Christopher D. Atwell

Fritz, Byrne, Head & Harrison LLP, Austin, USA

Mr. Atwell is licensed to practice in Colorado and Texas and maintains an active practice in both jurisdictions. Mr. Atwell's Colorado work is centered in Steamboat Springs and includes work throughout Northwestern Colorado. Mr. Atwell's Texas work is centered in Austin and includes work throughout Central Texas. Mr. Atwell has tried over 20 cases to verdict or judgment as a first chair lawyer. Mr. Atwell is passionate about securing cost effective results in litigation.

Mr. Atwell began his practice in 1991 with Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, L.L.P. in Dallas, Texas. In 1996, Mr. Atwell relocated to Steamboat Springs, Colorado and built his own diversified practice. In August, 2004, Mr. Atwell returned to Texas and joined the firm. Mr. Atwell represents a wide variety of individuals, small businesses, and large corporations in a variety of legal matters including, significantly, real estate disputes, shareholder disputes, fiduciary duty litigation, bank foreclosures and collections, and products liability cases.

Mr. Atwell recently served as lead trial counsel for a large nonprofit homeowner's association in a dispute with its former managing agent. Mr. Atwell's and co-counsel's representation led to the entry of a preliminary injunction barring the former managing agent from developing and selling off a multi-million valued and environmentally significant piece of property the managing agent had acquired in violation of its fiduciary duties. As a result of the preliminary injunction, the case eventually settled on favorable terms for Mr. Atwell's client.

Mr. Atwell also recently represented a large Houston-based specialty trim and furniture manufacturer in a lawsuit brought against it by a sub-contractor. The underlying project was a multi-million dollar home in Aspen, Colorado. Mr. Atwell's client supplied approximately $2 million in the highest level of trim, materials, and related services. Through Mr. Atwell's representation, his client was able to settle an initial claim of over $400,000 for $25,000, an amount less than the Plaintiff's attorney fees in the case.

Mr. Atwell and his former partner secured a seven figure judgment for their mutual client who had quit-claimed a multi-million dollar home to his former girlfriend based on a normally unenforceable oral promise to reconvey the home. The client's life savings were invested in the home and a loss of those sums would have been debilitating.

Mr. Atwell specializes in real estate, corporate and bank litigation.

• "Texas Annual Survey of Texas Law: Professional Responsibility", 46 S.M.U.L. Rev. 1681-1706 (1993).
• Comment, "Constitutional Challenges to Court Appointment: Increasing Recognition of an Unfair Burden", 44 Sw. L.J., 1229-1226 (1991).