Christopher K. Ralston
Overview
Chris Ralston helps businesses navigate a wide range of commercial litigation matters, employing a strategic blend of negotiation and litigation tactics to advance clients’ interests in and out of the courtroom. He specifically focuses on antitrust law, business torts, contract disputes, tax litigation, securities litigation and arbitration, direct selling, and intellectual property litigation in addition to maintaining a substantial appellate practice.
With regular appearances in state and federal courts over his 25-year practice, Chris frequently litigates breach of contract disputes and enforcement of non-competition, licensing, and distributor agreements. He has tried antitrust, securities fraud, federal qui tam / False Claims Act cases, large real estate suits, and a variety of commercial disputes.
In the appellate context, Chris has orally argued before each of the five Louisiana Circuit Courts of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal and Fifth Circuits.
Credentials
Education
- Tulane University School of Law, 1999 (J.D.)
- College of William & Mary, 1992 (B.A.)
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- Supreme Court of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
Clerkship Experience
- The Hon. Eldon E. Fallon, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 1999-2000
- The Pro Bono Project, Board of Directors, 2009-2021; Board Chair, 2019-2020
- Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, Board of Directors, 2008-present; Officer, 2019-present
- Louisiana Access to Justice Commission, Appointed Member, 2015-present; Funding Committee, Chair, 2015-present
- American Diabetes Association, National Board of Directors, 2018-present; National Board Chairman, 2021-2023, 2025-2026
- New Orleans Community Leadership Board, Board Member, 2009-present; Board Chair, 2014-present
- Tulane University, Building Name Review Committee (Appointed by University President), 2021-2022; Tulane History Project, Advisory Board (Appointed by University President and Provost), 2023-2025; Institutional Conflict of Interest Committee (Appointed by University General Counsel), 2023-present
- Tulane University Alumni Association, President, 2020-2022; Board of Directors, 2013-present
- Tulane University Law School, Intersession Course, Faculty Member, 2012-2014; Hall of Fame Committee, Chair, 2017-present; Dean’s Advisory Board, 2024-present
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent
- Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2013-2026; Appellate Practice, 2019-2026; Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2024-2026
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial, 2017-2025; Intellectual Property, 2024-2025
- Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2014-2025; Top 50 – Louisiana and New Orleans, 2016-2019
- New Orleans Magazine, Top Lawyers, 2015-2021, 2025
- Marquis Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who for Excellence in Law, 2020
- New Orleans Bar Association, Outstanding Young Lawyer, 2004; President’s Award, 2022
- Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter, President’s Award, 2016
- Louisiana State Bar Association, Outstanding Young Lawyer of Louisiana, 2006; Pro Bono Publico Award, 2008; Friend of Pro Bono Award, 2009; Century Club Award, 2014; President’s Award, 2016; David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021
- Louisiana Bar Foundation, President’s Award, 2013, 2016
- Lexology, Client Choice Award, 2016
- Harvard Law School, Executive Leadership Program Graduate, 2015
- New Orleans City Business, Leadership in Law Award, 2009, 2010, 2012; Hall of Fame Inductee, 2012
- Pro Bono Project, Distinguished Service Award, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2011
- American Diabetes Association, National Chairman’s Citation Award, 2011
- Louisiana Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2010-present; Board of Directors, 2014-2023; Treasurer, 2018-2019; Vice President, 2019-2021; President, 2021-2022; Past President, 2022-2025; Governance Committee, 2022-present
- Louisiana State Bar Association, Crystal Gavel Award Committee, Chair, 2012-2016; Access to Justice Policy Committee, 2012-2015; House of Delegates, 2013-present; Client Assistance Fund Committee, 2014-present; Bench and Bar Section, Secretary-Treasurer, 2014-2015, Vice Chair, 2015-present
- New Orleans Bar Association, Public Service Committee, Chair, 2003-2016; Young Lawyers Section, Chair, 2007-2008; Board of Directors, 2008-2018, 2022-present; Vice President, 2013-2015; President-Elect, 2015-2016; President, 2016-2017; Tax Law Committee, Chair, 2018-present
- New Orleans Bar Association’s Inn of Court, Officer / Member, 2006-present; President, 2019-present
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Fifth Federal Circuit Bar Association