Throughout his career, Christopher Koller has delivered experienced counseling and representation in court and arbitration proceedings to organizations and individuals in employment law, commercial litigation, professional liability, workers’ compensation, and construction and contract litigation. Christopher focuses his current practice on employment litigation and arbitration of restrictive covenants, trade secrets, employee raiding, unfair competition, discrimination, wrongful termination, defamation, wage and hour law, and incentive compensation.

Christopher has obtained injunctions enforcing non-solicitation agreements and protecting confidential client information, and has recovered trade secret and proprietary information in federal and state courts throughout the country.  He also advises organizations and individuals how to avoid litigation when transitioning to a new employer, and defends actions brought by a former employer.  Outside of the courtroom, he provides counsel regarding enterprise-wide personnel and business initiatives, employment agreements, terminations and reduction in force, internal investigations, compliance, and privacy matters, as well as management and employee training.

Before entering private practice, Christopher served for two years as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. While in law school, Christopher also served as a legal intern for the Honorable Ricardo C. Jackson, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and as a legal intern for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Christopher also excelled as a teaching assistant for Temple University’s nationally acclaimed Trial Advocacy Program, and as a teaching assistant for Temple’s top-ranked Legal Research and Writing program.

Speaking Engagements

• “Oh My: The Lions, Tigers, and Bears of Non-Compete Clauses,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Employment Law Institute 2024, co-presenter and co-author of written materials
• “iSpy With My Expert Eye,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Employment Law Institute 2018, co-presenter and co-author of written materials
• “Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016: Important Take-Aways About Employees Who Take Away,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute 23rd Annual Employment Law Institute, co-presenter and co-author of written materials (2017)
• “Trade Secret Mediations in 2016: What You Need to Know,” The Knowledge Group Webcast Series, co-presenter and co-author of written materials (2016)
• “Cover Your Assets: Protecting Your Confidential Business Information,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute 21st Annual Employment Law Institute, co-presenter and author of written materials (2015)

Practice Highlights

• Obtained arbitration award of over $1.1 million, plus interest, attorney’s fees, and costs, in breach of contract action against former employee and successfully defeated counterclaims, including fraudulent inducement, breach of contract and covenant of good faith and fair dealing, tortious interference, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment, for which former employee sought over $23 million.
  

  Merrill Lynch v. Lahoud, FINRA-DR No. 22-01970, New York, NY (2025)

• Obtained expungement of criminal charges from a financial industry registered representative’s Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer (“Form U4”) and from his publicly available BrokerCheck report.
  
• Obtained defense award in arbitration on challenge to a non-competition agreement and on claims of tortious interference and breach of contract.
  

  Alford v. Amgen, AAA Case No. 01-18-0003-7476, Nashville, TN (2020)

• Obtained arbitration award of over $1 million on breach of contract claim and successfully defended against claims by former employee, including breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, and tortious interference with business relationships, for which former employee sought $6 million.
  

  Merrill Lynch v. Schena, FINRA-DR No. 12-03215, Miami, FL (2015)

• Obtained arbitration award of over $170,000, including attorney’s fees, on breach of contract claim and successfully defended former employee’s counterclaims for fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of contract.
  

  Merrill Lynch v. Goldberg, FINRA-DR No. 12-02692, Phoenix, AZ (2013)

• Obtained directed verdict in arbitration on claims by former employee under the Anti-Tying provision of the federal Bank Holding Company Act. Obtained defense award on remaining claims of constructive discharge, breach of contract, tortious interference, and defamation. Obtained judgment for over $300,000, plus attorney’s fees, on breach of contract claim.
  

  Merrill Lynch v. Bray, FINRA-DR No. 12-00084, Tampa, FL (2013)

• Obtained injunctive relief and Order of Attachment in Aid of Arbitration to recover funds fraudulently obtained by former employee in connection with his recruitment to client. Successfully garnished and recovered over $420,000 from several bank accounts and by repossessing a Ferrari bought with the fraudulently obtained funds. Obtained award of over $800,000, including attorney’s fees.
  

  Merrill Lynch v. Mandala, FINRA-DR No. 09-04453, New York, NY (2011)

• Obtained arbitration award of over $670,000, including attorney’s fees, on breach of contract claim against involuntarily terminated employee and successfully defeated former employee’s attempt to assert counterclaims for wrongful discharge, fraud, and breach of contract.
  

  Merrill Lynch v. Limacher, FINRA-DR No. 10-01435, Los Angeles, CA (2011)