Parsons Behle & Latimer

Erik A. Christiansen is a bet-the-company litigator with more than 30-years of experience in high-stakes litigation. Mr. Christiansen’s extensive experience encompasses a wide range of complex, high-dollar commercial litigation matters, including securities, multi-level marketing, financial fraud, trade secrets and regulatory defense litigation matters.

Capabilities

Biography

Erik Christiansen is a commercial litigation trial attorney at Parsons Behle & Latimer with 32 years of experience. Mr. Christiansen represents clients in a variety of commercial, financial and securities litigation matters, including, among others:

Commercial and business litigation
Securities and financial fraud litigation
Trade secrets litigation
Commercial contract disputes
Direct selling/multi-level marketing related litigation
Investment related litigation
Partnership disputes
Financial institution litigation
Banking litigation
Insurance coverage litigation
Commercial equipment lease litigation
Regulatory and administrative defense matters
Non-compete litigation

Mr. Christiansen is the Past Chair of the Utah State Securities Commission, which has oversight authority over the Utah Division of Securities, and is the Co-Chair of the firm's Securities Litigation practice group. Mr. Christiansen served on the Securities Commission from June 2009 to October 2017.

Mr. Christiansen has received extensive professional recognition, including for, among others:

President-Elect, Utah State Bar, July 7, 2022-present
Chambers Rated, Litigation, General Commercial, 2020-present
Lawyer of the Year, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Best Lawyers in America, 2020
Alumnus of the Year, S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, 2019
Practitioner of the Year, Utah State Bar, Business Law Section, 2018
Lawyer of the Year in Litigation-Securities, Best Lawyers of America, 2013
Member, American Bar Association House of Delegates, Utah State Bar Representative (November 2017-present)
Member, Utah Supreme Court Professionalism and Civility Counseling Board, September 2022-August 2026
Member, Select Committee, ABA House of Delegates, August 2022-present
Member, ABA Standing Committee on Membership, August 2021-present
Regional Cochair - Utah, ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, August 2021-present
Life Fellow of the American Bar Association Foundation (2015-present)
Adjunct Professor of Law, teaching Business Organizations Law 7050-001, S.J. Quinney College of Law (2015-current) and Procuring and Managing Legal Services Law 6350-001 (2019-2021)
Team Editor, American Bar Association's Litigation News (May 2021-present)
Associate Editor, American Bar Association's Litigation News (October 2019-May 2021)
Contributing Editor, American Bar Association's Litigation News (October 2017-2019)
Recognized in Best Lawyers of America since 2010
Recognized in Mountain States Super Lawyers since 2009
Maintains a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rating

Prior to joining Parsons, Mr. Christiansen practiced for six years in Los Angeles, California as an associate attorney at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, now known as Milbank (1990-93) and as an associate at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan (1993-95). Mr. Christiansen maintains an active practice in California. He is willing to do certain types of large cases on a contingency fee basis. Mr. Christiansen has served as an expert witness in multiple securities litigation matters.

Experience

George Najjar v. New U Life Corporation, et al.

Defended client against lawsuit filed by the alleged founder of an MLM company alleging the client froze the founder out of a partnership and misappropriated funds. Settlement was reached for a fraction of Plaintiff’s demands.

Obtained Preliminary Injunction Enjoining Former Executive from Breaching Nonsolicitation Agreement

On July 31, 2021, in a hotly-contested international arbitration proceeding, Parsons Behle & Latimer obtained a preliminary injunction enjoining a former executive of a direct selling company from attempting to convert the customers of his prior employer to join a competing direct selling company.

