Chris Hockett is a retired partner from Davis Polk’s Northern California office, where he focused on complex disputes and strategic problem solving for many of the world’s largest technology and communications companies. He now serves as a mediator, arbitrator and court-appointed Special Master, and teaches at Berkeley Law and University of Virginia Law School. He also co-chairs an annual intensive training program for federal judges that alternates between Berkeley Law and the University of Chicago Law School.
In 35 years in practice, Chris handled a broad range of high-stakes commercial litigation matters, including in the areas of antitrust and unfair competition, intellectual property, securities, and consumer class actions. As lead counsel, he prevailed for clients in over 100 complex cases, as well as led negotiations that successfully resolved claims involving billions of dollars.
Chris teaches Negotiations as well as a course on Antitrust and Digital Platforms. He is on the Northern District of California Mediation and Early Neutral Evaluation Panels, and also serves on the Northern District of California’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Local Rules Committee. Chris is the former global head of Davis Polk’s antitrust practice, and a former Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law.
Throughout his years in practice, Chris was ranked as one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” in Chambers USA. He has been listed as a leading lawyer in many other legal industry publications, including Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500 U.S., and Benchmark.
Education
J.D., University of Virginia (1985)
Christopher Burch Hockett is teaching the following course in Fall 2024:
Courses During Other Semesters
| Semester | Course Num | Course Title |  Teaching Evaluations | Spring 2025 | 245 sec. 003 | Negotiations | Spring 2024 | 252.21 sec. 001 | Antitrust and Digital Platforms | View Teaching Evaluation | Spring 2023 | 252.21 sec. 001 | Antitrust and Technology Platforms | View Teaching Evaluation |
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