Donald E. Christopher, one of the firm's founding shareholders, is a fourth generation Floridian. His practice has been broadly focused because he is not only an accomplished trial lawyer, but also counsels clients on real estate and corporate transactions and planning. After receiving his J.D. from the University of Virginia, Don spent two years serving as law clerk to Chief Judge George C. Young of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. There, he quickly learned the nuances of trial practice from one of Florida's most respected federal judges.

Don left his clerkship with Judge Young a month early in November 1979 to accept an appointment as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. While there, he successfully tried over thirty civil and criminal cases. Don developed particular expertise in financial fraud, but his trials and appeals were quite varied, including: the largest known theft of currency from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C.; injuries resulting from a Halon explosion at the Kennedy Space Center; the extradition of an American bail bondsman to Canada to face kidnapping charges; frauds and embezzlement by high-ranking bank officials; and numerous income tax evasion cases.

After leaving the government in May 1983 to begin practice with Hal Litchford, Don returned twice at the request of the Department of Justice to serve as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in 1983 and 1989. The scores of civil cases Don has tried before both judges and juries have included breaches of contract, employment claims and noncompete covenants, corporate fraud, construction disputes, suits to set aside fraudulent transfers, antitrust actions, copyright indemnification, bankruptcy adversary proceedings, and defense of product liability claims.

Since the formation of Litchford & Christopher in 1985, Don Christopher has been the firm's President and has responsibility for overseeing all aspects of firm management. In addition to continuing an active civil trial practice on behalf of both individuals and companies, Don has appeared on behalf of creditors in bankruptcies, incorporated many businesses, handled mergers of companies, drafted and negotiated a wide variety of business contracts, and represented both purchasers and sellers of shopping centers, apartment complexes, and unimproved land. Business clients appreciate this breadth of experience that has enabled Don to skillfully guide them through many of the toughest decisions and disputes they face.