Headshot of C. Christopher Newberg

Christopher C. Newberg

Photo of attorney C. Christopher Newberg

Biography

Chris Newberg is an attorney at Kuiper Kraemer PC in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chris helps individuals and businesses work through a wide range of legal issues, including pursing and defending lawsuits, overseeing complex business transactions, drafting and reviewing contracts, and working through intellectual property and entertainment deals.

Chris represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of disputes throughout Michigan and beyond. He has considerable experience in the federal court system, representing clients in employment, intellectual property, insurance, and business cases. In the state court system, Chris helps clients with cases of all shapes and sizes, ranging from collections cases to insurance claims to partnership disputes to personal injury/wrongful death matters to cases involving allegations of fraud and theft. While much of his litigation experience comes from working on large, complex lawsuits, there is no case too big or too small for Chris.

From the courtroom to the boardroom, Chris works with Michigan businesses on a variety of formation, governance, compliance, employment, transactional, and related legal matters. He helps dozens of clients start and structure new businesses every year and frequently works with those same clients as their companies grow and evolve. Chris works very closely with the governing boards and executive staff of corporate clients on a wide range of various legal matters that come up in the course of business, ranging from ground level HR matters to multi-million-dollar mergers and acquisitions.

Chris is one of Michigan's few entertainment attorneys with actual, first-hand experience in the entertainment industry. Chris knows that to properly represent entertainers, you must not only know the law, but also the business. That's where he starts to separate from the pack. For over the past decade, Chris has traveled the country as the lead guitarist for Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys, which has given him invaluable perspective and experience concerning the operations of all sides of the music industry. At Kuiper Kraemer, he combines that experience with his experience in business planning and civil litigation to provide his clients with unparalleled insight and advice. Whether it's helping a new artist get started in business, working through complex intellectual property licensing issues, or negotiating publishing and record deals, Chris is more than qualified to help.

Chris grew up in Rockford, Michigan, and is now raising a family with his wife on the west side of Grand Rapids. He is a graduate and devoted fan of Michigan State University. After attending MSU, he received his law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. When he's not working, Chris enjoys playing music, playing with his rambunctious little boys, traveling, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors.

Education

  • Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • J.D. - 2014
  • Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
    • B.A. - 2010
    • Major: Communications

Current Employment Position

  • Attorney

Past Positions

  • Rodenhouse Law Group PC, Attorney and Shareholder, 2014 to 2022

Professional Associations

  • Michigan Bar Association, Member, 2014 to Present
  • Grand Rapids Bar Association, Member, 2014 to Present

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Michigan Music Alliance (Board Member, Treasurer, Education Committee Chair), 2021 to 2022

Fraternities or Sororities

  • Phi Kappa Psi

Languages

  • English

Practice Areas

  • Civil Litigation 50%
  • General Business/Transactional 30%
  • Entertainment 10%
  • Corporate Operations and Governance 10%

Bar Admissions

  • Michigan, 2014
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 2016
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2019