Christine Lipsey is a member of the commercial litigation team in the firm's Baton Rouge office. She has more than 25 years of experience in litigation representing small and large businesses, insurance companies, state agencies, lenders, and corporate shareholders.
Christine is widely recognized throughout the state and region as a leader in commercial litigation. One of her many notable accomplishments includes the representation of a major insurance company in the first case before the Louisiana Supreme Court to review whether the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preempted Louisiana's own statute. Christine's arguments compelled the court to rule in favor of the insurance company, and the United States Supreme Court denied review. She also has had significant success defending clients in class action, breach of contract, and corporate fiduciary legal disputes.
Christine has published and presented on a number of business litigation topics including consumer credit and privacy, corporate officer and director duties, borrower/lender litigation, and unfair trade practices. She is also an adjunct professor at Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where she teaches The Legal Profession (ethics and professionalism).
Professional Affiliations
· American Bar Association, Business Torts Committee; Commercial & Business Litigation Committee; and Professional Liability Litigation Committee
· Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
· Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
· Louisiana Bar Foundation Development Committee
· Louisiana State University Law Center, Board of Trustees and Adjunct Faculty Member
· Baton Rouge Bar Association, past-president
· Louisiana State Bar Association, Rules of Professional Conduct Committee; Board of Governors, Disciplinary Board, and House of Delegates (former member)
· Louisiana Law Institute Prescription ( statute of limitations ) Committee
Presentations
· "Internet Defamation Law," The LSBA Uncorked: A CLE Adventure in California's Wine Country sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association, 3/2012
· "Making Threats to Gain Advantage in Litigation: A Case Study in Advocacy, Ethics, & Professionalism," panel presentation, Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers Mid-Year Meeting, 2/2012
· "Closing Arguments that Help the Jury," Louisiana State Bar Association 2010 Voodoo Fest Seminar, 10/2010
· "The Intersection of Ethics and Malpractice," Baton Rouge Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, 4/2010, and Louisiana State Bar Association Multi-Topic CLE Seminar, 11/2009 (co-presented with Michael A. Patterson)
· "Ethics, Management and Professionalism Seminar for New Practitioners," Louisiana State Bar Association, 4/2012, 5/2011, 4/2010, 5/2009, and 4/2008
· "Legal Ethics Update," Young Lawyers Section, Baton Rouge Bar Association, 7/2010 and 7/2006
· "Louisiana Ethics Update," Central Louisiana Pro Bono Project, Inc.'s Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 12/2008
· "Louisiana Ethics Update," Attorney-Client Seminar, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, 8/2008
· "Professionalism," Young Lawyers Section, Baton Rouge Bar Association, 7/2008
· "Professionalism," Public Utility Law Section, Louisiana State Bar Association, 10/2007
· "Professionalism," 2007 LSU Law Alumni Seminar, 9/2007
· "The Paper Lawyer's Guide to Electronic Discovery: Learn What There Is, How to Ask for It and What You Have to Produce," American Bar Association, Section of Litigation Annual Conference, 4/2007
· "The Basics: Fiduciary Duties of Officers and Directors of Non-Profit Entities," Associated Builders and Contractors, Pelican Chapter, 1/2007
· "Professionalism: Can We Get There from Here?," Baton Rouge Bar Association, 12/2006
· "Document Retention, Electronic Documents, New Federal E-Discovery Rules and Company Exposure," Association of Corporate Counsel, Louisiana Chapter, 11/2006
· "Advanced Commercial Litigation Seminar Borrower/Lender Litigation," LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, 9/2006
· "Document Retention, Electronic Documents, New Federal E-Discovery Rules and Company Exposure," Society of Louisiana CPAs, Litigation Services Workshop, 10/2006
· "Documentation and Electronic Communications," Risk Management Association, Baton Rouge Chapter, 3/2006
· "2005 Corporate Officer & Director Seminar," Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P., 10/2005
· "Electronic Information and Records Management," Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P., 9/2005
· "Your Company and Electronic Information and Records Management," Greater Baton Rouge Society of Human Resource Management, 9/2005
· "Ethics In and Out of Medical Malpractice," Louisiana State Bar Association Medical Malpractice Seminar, Louisiana State Bar Association (Negotiating the Labyrinth), 11/2004
· "Business and Consumer Privacy: GLBA, HIPAA, and the FACT Act," Louisiana Business and Industry Conference, Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, 8/2004
· "Update: Do Not Call; Truth in Lending; Fair Credit Reporting," Louisiana Insurers' Conference Annual Meeting, 8/2004
· "Corporate/Fiduciary Law Update - Trends: New sources of liability for officers, directors and their advisors," 2004 Corporate Officer & Director Fiduciary Forum, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P., 4/2004
· "Pre-Trial Discovery and Pleadings - Reminders and Recent Developments," The Litigation Process in Louisiana State Courts, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Center of Continuing Professional Development, 4/2004
· "GLBA Meets HIPAA - Do You Have Privacy Issues and Not Know It?," Institute of Internal Auditors, Baton Rouge Chapter, 1/2004
· "GLBA Meets HIPAA - Do You Have Privacy Issues and Not Know It?," Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants, Baton Rouge Chapter, 4/2003
· "Professionalism: Can We Get There From Here?," Recent Developments in Legislation and Jurisprudence, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Center of Continuing Professional Development, 9 and 11/2003
Publications
· "Tortious Interference with Expectation of Inheritance," Business Torts Journal, American Bar Association, Summer 2011 (co-authored with Zelma M. Frederick)
· "Little FTC Acts and Statutory Treble Damages," Business Torts Journal, American Bar Association, Fall 2009 (co-authored with Dylan Tuggle)
· "Need to Know: Predatory Overbidding?" Merit Shop Message, Associated Builders and Contractors, Pelican Chapter, 2/2007
· "Electronic Documents and the New Federal Rules," Lagniappe (A Publication for Louisiana Certified Public Accountants), 12/2006
· "Brill v. Countrywide Homes: Burden of Proof in Remand Proceedings Under the Class Action Fairness Act," The Federal Lawyer, 5/2006 (co-authored with J.R. Whaley)
· "Document Destruction: Could the Stakes Be Higher?" Business Torts Journal, American Bar Association, Fall 2005
· "What About the Minority Shareholder in a Closely Held Corporation?" Business Torts Journal, American Bar Association, Summer 2005
· "The "Other" April Deadline (HIPAA Security Standards Rule)," Lagniappe, Louisiana Nursing Home Association, 3/2005
· "Just the Facts: A glimpse at how the FACT Act affects your business," Signals, Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, 5/2004
· "Just the Facts: A glimpse at how the FACT Act affects your business," Law Journal, Baton Rouge Business Report, Spring/Summer 2004
· "The FTC Safeguards Rules - Do Your Clients Have Privacy "Issues" and Not Know It?" Around the Bar, Baton Rouge Bar Association, No. 181, 11/2003
· "Lawyer, Heal Thyself: Do You Have "Issues" and Not Know It?" Commercial & Business Litigation, American Bar Association, Fall 2003
· "For Whom Does the Statute of Limitations Toll?" Commercial & Business Litigation, American Bar Association, Winter 2001-2002
· "When Can a Lawyer Serve as an Expert Witness?" Commercial & Business Litigation, American Bar Association, Winter 2000-2001
Professional Recognition
· Louisiana Super Lawyers Business Litigation, Insurance Coverage
· Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated Lawyer
· Chambers Louisiana / Litigation: General Commercial
Awards & Honors
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated