Profile
Christopher R. Hedican was named Baird Holm’s Managing Partner in May 2021, and has been a member of the firm’s Executive Committee since 2017. His practice focuses on defending all types of employment claims, including discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, employment torts and public policy claims. A substantial part of his practice includes non-compete, business tort, trade secret and fiduciary litigation. He also regularly handles litigation involving self-funded ERISA benefit plans, fully insured benefit plans and third party administrators. Such claims involve equitable subrogation and benefit denial. He regularly defends cases in state and federal courts for firm clients throughout the country, but particularly in the Midwest.
Chris graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 1990. He was conferred a Master’s of Business Administration from the John M. Olin Graduate School of Business of Washington University in St. Louis in 1990. He also received a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Creighton University in 1986.
Chris was inducted as a fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers in the spring of 2024. The College is limited to one percent of the total lawyer population with a minimum of 15 years trial experience. It is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and is by invitation only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Since 2003, Chris has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Employment Law and Labor Law. Chris was selected as Best Lawyers’ Omaha Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year in 2016, 2021, and 2023 and as the Labor Law – Management Lawyer of the Year in 2017 and 2024. He has also been named in Chambers USA (© 2013) since 2001. He is listed in Super Lawyers (© 2013) – Top Ten in Nebraska since 2010, Great Plains Super Lawyers, and is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Areas of Practice
Education
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D., 1990
- John M. Olin Graduate School of Business of Washington University in St. Louis, M.B.A., 1990
- Creighton University, B.S., 1986
Bar & Court Admissions
- Iowa, 1999
- Kansas, 1990
- Missouri, 1991
- Montana, 2005
- Nebraska, 1992
- North Dakota, 2010
- South Dakota, 2006
- Utah, 2016
- Wyoming, 2002
- United States Supreme Court, 2002
- United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1996
- United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2001
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, 2011
- United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas, 2011
- United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, 2012
- United States District Court, Northern District of Iowa, 2001
- United States District Court, Southern District of Iowa, 2000
- United States District Court, District of Kansas, 1990
- United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, 1991
- United States District Court, District of Montana, 2006
- United States District Court, District of Nebraska, 1992
- United States District Court, District of North Dakota, 2003
- United States District Court, District of Utah, 2016
- United States District Court, District of South Dakota, 2006
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1993
- United States District Court, District of Wyoming, 2013
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- Omaha Bar Association
- Nebraska State Bar Association
- Labor and Employment Section of the Nebraska State Bar Association
- Bellevue University, Business Advisory Committee
- Brownell-Talbot Board of Trustees, Vice President, Finance, Building and Grounds, DEI Committee
- PLAN (Professional Attorneys Liability Network) Treasurer
- GO Beyond Nebraska Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Selected Practice Highlights
- Obtaining several defense jury verdicts in state and federal venues throughout the Midwest
- Successfully prosecuting several actions to obtain injunctive relief and damages for former employee’s breach of non-compete agreement
- Obtained sanction for contempt of injunctive relief
- Obtaining several appellate decisions affirming substantial equitable relief under ERISA
- Obtaining dismissal of WARN Act class action complaint
- As appellate counsel, obtaining reversal of $1.4 million verdict in favor of former employee on breach of contract claim
- Obtaining substantial attorneys’ fee award for employer defendant in age discrimination case for plaintiff’s bad faith litigation
- Obtaining Trade Secret jury verdict in excess of $1.250 million – largest trade secret jury verdict in Nebraska
- Obtaining employer jury verdict in highly publicized retaliation and breach of public policy claim against national retailer
- Successfully representing national technology company in action against former vice president and competitor for conspiracy to breach fiduciary duties and unlawful restraint of trade
Recent Speaking Engagements
- “Being Both Zealous and Professional When Representing Your Client at Trial,” NSBA Annual Meeting, La Vista, NE, October 2023
