Biography
Chris Hug focuses exclusively on dispute resolution, including arbitration, mediation, and litigation. He handles a range of disputes, with a focus on those arising in construction, commercial lending, commercial contract, municipal contracting, trusts and probate, and insurance contexts. He has more than three decades of experience as a trial lawyer, and he practices in both Connecticut federal and state courts as well as in the Southern District of New York.
Business Litigation
Chris represents various private and public entities in business disputes. He is particularly experienced at handling disputes that involve commercial transactions, system failure analysis, manufacturing and/or processing defects, environmental issues, financial disputes, and creditors' rights. Chris’s cases typically involve the coordination of multiple experts. His most recent experiences include shareholder disputes, Freedom of Information disputes, First Amendment issues, software/hardware installation and design contracts, manufacturing defects, boiler design and installation, wastewater treatment plant disputes, foreclosure, and lender liability defense.
Probate Litigation
Chris also has a very active probate litigation caseload. He represents institutions and individuals, healthcare providers, charities, and various beneficiaries in disputes in probate and courts of general jurisdiction. Typical cases include: will contests, instrument interpretation, breach of fiduciary duty, accountings, conservatorship appointments and representation, heir determination and psychiatric commitment hearings.
He participated as a member of the Connecticut Probate Practice Book Advisory Committee and assisted in drafting the new Rules of Practice for Connecticut Probate Courts, effective July 1, 2013. He has appeared as a faculty member describing and explaining various aspects of probate law to the Connecticut Probate Judges and Connecticut Bar industry groups. Chris is a senior adjunct professor of law at Western New England University School of Law, where he has taught a course on probate litigation since 2007.
Construction Litigation
Since shortly after joining the firm in 1989, Chris has had an active construction litigation practice and has experience in many different areas. Chris represents owners, contractors, engineers, and property insurers in disputes arising from the construction of various projects, such as schools, laboratories, energy plants, industrial and commercial buildings, nuclear power, athletic facilities, wastewater treatment, and landfills. He is well-versed in industry contracts and specialized damages claims, including, but not limited to, loss of productivity claims.
He is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry and Connecticut Bar Association Construction Law Section.
Insurance Litigation
Chris represents insurers in large-loss property insurance disputes, particularly as it relates to heavy engineering and physical damages. He also represents insurers in commercial general liability disputes arising out of defective construction, design, and workmanship. He has represented insurers in connection with natural disasters such as hurricanes, and major construction projects.