Christopher J. Schneider

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 Safe Sport (the Center). He regularly works with the USOPC and the Center on behalf of NGBs. He was a member of the USOPCs 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.