Christiaan D. Horton

Biography Christiaan D. Horton is a shareholder in the Litigation/Dispute Resolution Practice Group and the Transactional Practice Group of Carnahan Evans PC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business, commercial and civil litigation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and business law, board governance, real estate and construction law, condemnation, environmental and utility law. He also represents select clients in certain areas including employment law, estate planning and probate. Mr. Horton has been a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys since 2004. He has also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri in the Consumer Fraud Division and was a Partner at The Law Firm of Neale & Newman, LLP for twelve years before associating with Carnahan Evans PC in 2012. He has authored a chapter in the Missouri Environmental Law Deskbook published by the Missouri Bar, and was also a long-standing content editor for the Environmental Law and Regulations section of the Courts and CLE Bulletin also published by the Missouri Bar. Mr. Horton has served as an adjunct professor teaching Environmental Law and Regulations at Drury University. SAMPLING OF REPRESENTATIONS Electric Cooperatives and Utility Law Mr. Hortons experience representing electric cooperatives and utilities includes representation before the Missouri Public Service Commission as well as state court litigation related to board governance, contract disputes, and right-of-way condemnation actions. He is also involved in drafting a wide range of utility contracts and assists clients with regulatory compliance in all aspects of their operations. Mr. Horton also serves as board legal counsel for state-wide and regional rural electric cooperatives. Construction Litigation Mr. Horton has represented numerous clients in construction law disputes in both state and Federal court, including actions on surety bonds and those involving Receiverships, Miller Act claims, and the enforcement and defense of mechanics lien actions. He also assists clients in the formation and negotiation of contracts for commercial as well as residential construction and development. Environmental Law In his environmental practice, Mr. Horton has represented individuals and companies through the permitting process, and has defended clients in state and Federal actions under the Clean Water Act, the Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act and corresponding state regulations. He also devotes significant time to representing clients in real estate acquisitions that involve potential environmental liability and has extensive experience in drafting environmental liability and indemnity provisions and advising clients through the due diligence process. Corporate and Business Law Mr. Horton has assisted many clients buy and sell businesses, from small companies to multi-million dollar corporations. His transactional practice also includes business formation and corporate governance matters, and is strengthened by his litigation and dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration) experience. COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS New Covenant Academy - Past Chairman of the School Board, a Christian school offering private education K4-12 Leadership Springfield - Class XVI James River Church (Ozark, MO) - Member ACCOLADES 2025: Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation - Real Estate Certified Mediator under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 17 Missouri & Kansas Rising Star Honoree - recognized in the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers® publication Springfield Business Journal 40 Under 40 - recognized in 2002 for outstanding contributions to the community and profession EDUCATION University of Tulsa College of Law, J. D., with honors, 1995 Editor-in-Chief of the Energy Law Journal Student Editor-in-Chief of the Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law Year in Review Selected by peers to deliver the Law School Commencement Address upon graduation Legal Certificate in Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law Missouri State University, B. S. Economics, magna cum laude, 1992, with an emphasis in English and History BAR ADMISSIONS Missouri Oklahoma Arkansas PRACTICE AREAS Business and Civil Litigation Electric Cooperative and Utility Law Board Governance Real Estate Litigation Construction Litigation Environmental Law Corporate and Business Law Mergers and Acquisitions Condemnation Employment Law Estate Planning and Probate