Christopher J. Orrico, a partner in BLB&G’s Corporate Governance practice, represents shareholders in breach of fiduciary duty litigation against boards and senior executives. Christopher has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors, improved corporate governance practices at companies, and vindicated fundamental shareholder voting and franchise rights. He practices out of BLB&G’s New York office.
Christopher has led and been a key member of teams prosecuting some of the firm’s most significant litigations. Highlights of his litigation experience include:
- In re Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. Merger Litigation: Serving as a lead trial attorney on the BLB&G team that achieved a partial settlement of $79 million for claims against Columbia Pipeline’s CEO and CFO and won one of the largest shareholder verdicts in Delaware Chancery Court history: a $350 million post-trial opinion in a case challenging Columbia Pipeline’s $13 billion merger with TransCanada.
- In re Mindbody, Inc., Stockholders Litigation: Serving as a lead trial attorney on the BLB&G team that achieved a partial settlement of $27 million for claims against one of Mindbody’s directors and secured a post-trial damages award of approximately $50 million against Mindbody’s founder and CEO.
- In re Starz Stockholder Litigation: Serving as a member of the BLB&G team that secured a $92.5 million recovery in the breach of fiduciary duty litigation challenging the merger between Starz and Lions Gate.
- In re Multiplan Corp. Stockholders Litigation: Serving as a key member of the team that achieved a $33.75 million recovery in the stockholder class action challenging Churchill’s de-SPAC transaction with Multiplan.
- In re Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. Stockholders Litigation: Helping to secure a $32.5 million recovery and enhanced corporate governance protections in the breach of fiduciary duty litigation concerning Grupo VM's acquisition Globe Specialty Metals.
Christopher has also been a core member of the BLB&G teams that negotiated significant settlements in many other shareholder actions, including:
- 3-Sigma Value Financial Opportunities LP, et al. v. Jones, et al.: A $19.2 million settlement in the shareholder action arising out of the collapse of Certus Holdings.
- In re Vaalco Energy, Inc. Consolidated Stockholder Litigation: A ruling in the stockholder litigation against Vaalco Energy preventing Delaware corporations with unclassified boards from using bylaws to shield directors from being removed without cause.
- Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund, San Antonio, et al. v. Smith, et al.: A settlement in the derivative action against the board of Sinclair Broadcast Group consisting of a $20.5 million cash payment, $5 million dedicated by the board to implement corporate governance measures, and the cancellation of an individual defendant’s stock awards
- In re Tile Shop Holdings, Inc. Litigation: A temporary restraining order and settlement consisting of a $12 million cash payment and significant non-monetary benefits in the class and derivative action against the board of directors of Tile Shop Holdings.
Christopher is a respected thought leader in the field and frequent presents on topics related to shareholder litigation at conferences and seminars. He serves as a guest lecturer on shareholder rights and corporate governance litigation at Columbia Law School, University of Connecticut School of Law, Duke University School of Law, and Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. He is also the author of several articles covering hot topics in shareholder litigation, including “If You Ain’t Cheating You Ain’t Trying!” and “The Shifting Meaning of ‘Fair Value,’ From Corwin to Dell: Recent Rulings and Reversals in Delaware’s Courts May Spell Trouble for Investors,” both published in The Advocate for Institutional Investors.
For his litigation record and thought leadership, Christopher has been recognized as a leading litigator in the industry. He has been named a “Next Generation Partner” and a “key lawyer” by The Legal 500 and a “Rising Star” by Law360. He has also been repeatedly named to prestigious lists such as Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under,” Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers,” and Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers’ “New York Super Lawyers Metro Edition.”
Christopher is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Connecticut Bar Association, as well as the National Italian American Foundation. He is a member of the Villanova Law Alumni Mentoring Program and the Yale University Mentoring Program. In 2023, he was elected to the board of the Villanova Law NYC Alumni Chapter.
Christopher obtained his joint J.D. and MBA from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and Villanova School of Business. He obtained his B.A. in Economics from Yale University, where he served as captain of the varsity baseball team.