Chris Hollinger handles all aspects of labor and employment law, with specialized expertise in the representation of airlines under the federal Railway Labor Act.
Chris’ extensive experience in representing airlines under the Railway Labor Act includes: providing practical and legal guidance in response to union organizing campaigns; representing airlines before the National Mediation Board; “at the table” participation in collective-bargaining negotiations and providing “behind the scenes” advice regarding collective-bargaining strategy and contract language; providing practical and legal advice in preparation for traditional strikes as well as slowdown activity; representing airlines in federal court litigation; and handling contractual and disciplinary arbitrations. In the area of employment law, Chris has been heavily involved in the past three years litigating constitutional and federal-preemption challenges to the application of state and local paid sick leave and wage/hour laws to airline employees.
The other significant focus of Chris' law practice is pro bono work—with an emphasis on animal welfare/rights (in particular, providing legal assistance to animal shelters throughout the State of California); and anti-racism (in particular, the labor relations aspects of police reform, and the removal of Confederate monuments from governmental buildings in the South).
Traditional Labor Law
- Representing a major US-based airline (and one of its predecessor airlines) in a large variety of matters, including with respect to: “at the table” pre-merger negotiations of collective bargaining agreements between the airline and another airline’s pilot and flight attendant unions to facilitate the successful merger of the two carriers; “at the table” negotiation of the post-merger collective bargaining agreement between the airline and its pilot union; the single-carrier process before the National Mediation Board in connection with the merger of the two airlines; multiple federal court lawsuits (at both the trial and appellate levels) involving a long-standing pilot seniority-integration dispute; and large-scale contract-interpretation arbitrations involving pension and medical benefits.
Employment Law
- Representing a nationwide transportation company in multi-district litigation proceedings consisting of 50+ class actions and other lawsuits challenging the employment classification of package pick-up and delivery drivers under the laws of multiple states.
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US District Courts, Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of California, Eastern District of Texas
Education
- University of Chicago, J.D., 1989
- Dartmouth College, B.A., 1986: summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
Honors & Awards
- Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a Labor & Employment Star (2021-2024)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 in Labor and Employment (2018, 2021)
Professional Activities
Clerkships
- Honorable Charles Levin, Michigan Supreme Court
Editor-in-Chief
- The Railway Labor Act, Third Edition, Bloomberg BNA (2012)
Board of Directors
- California Women’s Law Center, Treasurer (2005-2019); Recipient, Abby J. Leibman Pursuit of Justice Award (2019)
Co-Chair
- Railway and Airline Labor Law Committee, American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment (2017-2019)
Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, “Airline and Railroad Labor and Employment Law,” American Law Institute (Multiple Occasions)