Erik Christiansen Representative Matters

Kessman v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., 2019 US Dist LEXIS 49996 (D. Utah Mar. 25, 2019);
Rumbaugh v. Usana Health Scis., Inc., 2:17-CV-106 (D. Utah 2018)
Grigsby v. Income Prop. USA, LLC 2018 WL 4621766 (D. Utah 2018);
Miller v. Union Cent. Life Ins. Co., 2:14-CV-575 (D. Utah 2018);
Ariix, LLC v. NutriSearch Corp., 2018 WL 1456928 (S.D. Cal. 2018);
CFTC v. Tallinex, 2:17-cv-00483-DN (D. Utah 2018);
Morris v. Overstock.com, 2:18-CV-00271 (D. Utah 2018);
Zesch Enterprises, LLC v. Partsolutions, LLC, Third Judicial District Court, Utah (2017);
Rawcliffe v. Anciaux, 2017 UT 72, 416 P.3d 362 (2017);
Eleutian Tech., Inc. v. Ellucian Co., 2017 US Dist Lexis 25589 (D. Utah 2017);
Brian C. v. ValueOptions, 2017 WL 4564737 (D. Utah 2017);
Strong v. Cochran, 2:14-cv-788-TC (D. Utah 2017)
Jamberry Nails v. Newman, 2:16-cv-1152 (D. Utah 2016);
SEC v. Gilbertson, et al., 0:16-CV-03779 (D. Minn. 2016);
Meretta v. Cottonwood Capital, LLC. (D. Utah 2016);
Lindley Constr., Inc. v. Bank of the West, 16-CV-0048-F (D. Wyo. 2016);
DEC Unlimited, Inc. v. Send Out Cards, LLC, 2:16-MC-00935-DN (D. Utah 2016);
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. v. Reyes, 665 Fed. Appx. 736 (10^th 2016);
Ackerman v. SEC, 2:15-MC-00023 (D. Utah 2015);
Advanced Engine Management, Inc. v. Alticity Performance, 2:15-CV-05394 (C.D. Cal. 2015);
Alcon Labs., Inc. v. Reyes, 2:15cv252-DB (D. Utah 2015);
PICS Auditing LLC v. Browz LLC, 8:15-CV-00952 (C.D. Cal. 2015);
Pliuskaitis v. USA Swimming., 2:15-CV-00198 (D. Utah 2015)
USANA Health v. Lee, 2:14-CV-00541 (D. Utah 2014);
Greenfuels Processing I v. Covol Fuels No. 5, 2:13-CV-00878 (D. Utah 2013);
Center for Excellence in Higher Education v. Meiling, 2:13-CV-01052 (D. Utah 2013);
Winzler v. Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., 681 F.3d 1208 (10^th 2012);
HCG Platinum v. Preferred Product Placement, 2:11-CV-00496 (D. Utah 2011);
Abbott v. Law Office of Patrick J. Mulligan, 440 Fed. Appx. 612 (10^th 2011);
Lee v. Max Intl., LLC, 638 F.3d 1318 (10^th 2011);
UBS Bank USA v. Mullins, No. 2:08-CV-814 TS (D. Utah 2011);
Wirth v. Taylor, 2:09-cv-127 TS (D. Utah 2011);
1-800 Contacts v. Clearlab SG., 2:10-CV-00353 (D. Utah 2010);
In re Imergent Secs. Litig., 2:05-CV-204 (D. Utah 2010);
Lee v. Max Int’l, LLC, 2:09-cv-00179 (D. Utah 2010);
SEC v. Stanford Int’l Bank., Ltd., 776 F. Supp. 2d 323 (N.D. Tex. 2011);
Development West v. Bank of the West, 2:10-CV-01000 (D. Utah 2010);
Law Debenture Trust Co. v. Parker International, 2:10-CV-00956 (D. Utah 2010);
Melaleuca, Inc. v. Max International, LLC, 2010 WL 1651949 (D. Idaho 2010);
SEC v. Stanford Int’l Bank., Ltd., 2009 US Dist Lexis 133001 (N.D. Tex. 2009);
Abbott v. Mulligan, 647 F. Supp. 2d 1286 (D. Utah 2009);
Sparks v. Saxon Invs., LLC, 2:09CV151DAL (D. Utah 2009);
