Christopher J. (C.J.) Schneider

C.J. Schneider practices in commercial crisis counseling and litigation. He helps businesses and non-profit organizations successfully navigate complex and high-profile matters, including high-stakes contract negotiations and disputes, global supply chain emergencies, mass tort claims, and complete corporate governance reform.

C.J. deploys a problem-solving approach for his clients, addressing both the immediate problem and its root cause. He believes that organizations can not only weather crises, but they can emerge stronger and healthier than ever.

Experience

  • C.J. has worked with multiple sports and other organizations to address sexual abuse claims, navigate investigations, and implement policies to prevent sexual abuse.
  • He was national coordinating counsel and acting Chief Legal Officer for USA Gymnastics from 2018-2021, when the organization faced hundreds of claims and several investigations related to sexual abuse committed by Larry Nassar and others. He helped the organization resolve those claims and investigations through a $380 million settlement.
  • He works with Olympic National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to restructure their corporate governance, reform their bylaws and Safe Sport / athlete safety policies, respond to potential decertification by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”), and comply with audit requirements from the USOPC and the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the “Center”).
  • He regularly works with the USOPC and the Center on behalf of NGBs. He was a member of the USOPC’s working group for NGB certification standards, and he has helped develop and implement some of the leading athlete safety, dispute resolution, and governance policies in the Olympic movement.
  • He works with NGBs to respond to requests from, and investigations by, Congress.
  • He helps NGBs and other sports organization negotiate multi-million-dollar sponsorship and partnership contracts with endemic and non-endemic companies.
  • He represents customers and suppliers in high-stakes, high-value supply chain contract negotiations, disputes, and litigation. He works with clients in the automotive, airline, aerospace, rail, mass transit, and other industries.
  • He regularly represents clients in just-in-time supply chain litigation, including by obtaining and opposing temporary restraining orders to prevent shut downs.
  • He regularly negotiates multi-million-dollar supply chain contracts. He represented a tier 1 automotive supplier in negotiations with an OEM for a multi-year, $1 billion supply contract.
  • He represents suppliers in recalls and field actions involving customers and the government. He represented a tier 1 automotive supplier in disputing a ~$40 million debit from an OEM based on a recall.
  • He counsels clients on product liability and failure to warn claims.

Awards

C.J. was named one of Best Lawyers in Commercial Litigation for 2023 and again in 2024. He also was named one of America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators® from 2020 through 2023. He was named a Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star for business litigation from 2016-2022.

C.J. was one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Up & Coming Lawyers” for 2016. These are legal practitioners who are establishing a name for themselves, go above and beyond, and display the ambition, drive, determination and accomplishments that set them apart among their peers — in their first 10 years in practice.

Publications & Published Decisions

  • Michigan Contract Law, Ch 2, “Classification and Types of Contracts” (ICLE 2d ed 2013)
  • Buhl v City of Oak Park, 507 Mich 236, 240; 968 NW2d 348 (2021)
  • Covenant Med Ctr, Inc v State Farm Mut Auto Ins Co, 500 Mich 191, 195; 895 NW2d 490 (2017)
  • Challenge Mfg. Co, LLC v MetoKote Corp, No. 357280, 2023 WL 446633 (Mich Ct App, January 26, 2023)
  • Cadillac Rubber & Plastics, Inc v Tubular Metal Sys, LLC, 331 Mich App 416, 419; 952 NW2d 576 (2020)
  • Monaco v Home-Owners Ins Co, 317 Mich App 738, 740; 896 NW2d 32 (2016)

Professional Affiliations

C.J is a proud member of Sports Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, West Michigan Federal Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Grand Rapids Bar Association, the Advocates Guild, and the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society.

Education

C.J. earned his Juris Doctorate summa cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law in 2010. He earned his undergraduate degree with honors from Michigan State University in 2007.