"The first duty of a man is to think for himself."

 - Jose Marti

Chris focuses his practice on the defense of complex employment cases in federal and state courts, arbitration, and before administrative agencies. He has represented a broad range of clients in traditional labor and employment matters, including in matters involving race, sex, age, disability, and pregnancy discrimination; complex wage and hour issues; wrongful termination; trade secrets and noncompetition agreements; ERISA; RICO; and state law claims. Chris also assists employers in responding to administrative complaints brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and various other state agencies, and defends them in such actions.

Prior to joining Constangy, Chris interned with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination's enforcement/investigations division, was a labor and employment litigator at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and served as a judicial intern to Judge Angel A. Cortiñas of the Third District Court of Appeal of Florida.  He also served as a certified legal intern for the Office of the Public Defender for Miami-Dade County, where he defended indigent clients in felony criminal cases. Prior to that, Chris graduated valedictorian from St. Thomas University School of Law and worked as a congressional aide to Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart.

Publications/Presentations

• “The Florida Minimum Wage Act: Thoughts on the Impending Notice Debate.”  St. Thomas University School of Law (Winter 2010)
• “The Cost of Doing Business: Mitigating Increasing Recession Wage and Hour Risks While Promoting Economic Recovery.”  Michigan State University College of Law, Journal of Business and Securities Law (Fall 2009)
• "Driving Off the Face of the Fourth Amendment:  Weighing Caballes Under the Proposed Vehicular Frisk Standard."  Valparaiso Law Review (Fall 2008, and concurrently published in Italy by an Italian legal journal)

Professional Activities/Associations

• American Bar Association
• Massachusetts Bar Association
• Boston Bar Association
• Florida Bar Association
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Civic/Charitable Activities/Associations

• Pro Bono Attorney, Boston Book Festival (Boston, MA)
• Former Attorney ad Litem, Lawyers for Children America (Miami, FL)
• Former Pro Bono Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union (Miami, FL)
• Past Chairman and Board Member, Boy Scouts of America Troops 16 and 127 (Miami, FL)

Other Personal Background Information and Interests

• Chris is married to Emily D'Amour Pardo and recently relocated from Miami to Boston. He is an avid hockey player and sports enthusiast, and enjoys reading literature in his free time.