Petito v. Brewster, 562 F.3d 761 (5^th 2009);
VesCor Capital Corp. v. Valle Verde LP, 2:07-CV-363 (D. Utah 2009)
Ellison v. Utah County, 2009 UT App. 72 (2009);
UBS Bank v. Hawit, 2:09-Cv-00032 (D. Utah 2009);
Burgess Group v. Cornerstone Financial Services, 2:09-CV-00860 (D. Utah 2009);
In re Nature’s Sunshine Products Inc. Sec. Litigation, 251 F.R.D. 656 (D. Utah 2008);
Schipaanboord v. Volkswagen of America, Inc., 2:08-CV-00074 (D. Utah 2008);
Siskin Enterprises. Inc. v. Wood, 2:08-CV-00225 (D. Utah 2008);
UBS Bank v. Mullins, 2:08-CV-00814 (D. Utah 2008);
Galindo v. Asset Recovery Trust, 2008 WL 3851434 (D. Utah 2008);
Certified Engineering Systems v. National City Commercial Capital., 2:07-CV-00293 (D. Utah 2007);
In re Nature’s Sunshine Products Inc. Sec. Litigation, 486 F. Supp. 2d 1301 (D. Utah 2007);
C5 Invs. Inc. v. Ernst & Young, No. 06-CIV-0210-WFN (D. Idaho 2007);
Stalsberg v. New York Life Ins. Co., 2:07-CV-29 BSJ (D. Utah 2007);
Energytec, Inc. v. Proctor, 516 F. Supp. 2d 660 (N.D. Tex 2007);
Borghetti v. Muir, No. 2:04-cv-00861 (D. Utah 2005);
Cintas v. Bell, 2:06-MC-00205 (D. Utah 2006);
Citibank v. Forte, 2006 Ut. App. 344 (August 17, 2006);
Citibank v. Forte, 2006 Ut. App. 279 (June 29, 2006);
Great American Ins. Co. v. Woodside Homes Corp., 448 F. Supp. 2d 1275 (D. Utah 2006);
Basic Research v. BDirect, 2:06-CV-00932 (D. Utah 2006);
Molano-Youman v. Hartford Life., 1:05-cv-00083 (D. Utah 2005);
Firestone v. Imergent, Inc., 2:05cv00204 DB (D. Utah 2005)
O’Very v. Spectratek Technologies, Inc., 2004 WL 5642004 (C. D. Cal. 2004);
SEC v. Wolfson, 309 B.R. 612 (D. Utah 2004);
Holliday v. Volkswagen Amer., 2:04-CV-00512 (D. Utah 2004);
Busico v. Citibank (SD), NA., 2:04-CV-01178 (D. Utah 2004);
Case Data v. Xerox Corp., 1:04-CV-00140 (D. Utah 2004);
Elf Athletics v. JSR Research, 2:15-cv-00748 (D. Utah 2004);
O’Very v. Spectratek Technologies, Inc., 2003 Wl 25781235 (C.D. Cal. 2003);
Wyatt v. Nebeker, 2:03-CV-00961 (D. Utah 2003);
Innovative Optics v. Paradigm Med., 2:03-CV-00582 (D. Utah 2003);
SEC v. Wolfson, 2003 WL 23356418 (D. Utah 2003);
Total Renal Care v. Stinson, 2:02-CV-00307 (D. Utah 2002);
Spiegel v. Tenfold, 192 F. supp. 2d 1261 (D. Utah 2002);
Sunrise Fin., Inc. v. PaineWebber, Inc., 164 F. Supp. 2d 1277 (D. Utah 2001);
Trillium USA, Inc. v. Bd. Of County Commissioners, 2001 UT 101, 37 P.3d 1093 (2001);
Kennecott UT Copper v. Minet Ltd., 2001-CV-00084 (D. Utah 2001);
SOS Staffing Services v. Sollenne, 2:00-CV-00194 (D. Utah 2000);
Hodges v. Howell, 2000 UT App 171, 4 P.3d 803 (2000);
Allman v. Ensign Bickford Ind., et al., 2:00-CV-00525 (D. Utah 2000);
Barton v. Tenfold, 2:00-CV-00669 (D. Utah 2000);
Sunrise Fin., Inc. v. PaineWebber, Inc., 4 F. Supp. 2d 1035 (D. Utah 1998);
Sunrise Financial, Inc. v. PaineWebber, Inc., 948 F. Supp. 1002 (D. Utah 1996);
Froland v. Northeast Savings, 1995 WL 818750 (Cal. Ct. App. 1995);

