Overview

Chris Pate is an associate in the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. An experienced civil litigation attorney, Chris has represented individuals and companies in a broad range of disputes.

Chris began his career practicing products liability and insurance defense, where he successfully represented aviation and other product manufacturers in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. He has also handled a wide array of personal injury and wrongful death claims, including vehicular tort and premises liability matters. In addition, Chris has represented businesses as both plaintiff and defendant in complex commercial and business disputes, across all forms of dispute resolution and litigation.

Chris earned his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, where he was a Stetson Law Review associate, participated in the Moot Court Board, teaching assistant for Research & Writing I & II, and president of the Stetson Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from Auburn University.

Representative Matters

  • Represented industrial products manufacturer in aviation products liability wrongful death matter and obtained final summary judgment on all claims against client and obtained affirmance on appeal.
  • Represented driver in automobile negligence lawsuit and obtained defense verdict at trial.
  • Represented industrial door maintenance provider in personal injury lawsuit and obtained final summary judgment on all claims against client.
  • Represented ladder manufacturer in products liability catastrophic injury matter and work with team of litigators in all phases of litigation, resulting in a complete defense verdict upon a finding of no liability at trial.
  • Represented aircraft management company in breach of aircraft lease agreement case and obtained favorable final judgment in favor of client.

Professional Involvement

  • Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
    • Young Lawyers Division Committee, Chair, 2022-2023
    • Young Lawyers Division Committee, Member, 2021-present
  • Defense Research Institute
    • Aviation Subcommittee
    • Young Lawyers Subcommittee
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
    • Young Lawyers Division

Thought Leadership

  • Presenter, Case Law Update on General Aviation Revitalization Act and Potential Effects of the Advent of Unleaded Aviation Gasoline, 2025 Meeting of the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association
  • Moderator, Practitioner Panel Discussion on Federal Court Practice, Morning at the Courthouse Events, Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, 2024 & 2025
  • Panelist, Practitioner Panel of Law Career Development on Interviewing with Law Firms and Summer Law Clerk Positions, Stetson University College of Law, 2021
  • Sarah Papadelias & Christopher Pate, Avoiding Legal Malpractice During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 1 The Trial Advocate 40 (2021)
  • Jeffrey James & Christopher Pate, The Key to Clarity: Engagement, Disengagement and Nonengagement Letters in Preventing and Defending Legal Malpractice Claims, 1 The Trial Advocate 34 (2020)