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Ian M. Christy

Effective advocates focus relentlessly on the details without losing sight of the bigger picture. I work closely with my clients to understand their goals and develop and execute customized strategies to navigate and resolve disputes through a cost-effective, pragmatic, and creative approach. Quotation mark
Ian M. Christy
Ian M. Christy
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About Ian

Ian Christy is a commercial litigator whose practice focuses on complex business disputes, securities litigation, cross-border disputes, and admiralty and maritime matters. He has more than ten years of experience successfully representing companies and individuals in state and federal courts across the country, in arbitration proceedings, and in investigations conducted by the Securities & Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. Ian is a trusted adviser to firms and individuals in claims related to broker-dealer disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, and class-action lawsuits. He is particularly adept with handling claims under the 1933 and 1934 Securities Acts, as well as issues under the Oregon Securities Law. Ian’s keen skills in case management and case strategy stem from his background representing both claimants and defendants in various complex, multijurisdictional, and multiparty cases. Ian’s clients have included shareholders, investment advisors, broker-dealers, mutual fund companies, and hedge funds. Ian has also represented public corporations and corporate directors in securities actions.

In his admiralty and maritime practice, Ian has experience with litigation involving vessel attachments and arrests, personal injury and Jones Act claims, and maritime contract disputes.

Ian maintains an active pro bono practice, representing clients through a partnership with Legal Aid Services of Oregon.

Before joining Miller Nash, Ian spent more than five years as a litigation associate in the New York office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, working on a range of civil litigation, regulatory, and white-collar criminal defense matters.

Representative Experience

  • Securities Litigation and Arbitration Plus
    • Represented 70 investors who collectively lost nearly $100 million in the Aequitas Ponzi scheme. Obtained favorable settlements with third-party professionals in state court litigation and private arbitration, resulting in a gross recovery exceeding clients’ investment losses.

    • Represented directors of publicly traded company in shareholder derivative action alleging breaches of fiduciary duty. Obtained dismissal of all claims.

    • Represented company and directors in shareholder class action alleging securities claims arising out of proxy disclosure in merger of formerly public mechanical equipment company.

    • Represented investment advisory firm and broker in defending claims in FINRA arbitration involving variable annuities. Secured favorable settlement on the eve of arbitration hearing.

    • Drafted amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association in Chadbourne & Parke LLP v. Troice.

    • Lead attorney representing public school districts in disputes with construction contractors over payment of the Oregon Corporate Activity Tax. Obtained jury verdict in favor of school district on breach of contract claim following a five-day jury trial.

    • Defending financial services organization against claims from creditor of Concordia University Portland.

    • Defending development and construction companies in lawsuit brought by interior design firm alleging breach of contract and related claims stemming from Oregon Convention Center hotel project.

    • Defended licensor of automotive images against claims of copyright infringement and breach of contract. Successfully obtained summary judgment and dismissal of all claims after five years of litigation.

    • Successfully defended investment manager against breach of contract claims brought by a former senior executive in an American Arbitration Association arbitration proceeding.

    • Represented health insurance provider in multimillion-dollar lawsuit alleging claims for breach of contract, defamation, and intentional interference with economic relations, ultimately obtaining the dismissal of all claims.

    • Represented apparel maker in consumer class action lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act.

    • Represented file sharing software company and its founder in the damages phase of a multibillion-dollar trial against the major record companies for inducing copyright infringement.

    • Represented publicly traded company in SEC and DOJ investigation into potential securities law violations resulting from accounting issues.

    • Represented publicly traded mutual fund company in SEC investigation involving allegedly false and misleading marketing materials.

    • Represented a multinational pharmaceutical company in DOJ and SEC investigations of alleged FCPA violations in numerous countries.

    • Represented plaintiffs, defendants, and other interested parties in cases involving maritime attachments and arrests.

    • Represented vessel charterer in personal injury case brought by injured seaman.

Services

Education

  • J.D., Cornell University Law School, 2009
    • Editor, Cornell Law Review
    • CALI Excellence for the Future Award – Cornell Public Interest Clinic
  • B.A., Macalester College, magna cum laude, 2005
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

  • Oregon, 2016
  • New York, 2010

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Activities

Professional Plus
  • Multnomah Bar Association
    • Continuing Legal Education Committee
      • Chair, 2022-2023
      • Member, 2019-present
  • Oregon State Bar
    • Securities Regulation Section, Executive Committee, Member, 2019-2021
  • Oregon Bankers Association, Associate Member
Civic Plus
  • Saturday Academy, Board Member
  • Lincoln High School Constitution Team, Coach

Recognition

  • Selected for inclusion as an Oregon Super Lawyer—Rising Star, 2020-present
    • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® (Portland, OR)
      • Commercial Litigation, 2024-present
      • Litigation—Antitrust, 2024-present
      • Litigation—Securities, 2021-present

    Insights from Ian

    • “The Litigation Aftermath of Aequitas Capital Management,” Oregon State Bar Securities Regulation Section, CLE (Oct. 2020)
    • “Current Topics in Electronic Discovery,” Multnomah Bar Association, CLE (Feb. 2019)
    • “Managing Electronic Discovery,” Multnomah Bar Association, CLE (July 2017)
    Collaborations
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