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Chris Hohn

Partner

St. Louis
314 552 6159 314 552 6159 direct


Chris leads complex litigation and class action defense for a host of major corporations in the financial services and agriculture industries.

He is a partner in Thompson Coburn's Class Action and Business Litigation groups, serves as the co-chair of the Financial Services Litigation practice area, and is a member of the firm's Management Committee.

Chris got his start in complex financial services litigation, where for 20 years he has regularly represented some of the nation's largest financial institutions and brokerages. In cases involving multiple plaintiffs, class actions, or multidistrict litigation, Chris excels at developing a highly focused litigation strategy. He regularly serves as lead and coordinating counsel for several financial institution clients in consumer-related credit card and mortgage cases. Chris represents clients in trial, in arbitrations and mediations, and on appeal.

As the co-chair of the firm's Agriculture industry group, Chris has taken a lead role in nearly every major litigation over the last decade related to alleged crop contamination by genetically modified strains of rice, soybeans, and corn. For agribusiness giants like Riceland and Monsanto, Chris has successfully litigated claims related to the introduction of GM crops and the disruption of the supply chain and export markets. Chris helps lead a GM task force within the firm that has developed an extensive database of experience, litigation capabilities, and successful trial and appellate strategies. He draws on that experience to defend clients facing individual or class action claims, and counsel them on risk management for new biotechnology or GM varieties.

Riceland Food Jury Trial

Along with a team of attorneys, Chris tried a four-week jury trial in Arkansas state court on behalf of firm client, Riceland Foods, Inc. The trial was the culmination of years of work by the legal team that defended Riceland foods on multiple litigation fronts, including defense of multiple class action lawsuits in Arkansas, classes of farmers consolidated in an MDL in the Eastern District of Missouri, and several European Union customers suing in federal court. The Riceland legal team's strategy reversed Riceland's defensive position by asserting a cross-claim against a codefendant resulting in $136.9 million jury verdict for Riceland.

Hargis v. Webster Bank

Chris represented Webster Bank and won summary judgment of a nationwide class action alleging the unauthorized practice of law related to fees charged on mortgage accounts. On appeal, Chris argued the case before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the judgment.

TCLEs

Better Together? Competition, Price Gouging and Other Antitrust Issues Raised by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Lender Policies and Procedures for Subpoenas, Summons and Third-Party Demand Requests

Thompson Coburn Publications

Retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers: Be aware of price gouging laws during COVID-19

Publications

“Can You Really Sue for Fraud? Evaluating Potential Fraud Claims in Commercial Transactions”;
The St. Louis Bar Journal, Summer 2007

Co-Author, “Recent Trends and Defense Strategies for Pharmaceutical Class Actions”;
The St. Louis Bar Journal, Spring 2005

Co-Author, “The Attorneys’ Fee Award in Class Action Litigation – Is the Carrot Too Big?”;
St. Louis Lawyer, November 1999

Presentations

"Lender Policies and Procedures for Subpoenas, Summons and Third-Party Demand Requests"
Lorman Educational Services August 2017

"Mandatory Arbitration Provisions";
Association of Corporate Counsel Program, July 2011

Lecturer, "Class Action Basics";
February 2004

Lecturer, "Class Action Practice and Procedure";
Federal CLE Program, May 2000

Faculty/Panelist, "Mentoring to Build a Better Place";
American Bar Association Teleconference-- Webcast Program, November 2007

News

Thompson Coburn recognized as one of the most philanthropic companies in St. Louis

Thompson Coburn attorneys win 8th Circuit victory for Scottrade in securities class action

Scottrade wins dismissal of data breach class action in the 8th Circuit

Litigators to lead Lorman webinar on lender policies for subpoenas, summons, demand requests

Missouri Court of Appeals rules for Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council

Agribusiness professionals enjoy hands-on farm simulation at Thompson Coburn

Thompson Coburn leads Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council to $600,000 jury verdict

23 Thompson Coburn attorneys recognized in 2016 Chambers USA

25 Thompson Coburn attorneys recognized in 2015 Chambers USA

27 Thompson Coburn attorneys recognized in 2014 Chambers USA