Chris handles complex commercial litigation, government investigations, and business disputes of all sizes and varieties. He has litigated and tried matters involving real estate, environmental contamination, complex breach of contract, employment issues, regulatory and administrative processes (with a specialty in M.G.L.c. 40A Zoning Appeals), insurance coverage disputes, and significant internal and external investigations. His core client base includes information technology (IT) providers, energy companies, real estate developers, higher education institutions, and health care companies. 

Whether representing the plaintiff or defendant, Chris deploys quickly to risk-assess, budget, control, strategize, and position each matter for a desirable outcome. As a result, he has been particularly effective in resolving matters pre-trial under Civil Rules 12(b)(Motion to Dismiss) and 56 (Summary Judgment). He is available 24/7 to meet a client’s needs and staffs each case based on the subject matter involved, the amount in dispute, the scope and complexity of the issues, and the e-discovery demands for efficient and effective results. Chris takes the leading role in every case he handles, and is involved in all critical events from the initial intake meeting to the final disposition. He has practiced with the same core personnel for his entire career.

Chris previously served as a law clerk in Massachusetts state trial court.

Chris also served on the planning board for the Town of Marshfield (1999-2005; recalled in 2015-2016). He is active in numerous regional political campaigns and participates as a board member for several 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, including the Cape Cod Bay Challenge for Christopher’s Haven, Supporters of Marshfield’s Uncle Bud Skatepark, and the Levitate Foundation.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, New England School of Law, magna cum laude, 1996

BA, College of the Holy Cross, 1993

• October 2020 Nickel Report Post Summary

  By Christopher Cunio, John R. Bobka |November 2020

• Sitting Still (or How State Anti-Idling Laws Are Landing Transit and Transportation Companies in Federal Court), Pratt’s Energy Law Report
• Commentary: MBTA Act is a promising response to the housing crisis, but it needs teeth, Boston Business Journal
• How Court Ruling, DOE Guidance Change DeVos’ Title IX Rule, Law360
• MBTA Act: A promising response to state’s housing crisis that needs teeth, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
• A guide to the legal framework of the PSM standard for engineers, 33 Proc. Safety Prog. 152-155
• Snap removal: not so fast (in Massachusetts, at least), Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
• Adapting Defense Strategy To Twombly Plausibility Standard, Law360
• Structural Failure: IT Services Agreements and Litigation Risk, Massachusetts Bar Association Section Review