Christopher A. Hanson

Chris Hanson practiced exclusively workers’ compensation as a partner at one of the first and largest workers’ compensation defense firms in the state.  He has successfully defended workers’ compensation claims and appeals throughout his career. Chris works to identify the goals and motivations of the claimant and opposing counsel in bringing claims to the most practical conclusion for the client.  By determining what benefits are owed, what claims can be amicably resolved and those claims that require an aggressive defense, he is able to efficiently close the vast majority of cases while focusing resources on the defense of claims that justify the costs of litigation.

In 2021, Chris joined the Tampa office to expand the firms’ workers’ compensation defense practice. Chris developed a very loyal group of clients based exclusively on the recommendations of employers and carriers that saw his work.  He made the move to Constangy because he saw an opening to offer a new and better product for employers and carriers in the state of Florida.  Chris counsels his clients on how to avoid litigation whenever that is the best strategic and most cost-effective option. 

Chris’ clients find that his approach to defending claims is far more proactive than his competitors.  By focusing on the objective medical evidence, we can identify and treat the work related injury.  Most work injuries are temporary based on the objective evidence, but never seem to improve once a claimant lawyer is involved. Instead of playing defense on endless claims for benefits, Chris focuses the medical providers’ attention on the precise nature of the work injury to bring cases to closure in a timely manner.      

• "Ones to Watch," Best Lawyers^® (2023)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent^® (2015-2021)
• Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section Law Section

Chris is married with 2 and 4-year-old daughters. Chris has enjoyed competing in various activities from boxing to tennis and chess although most of his time away from work is now well spent on family activities. 

Chris is a frequent lecturer on workers’ compensation topics throughout the state of Florida. The Continuing Education courses that Chris has developed for certification focus on the most practical, yet often overlooked defense strategies that allow the employer/carrier to make good claims handling decisions before litigation arises.