Chris Baker founded the Baker Curtis & Schwartz, P.C. law practice to represent and advise employees in litigation and negotiation.

Prior to starting his own practice, Mr. Baker was an equity partner at an Am Law 100 law firm. While there, his clients included some of the largest corporations in the world in the healthcare and life sciences, construction and energy, high-tech, finance, and retail industries.  He also advised numerous senior executives with respect to their relationships with their employers.  Chris has practiced law in California since 1996.  He began his career as a judicial clerk for a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Now, Chris uses his skills and experience on behalf of the full range of workers – from hourly employees who have been mistreated by their superiors to CEOs seeking to negotiate a new employment agreement.

Chris’ past experience representing corporate clients gives him a distinct advantage in litigation and negotiation. His prior success gives him instant credibility. His attention to the rights and needs of the individual makes him a trusted advocate and adviser.

Areas of Practice

• Employment Law
• Intellectual Property (Trade Secrets, Noncompete, and Confidentiality Claims)
• Class Actions

Bar Admissions

• California, 1996
• U.S. District Court Central District of California
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court Southern District of California
• Supreme Court of the United States of America
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit

Education

• University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • J.D. magna cum laude – 1994
  • Law Review: UC Law Review, Articles Editor, 1993 – 1994
• University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • B.A. magna cum laude – 1989
  • Major: English Literature

Published Works

• “Workplace Safety (Chapter 13)”, California Practice Guide; Employment Litigation, The Rutter Group, 2005 ( Co-editor)
• The Safety and Health Monitor, a biweekly newsletter on occupational safety and health (Former editor)
• “ADA Access: A New Practice Area For Employment Lawyers?”The San Francisco Recorder, April/May 1999 (Author)
• The Employer’s Pocket Guide To Cal/Osha, 1997 (Co-author)
• Dosh P&P C-1d: The New Cal/Osha Guidelines On The Contingent Workforce, 1996 (Co-author)
• “Sexual Harassment v. Labor Arbitration: Does Reinstating Sexual Harassers Violate Public Policy?” 61 U.Cinn.L.Rev. 1361(1993) (Co-editor)

Past Employment Positions

• Nixon Peabody, Partner, 2008 – 2013
• Thelen LLP, Partner, 2001 – 2008
• Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP, Associate, 1996 – 2001
• Littler Mendelson, Attorney, 1995 – 1996
• Judge Bailey Brown, Judicial Clerk, 1994 – 1995