Chris is an attorney with Vandeventer Black and concentrates her law practice in automotive and commercial law and business transactions, employment and civil rights.   Her Commercial Law and Business Transactions practice involves advising and representing businesses on diverse topics such as consumer transactions, contracts, commercial leasing, information technology services, business torts, and sale and acquisition of business assets.  She also advises and represents businesses on a broad range of employment issues, including discrimination, wrongful discharge, wage and hour claims, and covenants not to compete. Chris also has a strong background in advising employers and providing training on preventative measures such as handbooks and policies, evaluations and job descriptions, discipline and discharge, drug testing policies, legal compliance and union issues.

Chris received a B.S. in Psychology (cum laude) and a M.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned a J.D. from the T.C. Williams School of Law, where she served as Executive Editor of the Law Review and received the William T. Muse Torts award, The W. Richard Broaddus, Jr. and Parker, Pollard & Brown Merit Scholarships, as well as other honors. She served as Judicial Clerk for the Honorable William T. Prince of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia. Chris is licensed to practice in Virginia.

Chris previously served as General Counsel to the Hall Automotive Group and Metro Information Services, Inc.  As General Counsel she managed the provision of legal services and advised executive management on a broad range of legal issues, including employment/independent contractor/vendor relations, customer dispute resolution, commercial real estate, and contract review and negotiation.

Some of her notable cases include Brzonkala v. Virginia Polytechnic Institute, et. al, 169 F.3d 820 (4th Cir.1999), aff’d sub nom United States v. Morrison et al., No. 99-5, 2000 WL 574361 (U.S. S.Ct., May 15, 2000), challenging Title IX claim and the constitutionality of the Violence Against Women Act, defense counsel for Antonio Morrison at the trial court level; and United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996), challenging admission of women to Virginia Military Institute, counsel for the State Council of Higher Education at the trial court level.

Two of her notable publications include Case Note, Putting the Teeth Back Into the BFOQ Requirement of Title VII and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act: International Union v. Johnson Controls, Inc., 26 U. Rich. L. Rev. 413 (1992) and Employment Law, Annual Survey of Virginia Law, 32 U. Rich. L. Rev. 1199 (1998).

Chris serves as a director for the Virginia State Bar Corporate Counsel Section Board of Governors and the Virginia Women Attorneys Association.  She has also served in leadership roles with the Virginia Bar Association and the Virginia Commission on Women and Minorities in the Legal System. Her community service includes the Norfolk SPCA, F.O.R. Kids, Inc., and Virginia Amateur Sports, Inc.

Articles by M. CHristina Floyd   |