade Secret Cases,” International Association of Defense Counsel (2014)
“Bulletproofing Your Deals: Lessons from the Litigation Battlefield on Commercial Contract Clauses, US and International,” Westchester/Southern Connecticut Association of Corporate Counsel (2008)
Publications
“Eight Questions Corporate Lawyers Should Answer Before Agreeing to Arbitrate,” Connecticut Law Tribune, February 28, 2014
“Smoking Gun or Shooting Blanks? The Admissibility of Illegally Recorded Telephone Conversations in Civil Cases,” Trial Practice Newsletter, American Bar Association, 2008
