Christopher T. Lee
Shareholder
clee@dmclaw.com |
Direct: 412-392-5491
Two PPG Place
Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5402
Main: 412-281-7272
Fax: 888-811-7144
Williamsport, PA
- Main: 570-360-8020
Christopher T. Lee is the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote and serves as Vice Chair of the firm’s Executive Committee. Mr. Lee is also Founder and Chair of the Food and Beverage Industry Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of food and beverage liability, commercial law and litigation, cybersecurity, cyber insurance coverage issues, and toxic tort law.
Mr. Lee has substantial experience in complex personal injury and commercial matters. From national coordinating counsel on foodborne illness outbreaks to class actions, commercial cases and data breach cases, he is recognized nationally as counsel in significant matters.
Professional Accomplishments
- “Attorney of the Year” by international quick-service restaurant chain, Sept. 2004
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® since 2009
- The Best Lawyers in America® since 2012: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- Pennsylvania Bar Association Large Law Firm Committee, appointment in 2019 for 1-year term
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® 2008–2024
- Super Lawyers® 2018 “Top 50 Lawyers in Pittsburgh” List
- Super Lawyers® – Corporate Counsel Edition
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania
Education
- Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University, J.D. (1991)
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.A. (1988)
Related Links
Representative Matters
- Green onion Hepatitis A outbreak (600 ill, including 4 deaths), Pennsylvania
- Tomato Salmonella outbreak (500 ill), National Coordinating Counsel, Pennsylvania
- Peanut butter Salmonella outbreak, Pennsylvania
- Frozen hamburger E. coli outbreak (40 ill), National Coordinating Counsel, New Jersey
- Quick-service restaurant Hepatitis A outbreak (40 ill), Coordinating Counsel, Illinois
- Egg Salmonella outbreak (in excess of 1,900 ill) – largest egg Salmonella outbreak in history, National Coordinating Counsel, Iowa
- Quick-service Hepatitis A class action (shot class action), Alabama
- Quick-service Salmonella outbreak (10 ill), Illinois
- MRSA outbreak at Temple, New York
- Food supplement, National Coordinating Counsel
- Data breach regarding health care system records, Pennsylvania
- National quick-service restaurant shooting spree (5 shot, 3 killed)
- Soy nut butter E. coli outbreak (32 ill), National Coordinating Counsel, Kentucky
Speaking Engagements
Mr. Lee is a frequent lecturer having made presentations on foodborne illness claims, handling large foodborne outbreaks, nutritional labeling, valuing serious cases, discovery practices and procedures, and security issues involving restaurants.
- “Foodborne Illnesses” (Speaker), Food and Beverage Industry Podcast, The DMC Report Podcast Series, 12/14/2020
- “The Summer of Cyclospora Outbreaks” (Co-Presenter); 2019 Restaurant Risk Management Summit; Chicago, IL; 5/22–23/2019
- “Foodborne Illness Outbreak Litigation: A Trial Lawyer’s Perspective” (Presenter); Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences; University Park, PA; 10/19/2017
- “Update on the Park Doctrine Prosecutions” (Co-Presenter); Food & Beverage Litigation Conference: A Look at Hospitality, Liquor and Food Liability; New York, NY; 10/18/2016
- “Cyber Security, Data Breaches and the Rise of the Dark Web” (Co-Presenter); ACC Pennsylvania CLE; 4/5/2016
- “The Industry Impact of Data Breaches and the Importance of Cybersecurity”; GMA Legal Conference; Palm Springs, CA; 2/23–25/2016
- “The Park Doctrine – The Government’s Key to the ‘C’ Suite”; American Conference Institute’s 7th National Forum on Foodborne Illness Litigation; San Francisco, CA; 1/27–28/2016
- “Cyber Security and Data Breaches”; Youngstown Business Incubator; 1/13/2015
- “Food Safety from Farm to Fork: Litigation Perspectives”; ABA Section of Litigation Roundtable – Products Liability Committee; 12/17/2014
- “Bad Medicine – Infectious Disease Management”; Chicago, IL; 10/9/2014
- “Outbreak Nation 2012: Year in Review”; GMA Litigation Conference; Miami, FL; 2/20–21/2013
- “Food Fight: A Closer Look at Emerging Trends in Food Product Litigation”; DRI Retail and Hospitality Conference; Chicago, IL; 5/10–11/2012
- GMA’s Foodborne Illness Litigation Conference; Washington, D.C.; 4/8/2010
- “Food Protection Seminar – Product Recall: Prepare, Manage and Survive”; Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association and Pennsylvania Convenience Store Council’s 7th Annual Food Industry Conference; 6/3/2008
- “Obtaining Medical Records, Public Health Documents, and Other Key Information”; American Conference Institute; Scottsdale, AZ; 2/28/2008
- “Valuing a Serious Foodborne Illness”; Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.’s Restaurant Brokers Niche Conference; Las Vegas, NV; 10/30/2007
- “Outbreak Jeopardy: Protecting Your Business, Your Brands and Your Rights During an Outbreak”; Pennsylvania Food Merchant’s Association and Pennsylvania Convenience Store Council’s 6th Annual Food Industry Conference; Harrisburg, PA; 5/16/2007
- “Nutritional Labeling: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know”; DRI’s Food Liability – New Issues, New Strategies Conference; Chicago, IL; 11/9/2006
- “Protecting the Claim File”; 2006 Claims & Litigation Workshop; Oakbrook, IL; 8/16/2006
- “How to Value a Serious Foodborne Illness Case: A Study of a Hepatitis Case”; Continuing Legal Education Seminar; 4/1/2006
- “The Pennsylvania Discovery Rules”; McDonald’s Corporation Annual Workshop; March 2006
- “Outbreak Jeopardy: Protecting Your Business, Your Brands and Your Rights During an Outbreak”; FPA’s 2006 Food Claims & Litigation Conference; San Juan, Puerto Rico; 2/9/2006
Admissions and Licenses
- Pennsylvania Bar Admission
- Superior Court of Pennsylvania
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Memberships
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance
- Defense Research Institute
- Duquesne Law Alumni Association (Board of Governors)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute (PDI) (Board of Directors past member representing Western District of the Commonwealth)
Community
- Pittsburgh Heart Ball (2018 Executive Leadership Team)
- Upper St. Clair Stadium Capital Fund Committee (2017 Chairman)
- Sheetz Family Christmas Program (Volunteer)
- UPMC Mercy Hospital Board of Directors
- Upper St. Clair Athletic Association (former Board Member and Football Commissioner)
- Upper St. Clair High School Football Boosters (President)
- Upper St. Clair for the Greater 19 Youth Football League (Executive Board Member)
Education
- Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University, J.D. (1991), cum laude; top 10%; Duquesne Law Review (Editor-in-Chief)
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.A. (1988), Political Science/Business