Apat, Richard H.

CHRISTOPHER S. ANULEWICZ is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who focuses on defense of financial institutions, professional service providers and healthcare organizations in class action litigation. He also does extensive work representing businesses and individuals in disputes with government entities. With a record of success counseling clients in jury and bench trials, on appeal and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, Chris provides comprehensive litigation capabilities to handle even the most complex and sophisticated matters.

As a member of the Atlanta office’s Appellate Practice, Chris has handled appeals successfully in the Fourth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal and in the Georgia Court of Appeal. He undertakes appellate briefing and oral argument as needed for cases where, as trial counsel, he effectively laid the foundation for review on appeal. He also is frequently brought in as appellate counsel for cases that other lawyers have tried, using his litigation insight to examine the trial record and quickly grasp the key issues on which to base an appeal.

With broad commercial litigation involvement that reflects his role as Co-Chair of the firm’s Business Litigation Practice, Chris represents business clients in three general areas:

• Mortgage companies, loan servicing companies and commercial banks depend on Chris to protect their interests in loan and foreclosure disputes. In courts throughout the region (from Texas to Tennessee and Georgia), he defends federal and state tort cases involving claims alleging improper foreclosure and fraudulent lending.
• For healthcare providers Chris provides a broad range of litigation services. He represents hospitals in certificate of need litigation, has defended doctors and other professionals in disputes over credentialing and licensing before boards in Virginia and Georgia, and handles business disputes involving such issues as the dissolution of physician practice groups. Chris also has defended provider organizations in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement claims, and represented insurers in class action matters.
• In matters of professional liability, Chris defends accountants and other financial professionals against allegations of fraud, failure to identify financial misconduct, and improper judgment when advising on mergers or other business transactions.

A unique litigation focus for Chris is his representation of clients in claims against state and other government entities. He has considerable experience handling Section 1983 litigation brought under U.S. Code Title 42, which confers the right to sue state government employees and others for acting outside the scope of authority granted by law. He has won a number of multi-million dollar judgments in matters ranging from healthcare reimbursement to commercial defamation. Chris also is skilled at defending clients in parallel civil and criminal proceedings brought by government prosecutors.

Before joining the firm, Chris was Law Clerk to the Honorable William M. Acker, Jr., United States District Court, Northern District of Alabama.