Joseph S.D. Christof, II
Of Counsel
jchristof@dmclaw.com |
Direct: 412-392-5241
Two PPG Place
Suite 400
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5402
Main: 412-281-7272
Fax: 888-811-7144
Joseph S.D. Christof, II is Of Counsel with Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and is the former Co-Chair of the firm’s Commercial Law and Litigation Group and Environmental Law Group and former Chair of the Professional Liability Defense Group. Mr. Christof has represented clients in the areas of commercial litigation, insurance defense, professional liability, product liability, toxic tort, environmental, intellectual property, construction litigation, and securities litigation.
Commercial litigation includes breach of contract, business interruption, trade dress and trademark infringements, antitrust, and directors and officers (D&O) liability issues. Professional negligence practice includes the representation of lawyers, architects, engineers, accountants, insurance agents, physicians, nursing homes, and financial advisors. Toxic tort practice includes silicosis, chemicals, hard metals, welding rods, and asbestos. The insurance defense portion of his practice has him representing both large and mid-size companies in a variety of claims.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Christof served as a law clerk to Herbert Sorg, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Professional Accomplishments
- Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County (Fellow)
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® since 2009
- The Best Lawyers in America© since 2006: Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Construction
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® 2009
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Education
- Vanderbilt University, J.D. (1974)
- College of the Holy Cross, B.A. (1970)
Related Links
Representative Matters
- Has tried cases in state and federal court representing clients in professional negligence, commercial litigation, product liability, toxic tort, premises, auto, and construction
Speaking Engagements
- “Attorney Liability to Non-clients in the Wills, Estates and Trust Context” (Presenter); IADC Professional Liability Roundtable; Chicago, Illinois; 5/17/2012
- “Professional Liability Insurance for Engineers” (Co-Presenter); Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Professional Engineers seminar; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 12/15/2010
Publications
- “Read Carefully: When the royalty language of an oil and gas lease and an operator’s failure to strictly comply will lead to forfeiture” (Co-Author), The Energy Law Advisor, Vol. 9, No. 4, Nov. 2015
- “Whose File is It Anyway?” (Co-Author), Professional Liability Committee Newsletter, International Association of Defense Counsel, April 2012
- “Legal Malpractice Statutes of Limitation: Overview and Pennsylvania Case Study” (Co-Author), Defense Counsel Journal, International Association of Defense Counsel, Vol. 77, No. 4, pp. 485–493, October 2010
Admissions and Licenses
- Ohio Bar Admission
- Pennsylvania Bar Admission
- West Virginia Bar Admission
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Memberships
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance
- Defense Research Institute
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Pennsylvania Defense Institute
- Professional Liability Defense Federation
Community
- Edgeworth/Leetsdale Municipal Authority
- Quaker Valley School District
- Sewickley YMCA
- St. Mary’s and St. James Churches
- Villa St. Joseph
Education
- Vanderbilt University, J.D. (1974)
- College of the Holy Cross, B.A. (1970)