Mr. Christiansen has obtained terminating sanctions in the following cases:

Granite Seed Company v. William Agnew, Case No. 150905897, Third Judicial District Court, State of Utah (September 26, 2017)(representing plaintiff).
Palatine Capital Investment Group v. Alpine Securities Corporation, FINRA Case No. 10-05507 (January 6, 2012)(representing respondent).
Markyl Lee v. Max International, LLC, 638 F.3d 1318 (10th Cir. 2011)(representing defendant)(Circuit Judge Gorsuch).

Accomplishments

Academic

University of Utah College of Law (J.D., 1990)

Articles Editor, Utah Law Review
William H. Leary Scholar

Author, “Sterling v. Velsicol Chemical Corporation: Emotional Distress Damages for the Duration of Toxic Exposure,” Utah Law Review 759 (1989)

Author, “Miranda-Like Warnings Required in Non-Custodial Settings,” Utah Law Review 260, No. 1 (1989)

University of Utah (B.A. in Political Science, 1987)

University of Utah (B.A. in English, 1986)

Professional

Maintains a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Rating

Ranked in Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial

Recognized in Utah Business Magazine’s 2023 Legal Elite

Recognized in "The Best Lawyers in America," Securities Litigation and Commercial Litigation, since 2010; Salt Lake City Lawyer of the Year, Litigation - Securities, 2022

Recognized in "Mountain States Super Lawyers," Securities Litigation, since 2009

Utah Legal Elite, Civil Litigation

Associations

Professional

Member, ABA Standing Committee on Membership

(August 2021-present)

Regional Cochair - Utah, ABA Judicial Intern Opportunity Program

(August 2021-present)

State Membership Chair, ABA State Membership Committee

(2019-present)

Member, ABA Litigation Section Membership and Marketing Committee

(2020-2021)

Utah State Bar, Litigation Section

Executive Committee

(2015 - 2022)

Chair

(2020-2021)

Utah State Securities Commission

Chair and Commissioner (June 2009 - October 2017)

(Appointed by Governor John M. Huntsman, Jr. in June 2009, and re-appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert in June 2013).

Securities Litigation Committee of the ABA Section of Litigation

Web Editor

(2012 - 2016)

Coverage Magazine, Official Journal of ABA's Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee

Editor-in-Chief

(2007 - 2015)

Publications Editorial Board, ABA's Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee

(2015 - 2018)

Federal Bar Association, Utah Chapter

Chair

(2008 - 2009)

University of Utah Board of Advisors for Undergraduate Education

Chair

(2009 - 2011)

Utah State Bar, Securities Section

Chair

(2005 - 2006)

University of Utah Young Alumni Board

Chair

(2000 - 2002)

University of Utah College of Law

Member, Board of Trustees

(1996 - 1999)

Community

Member, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture Advisory Board
(August 2018 - current)

Visit Salt Lake
Executive Committee (2009-current), Chair (2013 - 2014), Legal Advisor (2019 - present)

Utah Film Center
Board of Trustees and Executive Committee
(2017 - current)

KRCL 90.9 FM
Community Advisory Board
(2015 - current)

CUAC
Board of Trustees
(2015 - 2017)

KRCL 90.9 FM, Community Radio
Member, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
(2006 - 2011)

International Sculpture Center, Hamilton, New Jersey
Member, Board of Trustees and Executive Committee
(2006 - 2011)

Salt Lake Art Center (now known as UMOCA)
Chair, Board of Trustees
(2006 - 2009)

Insights

Erik A. Christiansen and Abigail M. Dizon-Maughan Appointed to American Bar Association and NCBP Leadership Teams

Parsons Behle & Latimer attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers in America

Super Lawyers Ranks 32 Parsons Behle & Latimer Attorneys as Top Practitioners in the Mountain States Region

Parsons Behle & Latimer Attorney Erik A. Christiansen Sworn in as Utah State Bar President

Articles

Class Action Representation: Everyone is on the Same Team

Breach of Duty Results in Forfeiture of $7.5 Million Contingency Fee

Presentations

Regulatory Reform, Part Deux: Reports from Utah, Arizona and California

A Discussion about Diversity and Inclusion with ABA President Refo and distinguished guests from the Utah State Bar

Litigation Skills Series Special Edition - Yes You Can Do a Virtual Jury Trial!

The High Stakes Risks for Utah Companies Doing Business Overseas

To Compete or Not To Compete... That is the Legislation

Credentials

Licensed

Utah

California

U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

Education

University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law