Christopher T. Lutz

Partner

• clutz@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Christopher Lutz is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where he is a member of the Litigation Department. 

Insurance Litigation Experience
Over fifteen years representing carriers in a wide variety of complex coverage matters, including pollution, asbestos, toxic tort, lead, product liability, and FRT plywood claims.  Acted as lead counsel for a defendant in two major jury trials, one lasting two months, and the other three months, involving environmental contamination claims.  

Employment Litigation Experience
Represented defendants in numerous employment discrimination lawsuits, including trials (jury and non-jury), appeals and settlements.  

Participated in briefing two Supreme Court cases:  Weber v. Steelworkers (which approved voluntary, private affirmative action), and Falcon v. General Telephone of the Southwest (which disapproved "across the board" class actions).  

Represented employers before the EEOC, DC Office of Human Rights, and other administrative agencies in responding to age, race, and sex discrimination charges. 

Advised employers on a wide variety of employment-related issues including unjust termination, Executive Order compliance, Fair Labor Standards Act issues, employment policies and standards, EEOC charge responses, sexual harassment policies, and the requirements of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.  

Class Action Experience
Litigated and briefed class action issues in many large employment discrimination class actions.  

Lead counsel post-settlement for defendant in what was at the time the largest private class action race discrimination settlement ever, including consent decree administration and merits fees litigation, which led to four successful arguments in the 7th Circuit.  

Advised clients on class action issues in employment, securities, and pension litigations.

Publications

• Fudging and Forgetting; 19 Litigation No. 3
  1993
• Multi-Level Depositions; 16 Litigation No. 3
  Spring 1990
• Why Can't Lawyers Write?; 15 Litigation No. 2
  Winter 1989
• Planning Fees Fights; 13 Litigation No. 1
  Summer 1986
• Thinking About Class Actions; 11 Litigation No. 3
  Spring 1985
• “Employment Discrimination Cases Involving Japanese Subsidiaries in the US,” 11 Kokosai-Shoji-Humo (with Masanobu Kato)
  1983, Journal of the Japanese Institute of Business Law 300-307
• ABA Course Materials on Defending and Prosecuting Class Actions, and on attorneys’ fees litigation
• First draft of “Class Actions” Chapter of Manual for Complex Litigation 2d

Professional Affiliations

• Council Member, ABA Litigation Section, 1990-92
• Editor-in-Chief, Litigation Magazine, 1988-90 and 1992-94
• Chair, Book Publishing Board, ABA Litigation Section, 1998-present
• Vice Chair, Class Action
• Committee, ABA Litigation Section, 1981