Education:

• J.D., Boston University School of Law (cum laude; Note and Case Editor, Boston University Law Review), 1985
• B.S., Cornell University (with distinction), 1982

Practice Areas:

• Business Litigation
• Employment Law
• Product Liability

Christine Netski is a senior partner at SRBC and has been a member of the firm's Executive Committee since 1999.  She has more than 20 years of litigation experience in a broad range of matters, representing corporations and individuals in state and federal court, and in mediation and arbitration proceedings.  She concentrates her practice in business, employment and product liability litigation.     

Business

Christine has obtained successful results for clients in a variety of industries, including financial services, technology, security services, professional services, commercial real estate, biotechnology, insurance, retail, distribution and consumer product manufacturing.  She has represented clients in matters involving non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, shareholder disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, misrepresentation, civil conspiracy, defamation, commercial disparagement, unfair trade practices, bad faith insurance practices, public accommodations, consumer class actions and breach of contract. 

Representative Matters

• Jury verdict in favor of recruitment outsourcing software and service provider, defeating multi-million dollar claim by customer for alleged fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract, and awarding approximately $1 million in unpaid fees (with interest) on provider's counterclaim for breach of contract
• $4 million arbitration award on behalf of appliance manufacturer seeking contractual indemnification against a component part supplier for underlying property damage claims arising out of defect in component part
• Jury verdict in favor of Oracle Applications implementer on claim by customer seeking to recover consequential damages for breach of "fixed bid" contract
• Pre-trial dismissal of class allegations in consumer protection action brought against vehicle storage and auction facility for alleged unfair and deceptive trade practices in connection with its standard notice to vehicle owners
• Favorable resolution of a defamation and commercial disparagement claim on behalf of a consumer product manufacturer alleging that the sponsor of an educational seminar for the client's customers made false statements concerning the client's products
• Summary judgment in favor of a consumer product manufacturer in misrepresentation claim by patent owner seeking a licensing arrangement, based upon a successful Daubert challenge to the plaintiff's proposed expert testimony on lost profits

Employment

Christine’s employment practice includes representing management and individuals in cases involving allegations of race, gender, age and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge and other employment-related claims, including in proceedings before state and federal administrative agencies.  She also counsels business executives with respect to contractual and other employment-related issues.

Representative Matters

• Summary judgment in favor of national retailer in claim by employee alleging disparate treatment and impact based on age, as well as gender discrimination and retaliation
• Voluntary dismissal of sexual harassment claim following motion to dismiss based upon employee's alleged fraud on the court, including perjured deposition testimony
• Preliminary injunction in favor of energy apparatus testing equipment and services provider against former employees who joined competitor
• Preliminary injunction on behalf of technology consulting firm against a former employee and favorable settlement with new employer after discovery on employee's misappropriation of trade secrets and violation of the injunction
• Representation of major mutual fund company in non-compete case against high-profile portfolio manager, resulting in favorable settlement on the eve of evidentiary hearing on company's request for injunctive relief
• Successful appeal overturning employee's jury verdict against employer based upon lack of subject matter jurisdiction over workers' compensation claims
• Massachusetts defense counsel for two major national retailers in discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour, and public accommodation claims

Product Liability

In product liability matters, Christine's clients include insured and self-insured manufacturers and sellers of a variety of products, including consumer goods, automobiles, bicycles, and sporting goods.  She has also handled the defense of toxic tort claims.  Christine has acted as Massachusetts defense counsel for a major sporting good manufacturer.  She has also represented the product liability insurer of a large consumer product manufacturer in multiple recovery efforts against suppliers of defective component parts.

Recognition:

• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Massachusetts Super Lawyers (Business Litigation), Boston magazine, 2005-2009; Top 50 Female Lawyers in Massachusetts, 2008
• Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell

Memberships:

• Boston Bar Association (Co-Chair, BBA Strategic Planning Committee 2008-2009; Chair, BBA Nominating Committee 2007; Member, Litigation and Labor and Employment Sections)
• Board of Editors, Boston Bar Journal (Chair 2004-2007; Member 2002-2007)
• Case Conferencer for Boston Bar Association/Boston Municipal Court Pre-Trial Case Conference Program
• Massachusetts Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)
• Women’s Bar Association (Co-Chair, Appointments, Awards & Endorsements Committee 2006-2008; Co-Chair, Senior Practice Group 2002-2006)

Representative Speaking Engagements:

• Moderator, “Demystifying the Path to the Bench,” Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association, October 2007
• Presenter, “Strategies to Prevent Lawsuits Arising from Employment Termination,” Council on Education in Management seminar, May 2007

Publications:

• Ethical "Red Flags" for Counsel Retained by Insurer to Defend Insured, BBA Employment Law Seminar (June, 1999)
• Co-author, "Chapter 93A and Chapter 176D - Recent Developments," a chapter in Raising the Stakes: Defending G.L. c. 93A and G.L. 176D Claims (Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association, 1994)

Admissions:

• Massachusetts
• U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Related News:

October 28, 2009 -
Super Lawyers Recognizes Sixteen SRBC Partners

The just-released 2009 edition of Massachusetts Super Lawyers, the annual peer-survey-based listing of outstanding lawyers, recognizes sixteen of SRBC's partners. A number of these were named as among the very top lawyers in Massachusetts and in New England. This year's list:

• Michael S. Appel, Personal Injury Plaintiff: Medical Malpractice
• David A. Barry, Personal Injury Defense: Products; Top 100 Lawyers in Massachusetts and in New England
• Edward J. Barshak, Business Litigation; Top 100 Lawyers in Massachusetts and in New England
• William L. Boesch, Business Litigation
• Anthony M. Doniger, Business Litigation; Top 10 Lawyers in Massachusetts (2nd Top Point Getter); Top 100 Lawyers in New England
• Samuel M. Furgang, Insurance Coverage
• Alan S. Geismer, Family Law
• Lisa C. Goodheart, Environmental; Top 100 Lawyers in Massachusetts and in New England; Top 50 Female Lawyers in Massachusetts and in New England
• Susan A. Hartnett, Insurance Coverage
• Natasha C. Lisman, Business Litigation; Top 50 Female Lawyers in Massachusetts
• Jean A. Musiker, Employment & Labor; Top 100 Lawyers in Massachusetts and in New England; Top 50 Female Lawyers in Massachusetts and in New England
• Christine M. Netski, Business Litigation
• John G. O’Neill, Business Litigation
• Regina E. Roman, Insurance Coverage; Top 50 Female Lawyers in Massachusetts
• Jeffrey S. Stern, Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Paul E. White, Business Litigation

For more on Super Lawyers and its selection process, follow this link.

September 21, 2008 -
Christine Netski Named Co-Chair of BBA Strategic Planning Committee
SRBC partner Christine Netski was recently named co-chair of the Boston Bar Association's Strategic Planning Committee. The committee's purpose is to develop a long-range strategic plan for the BBA. Chris also served as the chair of the BBA's Nominating Committee for 2007-2008, and is a member of the association's Litigation and Labor and Employment sections.

September 10, 2008 -
Christine Netski Named to Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
SRBC partner Christine Netski was recently invited to be a fellow of the trial lawyer honorary society Litigation Counsel of America (LCA). Chris has more than twenty years of litigation experience in a broad range of business, employment and product liability matters.