Overview
An associate in Fisher Phillips’ Philadelphia office, Christopher Merken is an experienced litigator who represents businesses in employment and workplace-related disputes. With deep experience across all stages of litigation, he has counseled and defended companies in high-stakes employment matters in federal and state courts, including claims involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets, and alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Christopher has also defended employers and executives in employment-related investigations and litigation brought by the U.S. Department of Labor and the New York Attorney General.
In 2024, Christopher served as trial counsel in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York securing a complete victory in a breach of contract action resulting in a $108 million judgment. He also served as trial counsel in the Delaware Court of Chancery securing a rare victory in a corporate director dispute.
Beyond litigation, Christopher advises clients navigating internal investigations and government enforcement actions. His experience includes defending a staffing company and its CEO in simultaneous employment litigation and regulatory investigations, conducting internal investigations of alleged misconduct, and counseling senior employees in federal investigations involving cryptocurrency.
Christopher clerked for the Honorable Jane R. Roth of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Honorable Madeline H. Haikala of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He also externed for the Honorable Mark A. Kearney of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He has published widely on evidence and civil rights issues, with his work cited by the Iowa Supreme Court and considered by the U.S. Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules.
He maintains an active pro bono practice, including recent trial and appellate work in a successful constitutional challenge to Miami’s City Council maps on behalf of local residents and advocacy groups.