
Christian J. Soller
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- New York
- Vermont
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Education
Binghamton University, B.A.
Brooklyn Law School, J.D.
Christian is primarily a problem-solver, with an unyielding dedication to creatively and cost-effectively furthering his clients’ long-term business interests by guiding them in a manner that avoids risk and exposure. Those clients range from Fortune 500 and 1000 companies to small businesses and individuals, who serve a wide range of industries, including:
- manufacturing
- distribution and supply
- engineering
- property and equipment leasing
- property development and management
- food service
- marketing and advertising
- insurance
- construction
- pharmaceutical
Christian counsels his clients on a broad spectrum of employer issues such as executive and equity compensation, employment agreements, partnership agreements, OSHA and Department of Labor issues, the enforceability of post-employment covenants, discrimination, harassment, salary disputes, and crisis management.
When necessary, Christian is an accomplished litigator and trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience successfully representing his clients across the country. He has successfully tried numerous jury trials to verdict and in that context has earned a reputation for winning seemingly unwinnable cases. Christian concentrates his practice on a mix of business, employment and personal injury litigation, involving business tort, breach of contract and fraud allegations, securities litigation, coronavirus-related litigation (e.g., defending colleges, universities and other institutions against tuition, lodging and/or meal reimbursement claims, public nuisance claims, distance learning differential claims, etc.), construction litigation, professional malpractice, trade secret actions, wrongful death, high-exposure toxic tort litigation, products liability, construction and labor law litigation. These matters often involve “bet-the-company” stakes, death or catastrophic injuries.
Prior to joining Hodgson Russ, Christian was associated with O’Connor Redd Orlando LLP where he tried multiple civil cases to verdict. Before that, he tried criminal cases as an Assistant District Attorney in Orange County.
Honors
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow, 2019 - 2023
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers, (Personal Injury General: Defense) 2014 - 2016, 2019 - 2020
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2013
Experience
- Dismissal of Pending Lawsuit Against Manufacturer Client
- “No-Cause” Verdict in High Exposure Motor Vehicle Accident Trial
- Favorable Jury Verdict in Construction Accident Labor Law 240 Trial
- Favorable Settlement for Doctor Client Who was Wrongly Sued Relative to Redistribution of Medical Malpractice Insurance Premiums
- Favorable Settlement in Breach of Governing Buy-Sell Agreement Case
- Favorable Settlement in Federal Court Products Liability Suit
- Nuisance Value Settlement Agreements for Manufacturer Client
- Obtained Dismissal of Alleged Breach of Terms of Merger and Acquisition Agreement
- Obtained Favorable Jury Verdict in Motor Vehicle Accident Case
- Obtained Favorable Settlement for Clients in Massive Personal Injury Suit
- Obtained Favorable Settlements for Fortune 500 Manufacturer Client in High Exposure Asbestos Litigation Matters
- Secured Defense Verdicts for Commercial Building Owner Defendants in Premises Liability Accidents
- Secured Dismissals or Nominal Settlements for Manufacturer Clients in High Exposure Asbestos Litigation Matters
- Secured Nominal Settlement for Fortune 1000 Client in a High Exposure Labor Law 240 Case
- Secured Several Injunctions by Emergency Orders to Show Cause
- Secured Summary Judgment in Breach of Contract Suit
- Summary Judgment for Large Construction Management Company Client in a Labor Law 240 Case
- Tried to Verdict a Pro Bono Prisoners’ Rights Case Alleging Civil Rights Violations
- Turned a Commercial Eviction Proceeding into Real Estate Deals
- Warded Off Summary Judgment to Plaintiff in a Labor Law 240 Case
- Defense Verdict for Defendant Landlord in Dog Bite Case
- Hodgson Russ Attorneys Michael D. Zahler and Christian J. Soller Obtain Summary Judgment in Favor of Construction Client
- Soller Wins Jury Trial in Ulster County Supreme Court
In the News
- Crain's New York Business, December 21, 2020
- The Saratogian, October 13, 2020
- Times-Union, October 9, 2020
- Albany Business Review, March 17, 2020
- Albany Business Review, January 9, 2020
Press Releases
- Hodgson Russ Press Release, September 8, 2020
- Press Release, August 12, 2019
- Press Release, August 31, 2016
- Press Release, August 19, 2015
- Press Release, August 14, 2014
Publications
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, May 3, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, March 20, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Product Liability & Complex Tort Client Alert, January 31, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Non-Compete, Non-Solicit, and Trade Secrets Alert, January 6, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, January 4, 2023
- Hodgson Russ Food and Beverage Alert, September 12, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Product Liability & Complex Tort Alert, May 10, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Product Liability Litigation & Legislation Quarterly Update, May 2022
- Hodgson Russ Municipal and Education Alert, April 19, 2022
- Hodgson Russ Product Liability Litigation & Legislation Quarterly Update, January/February 2022
- Hodgson Russ Media & First Amendment Alert, July 22, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Education and Media & First Amendment Alert, June 23, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media and First Amendment Alert, June 21, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, May 21, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media and First Amendment Alert, May 14, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Food and Beverage Alert, May 10, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Food and Beverage Alert, April 30, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media and First Amendment Alert, April 20, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Food and Beverage Alert, April 19, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media and First Amendment Alert, March 29, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, March 25, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Torts, Insurance and Products Liability Alert, March 25, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media and First Amendment Alert, March 22, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, March 11, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, March 10, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, March 9, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media and First Amendment Alert, March 3, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, February 25, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media and First Amendment Alert, February 24, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, February 17, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, February 8, 2021
- COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, January 29, 2021
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, January 21, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media & First Amendment Alert, January 12, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Media & First Amendment Alert, January 7, 2021
- Hodgson Russ Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Commercial Litigation Alert, November 11, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, November 4, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Commercial Litigation Alert, October 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, October 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, October 12, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, September 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, September 10, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, August 31, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, August 6, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team Alert, July 28, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, July 14, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Media & First Amendment Alert, July 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, June 23, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation and Bankruptcy & Restructuring Alert, June 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ COVID-19 Litigation & Employment Action Team Alert, June 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Media & First Amendment Alert, June 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, May 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ OSHA and Business Litigation Alert, May 13, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Media & First Amendment Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation and Securities Regulation & Corporate Compliance Alert, April 22, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Media & First Amendment Alert, April 20, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Torts, Insurance & Products Liability Alert, April 17, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 15, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Business Litigation Alert, April 9, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Commercial Litigation Alert, April 8, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, April 7, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Practice Alert, April 3, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Media & First Amendment Alert, March 25, 2020
- Hodgson Russ Food & Beverage Alert, March 16, 2020
- Agriculture Alert, November 6, 2018
- Labor & Employment and Employment Litigation Alert, February 27, 2018
Presentations & Events
- July 14, 2021
- March 16, 2021
- June 25, 2020
- Albany, NY, February 22, 2008
Professional Associations
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2019-2023
- Treasurer, The Foundation for Ellis Medicine, 2023
- Chair, Finance Committee: The Foundation for Ellis Medicine, 2023
- Chair, Executive Committee: New York State Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section
- Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
- Federal Bar Association, Northern District of New York
- Albany County Bar Association
Community & Pro Bono
- The Foundation for Ellis Medicine Board of Trustees
- Member, Commercial Services Advisory Board: Center for Disability Services
- Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York