Christopher J. Raistrick

Christopher Raistrick represents clients in various general and commercial aviation product liability and tort disputes. His practice includes defending aircraft manufacturers, avionics, and component parts against product liability claims, as well as flight schools against negligent instruction claims throughout the country and in foreign jurisdictions. Christopher is often called upon to represent clients confronted with complex disputes arising from domestic and foreign aircraft accidents—many of which involve loss of life and property. In this capacity, he practices in multiple state and federal courts and numerous jurisdictions in matters other than aviation defense, including aviation commercial disputes, airline passenger claims, toxic torts, premises liability, and insurance coverage.

Christopher also represents a manufacturer of general aviation engines in asbestos litigation, primarily in Madison County, Illinois, which is notoriously plaintiff-friendly. Despite this, Christopher led a litigation team to extensively reduce the number of claims against his client, resulting in numerous dismissals.

Additionally, Christopher has extensive experience preparing insurance coverage opinions and litigating declaratory judgment actions for underlying commercial and personal injury cases, including aviation, professional liability, environmental, clergy abuse of minors, and maritime cases.

Christopher maintains the same passion and dedication to his clients' interests that he developed early in his career as a staff attorney for Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc. There, he represented underprivileged families and individuals and small businesses in housing, family law, real estate, contract, and administrative matters. He served as the Chicago Legal Clinic Advisory Board president from 2004 – 2007.

In law school, Christopher was co-founder and assistant editor of the Loyola Public Interest Law Reporter and was awarded the Loyola Leadership and Service Commendation in 1996.

• Chicago Bar Association
  • Aviation Law Committee

• Recognized on the Super Lawyers list by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, 2017 – 2020, 2023
• Illinois State Bar Association, Young Lawyer Division, Public Service Award, 1996
• Certified by the American Chemical Society, 1993

• Represented an aircraft operator in litigation arising from a Cessna 421B airplane crash at Palwaukee Municipal Airport, Wheeling, Illinois. Represented the aircraft operator in an issue of first impression in the State of Illinois concerning the scope of the educational malpractice doctrine in aviation cases.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of an international shipping company against personal injury claims resulting from a fall from air stairs.
• Obtained dismissal of claims of design defect of aircraft component parts based on federal preemption.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of an avionics manufacturer against wrongful death claims for lack of liability and causation evidence.

• "Sole Proximate Cause Developments in Illinois," May 2019
• "What? They Sued Us In Five States?," May 2018
• "Proving ‘No Evidence’ In A Products Liability Case," May 2015
• "Dual Pilot Scenarios, A Case Study," May 2014

Christopher is an avid runner and has run five marathons to date. When he’s not training with his running group, he plays the piano and likes to read. As a certified chemist, Christopher enjoys helping his son with his science homework and talking to his friends about the latest scientific breakthroughs.