Chris Kercher is trial‑tested litigator whose practice involves bet-the-company disputes spanning corporate control and M&A litigation, financial‑markets/securities matters, and other complex commercial disputes. He advises public and private companies, investment funds, and senior executives from pre‑litigation strategy through trial and appeal. Recent results include post‑trial specific performance compelling the closing of a nine‑figure merger and a buyer‑side victory affirmed on appeal in a COVID‑era terminated‑deal case.
As Founder and Head of Quinn Emanuel’s AI & Data Analytics Group, Chris leads the first dedicated AI litigation practice at a major law firm. Chris earned recognition from The American Lawyer for leading the first documented “AI-enabled trial team” after resolving Desktop Metal from complaint to final order in six weeks. The Group partners with litigation teams to deploy AI on high-stakes matters and advises clients on building AI capabilities for their legal departments. Through 2,000+ hours of hands-on experimentation in live cases, Chris has developed proprietary expertise in instruction architecture and context engineering. By creating structured context-rich AI environments that surface patterns, maintain document consistency, and accelerate strategic work product, the Group’s approach builds on a core insight: elite trial lawyers already excel at the precise, contextual communication that makes AI effective. This natural alignment has enabled the Group to train dozens of partners and hundreds of attorneys firm-wide, creating institutional expertise that compounds with each deployment.
- Citadel Securities LLC
- Mirae Asset
- Elon Musk
- Desktop Metal, Inc.
- Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
- Desktop Metal, Inc. v. Nano Dimension Ltd. (Delaware Court of Chancery)
Post‑trial specific performance. After a two‑day expedited trial, the court ordered the buyer to execute required regulatory filings within approximately 48 hours and to proceed to close a ~$300 million merger—another win for deal certainty in Delaware. Following the decision, Chris and his team were named Litigators of the Week by The American Lawyer. - AB Stable VIII LLC v. MAPS Hotels & Resorts (on behalf of Mirae Asset) (Delaware Court of Chancery, 2020; aff’d Delaware Supreme Court).
Buyer‑side victory, affirmed. Secured a post‑trial judgment permitting termination of a multi‑billion‑dollar hotel‑portfolio deal based on ordinary‑course and other closing‑condition breaches; the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed, including the return of deposit and fees. - Twitter, Inc. v. Elon R. Musk, et al. (Delaware Court of Chancery).
Resolved with closing. Counsel to Elon Musk in Twitter’s specific‑performance suit concerning the $44 billion acquisition; the litigation was stayed and the transaction closed on October 27, 2022. - Tornetta v. Musk (Delaware Supreme Court)
Representing Elon Musk and the Individual Director Defendants in the Delaware Supreme Court appeal challenging the Court of Chancery’s rescission of Musk’s 2018 compensation package and controller determination. - In re Tesla, Inc. Derivative Litigation (Delaware Court of Chancery).
Defending Elon Musk against stockholder derivative claims alleging Brophy liability, corporate opportunity usurpation, and self-dealing related to Musk's acquisition of Twitter and founding of xAI. - Short Squeeze MDL (GameStop).
Defended Citadel Securities in the GameStop “meme‑stock” MDL; 11th Cir. affirmed dismissal of the antitrust conspiracy claims. - Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. v. Canaccord Genuity LLC, Citadel Securities LLC, et al. (S.D.N.Y.).
Partial dismissal secured. The court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motion to dismiss, narrowing claims at the pleadings stage; proceedings are ongoing. - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.).
Two settlements resolving major disputes with Lehman’s clearing bank. The Lehman estates and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors achieved settlements including $1.42 billion (2016) and $797.5 million (2017), resolving disputes over collateral, securities liquidations, and derivatives close‑outs. - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors v. Citibank, N.A. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.).
Recovery after extensive litigation. Following nearly five years of discovery and 42 trial days, Lehman reached a $1.74 billion settlement concerning Citibank’s valuation of nearly 30,000 derivatives transactions. - American International Group (AIG) — Interest‑Rate Swap Dispute (S.D.N.Y.).
Defended AIG against a counterparty’s attempt to avoid obligations under an interest‑rate swap exceeding $1.5 billion. - MHR Fund Management — Lions Gate Takeover Litigation (N.Y. Sup. Ct.; Supreme Court of British Columbia).
Defeated shareholder‑oppression challenges brought by Carl Icahn—prevailing at trial in British Columbia (affirmed on appeal) and defeating injunctive relief in New York.
- Bankruptcy & Restructuring
- Class Action and Mass Arbitration Group
- Domestic U.S. Arbitration
- Investment Fund Litigation
- Lender Liability & Other Banking Financial Institution Litigation
- Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation
- Securities Litigation
- Transnational Litigation
- Investigations, Government Enforcement & White Collar Criminal Defense Practice
- Shareholder Activist Litigation
- International Arbitration
- Corporate Governance Litigation
- Accounting & Financial Reporting Litigation
- Delaware Practice
- Artificial Intelligence
- Brazil Practice
- Crisis Law & Strategy Group
- Blockchain and Digital Asset Practice
- Energy Sector Disputes
- Section 1782
- Distressed Investment Litigation
- Hedge Fund Litigation
- Investment Advisor & Asset Manager Litigation
- Private Equity Fund Litigation
- Representing Pension Funds, Other Managed Funds, and Government Agencies as Plaintiffs
- Sovereign Wealth Fund Litigation
- Litigation Representing Plaintiffs
- Entertainment & Media Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Sports Litigation
- Structured Finance & Derivatives Litigation
- Commodities and Derivatives
- New York University School of Law
(J.D., 2004)- Annual Survey of American Law:
Article Editor, 2003-2004
- Annual Survey of American Law:
- Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences
(B.A., Government, Dean's List, Order of Omega Honor Society, 2001)
- The State Bar of New York
- United States District Court
- Southern District of New York
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP:
- Associate, 2004-2009
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The American Lawyer, – Litigators of the Week (Desktop Metal team)
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Law360, Rising Star: Banking, 2016
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Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2014-2016
- Recipient, Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Award, 2007