J. Christopher Davis

Chris-Davis Bio Image

How do I help clients secure the most optimal outcomes in their litigations, mediations and arbitrations?

When a client experiences a negative incident, I jump in quickly and take steps to prevent a lawsuit from being filed, such as securing evidence, investigating the facts, and preparing an early resolution plan to mitigate and resolve the situation early. If a claim does manifest, I help clients forecast the path of litigation and develop reasonable budgets to manage expenses and avoid surprises along the way. Additionally, I’m passionate about providing insurance and corporate clients with the experience and talent they need to protect against excessive and “nuclear” verdicts.

Drawing on deep knowledge and keen insight in complex conflicts

Bringing more than three decades of extensive experience to his practice, trial lawyer Chris Davis advocates for clients in state and federal courts in a broad spectrum of litigation, mediations and arbitrations. Over the course of his legal career, he has crafted and presented persuasive, fact-focused narratives in dozens of cases that he tried to verdict before juries and has managed hundreds of successful mediations. Chris frequently serves as lead counsel in catastrophic personal injury, property damage and bet-the-company cases. His clients include businesses in the energy, transportation and technology industries, among a range of others.

Delivering top-tier advocacy in high-stakes cases across the region

The recipient of numerous honors, including his 2023 induction into the American College of Trial Lawyers, Chris defends insurance companies, self-insured corporations and organizations with multiple-million-dollar exposures in litigation involving issues such as corporate tort and intellectual property. Clients in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Texas rely on Chris to adeptly handle their general litigation issues, including breach of contract, officer & director liability, creditors rights, trade secret and IP cases. He credits much of his success to his early-career experience as federal law clerk for the Honorable Jimm L. Hendren of the Western District of Arkansas.

Applying the right approach around the negotiation table

As a leader of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group, Chris personally conducts more than 50 mediations a year and presides as an arbitrator in disputes. He also is a leader in the Insurance, Intellectual Property, Product Liability and Litigation & Trial groups.

Demonstrating EQ, empathy, composure and integrity

After sustaining a severe spinal cord injury during his senior year of high school, Chris had to learn to navigate life in a wheelchair. As Oklahoma’s only active paraplegic trial attorney—he also serves as Commissioner to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Disability Rights—Chris shows a very high degree of emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate with people on a heart-to-heart level. Whether he’s in a boardroom or a courtroom, Chris brings a commanding presence, a knack for staying calm under pressure, and a steadfast commitment to the truth.

Experience

Representative experience includes*:

  • Lead counsel for one of the largest oilfield services companies in a three week trial for the wrongful death of five workers in one of the worst land-based oil rig blowouts in U.S. history. Plaintiffs' estates each sought $100 Million dollars in compensatory damages plus punitive damages. Successfully contained the exposure for a verdict of only 10% responsibility of a $10 Million dollar award and no punitive damages.
  • Lead counsel for national pipeline company in a 4 week trial over a pipeline explosion and fire severely injuring two workers. Defense strategy was to contain and control verdict outcome.  Jury award was exactly what defense suggested as a proper result.
  • Successfully prosecuted inventorship issues in federal court in Minnesota for breach of contract-Joint Development Agreement on behalf of small company which innovated a patent-pending cooking process.
  • Successful appeal to the Federal Circuit on issues relating oilfiled/fracking technology in a patent infringement suit.
  • Defense of injunction hearing and favorable Markman hearing results in patent infringement litigation.
  • Multiple defense verdicts in products liability lawsuits.
  • Lead counsel on behalf of Board of Directors in securities class action lawsuits arising out of acquisition of publicly-traded oil drilling and exploration company.
*Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its merits.

Credentials

  • University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 1995
    • Order of the Barristers
    • Law Review
  • Oral Roberts University, M.A., Biblical Literature, summa cum laude, 1991
  • Oral Roberts University, M.Ed., Applied Linguistics, summa cum laude, 1992
  • Oral Roberts University, B.A., Theology, cum laude, 1989
  • Pepperdine School of Law, Certificate in Mediation, 2017

  • Oklahoma
  • Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court Northern District Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court Western District Oklahoma
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court Western District Arkansas

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2023
  • Federal Bar Association
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, 2018 – Present
  • Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, Board Member, 2016 – Present
  • Defense Research Institute, 1997 – Present
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, State Chairman, 2008 – Present
  • Northern District of Oklahoma Federal Court; Adjunct Settlement Conference Judge, 2010 – Present; Member of Admissions and Grievances Committee, 2015-2018; Member of the Committee on Local Rules and Court Operations, 2022 – Present
  • Tulsa County Bar Association, Litigation Section Chair, 2011-2013

Honors & Awards

  • Oklahoma Super Lawyers, Tort-Defense, 2010 - Present
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV rated, 2001 - Present
  • 2001 President's Award, Oklahoma Bar Association

Publications & Media

  • Quoted, “ABA recognizes perspectives, talents of legal professionals with disabilities,” ABA News, September 25, 2025
  • Co-Author, Contribution and Indemnity Law in Oklahoma, Oklahoma Bar Journal 84 No. 2, 2014.
  • Co-Author, Oklahoma Tort Reform:  Re-form Over Substance?, Okla. Bar Journal, Vol. 76, No. 12, Page 891, April 9, 2005 (with Nick Haugen)
  • Author, Lawyers with Physical Challenges:  New Committee Moves Forward, Okla. Bar Journal, Vol. 72, No. 26, Page 2495, September 8, 2001.
  • Co-Author, Is Direct-To-Consumer Advertising Eroding the Learned Intermediary Doctrine?  Vol. 41 No. 12 “For The Defense”, published by Defense Research Institute, December, 1999

  • 2015 Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel, Annual Seminar “Negligent Entrustment as the Newest Direct Action Strategy Against Transportation Employers – How to Defend”
  • 2010  Gallagher-Bassett Claims Adjuster’s Seminar “Oklahoma’s Newest Tort Reform”
  • 2009  Zurich North America Claims Adjuster’s Seminar “Oklahoma’s Newest Tort Reform”
  • 2006  Zurich North America Claims Adjuster’s Seminar “Oklahoma Survey of Tort Law – Update”
  • 2004  Zurich North America Claims Adjuster’s Seminar “Oklahoma’s New Tort Reform”
  • 2000 OU-Texas Annual Dallas Claims Seminar: “What Constitutes Deceptive Acts and Unfair Trade Practices in the Insurance Industry under Texas Law?”
  • 2000 Annual Oklahoma Claims Adjuster’s Convention: “A Broad Overview of Federal Employment Law”
  • 2000 Lorman Business Institute Seminar: “Current Employment Law Seminar”
  • 1999 Dallas Area Employment Seminar: “An Employee’s Right to Privacy in the Workplace”
  • 1998 OU-Texas Annual Dallas Claims Seminar: “Insurer’s Duty to Defend”
  • 1997 OU-Texas Annual Dallas Claims Seminar: “Developments in Bad Faith Law in Oklahoma”

  • Adjunct Professor of Business Law, Oral Roberts University School of Business, 2012-2014

Community Service

  • Tulsa Center for Physically Limited, Board of Directors, 2020 – Present