Christine L. Mast

Christine L. Mast,
Senior Partner

Biography

Christine Mast is a go-to for lawyers and professionals facing career-defining malpractice and ethics crises. She has been dubbed Atlanta's "Lawyer of the Year" in Legal Malpractice or Professional Malpractice Law five times by Best Lawyers—including in both areas in 2024—while Thomson Reuters' Super Lawyers has placed her in the Top 50 Women or Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia over 20 times.

Christine prides herself on the favorable outcomes she has secured for hundreds of professionals facing malpractice claims, lawsuits, disciplinary, licensing, and ethics issues. She knows that for most of her clients, their case is the most critical and taxing moment of their lives. That is why she approaches every client's situation as if it were her reputation or livelihood on the line.

Whether in trial, mediation, or administrative hearings, Christine is a forceful advocate for her clients. Her success is evident in a long list of appellate decisions affirming favorable rulings for her clients. She is also relied on in the most consequential cases that can shift the entire landscape, like her landmark Georgia Supreme Court victory that redefined the standards for testimony in legal malpractice cases.

Christine's direct, transparent style transforms complex disputes into clear solutions, allowing her to quickly resolve matters or litigate aggressively when needed. Her counsel is routinely sought by those facing the highest-stakes issues—often successfully ending disputes before litigation can even begin. Her profound command of professional ethics and liability has made her the preferred advisor not just for her clients and law firms, but also for lawyers who once opposed her.

Beyond professional liability, Christine also defends prominent businesses in high‑exposure litigation involving premises liability, product liability, employment, and insurance coverage. Her clients range from regional to international companies, including Fortune 500 insurers, technology companies, global manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries, national retailers, and employers from various sectors.

Christine is also a respected leader in the defense bar. She is a founding member and past executive committee member of the State Bar of Georgia's Professional Liability Section and Chair Emeritus of ALFA International's Professional Liability Practice Group. Since joining Hawkins Parnell from the University of North Carolina School of Law, she has helped guide the firm's national expansion, notably as the first woman elected managing partner and to serve as a member of the executive, compensation, and policy committees. She has also been the firm's general counsel for many years.

Services

Education

  • University of North Carolina School of Law  (J.D., 1992)
  • University of Illinois  (B.S., with honors, 1989)

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia

Courts

  • Supreme Court of Georgia
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Professional Affiliations

  • State Bar of Georgia
    • Founding Member of Professional Liability Section
    • Executive Committee (2011-2014)
  • DRI
    • Commercial Litigation Committee, Past Publications Chair
    • Lawyers Professionalism & Ethics Committee, Past Vice-Chair Publications
  • American Bar Association
    • National Legal Malpractice Data Center
  • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
    • Vice Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
  • ALFA International
    • Chair Emeritus, Professional Liability Practice Group
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society
  • Atlanta Bar Association
  • Lawyers Club of Atlanta

Honors

  • Tradition of Excellence Award, State Bar of Georgia (2025)
  • Best Lawyers® Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants "Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta (2021, 2024)
  • Best Lawyers® Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants "Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta (2015, 2022, 2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (2011-2025)
    • Appellate Practice
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Construction Law
    • Employment Law - Management
    • Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
    • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
    • Litigation - Insurance
    • Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
  • Georgia Super Lawyers (2007-2025)
  • Top 50 Women Georgia Lawyers, Georgia Super Lawyers (2008-2014, 2017-2025)
  • Top 100 Georgia Lawyers, Georgia Super Lawyers (2008, 2019-2021, 2024-2025)
  • Top Lawyers, GA BIZ Magazine (2024)
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™
  • Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Fellow

Presentations

Christine lectures regularly on the subjects of malpractice avoidance, ethics, abusive litigation, and trial procedures. She also has published related papers on legal malpractice, abusive litigation, and trial tactics. Christine also has appeared as a guest on Leyes Cotidianas (“Everyday Law”), a Spanish language legal talk show, where she discussed recovery of civil litigation fees and expenses.

  • "Opinions to Third Parties; Defense of Judgment," Professionalism, Ethics and Malpractice, State Bar of Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education (December 2021)
  • "Sustaining Success – Planning for the Second Generation Law Firm," Annual Meeting, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Asheville, North Carolina (August 2021)
  • "What Should Keep You Up At Night - And It’s Not COVID," 54th Annual Meeting, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, Fernandina Beach, Florida (June 2021)
  • "The Eternal Sunshine of the Mediated LPL Resolution," National Legal Malpractice Conference, American Bar Association, Virtual (April 2021)
  • "COVID-19 and Defense Litigation: Why Communication Is As Important As Social Distancing," Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Webinar (June 2020)
  • "Simple Advice for Complex Times: The Top 5 Pieces of Advice Insurers Can Give to Their Law Firm Insureds," ALFA International, COVID-19 Webinar Series (April 2020)
  • "Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation," Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Atlanta, Georgia (March 2020)
  • “Awards of Attorney’s Fees and Litigation Expenses Under OCGA 9-15-14: A Primer,” Institute Of Continuing Legal Education In Georgia: Abusive Litigation, Atlanta, Georgia (February 2020)
  • "What Attorneys Should Have In Their Engagement Letters and Other Starting Line Protective Measures," Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Webinar (February 2020)
  • "Best Practices and Tips for Avoiding Malpractice Claims," Atlanta Bar Association, Atlanta, Georgia (May 2019)
  • "Cross Examination of Plaintiff in a Legal Malpractice Case," Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Atlanta, Georgia (March 2019)
  • "Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation," Georgia Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Atlanta, Georgia (March 2019)
  • “Claims For Attorney’s Fees And Expenses Under OCGA §9-15-14,” Abusive Litigation Seminar, Institute Of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (February 2019)
  • "How to Avoid Bar Complaints & Malpractice," Beginning Lawyers Program, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (February 2019)
  • "Catching the Signs: How to Preserve the Attorney-Client Privilege When Everyone Around You is Doing Their Best to Waive It," ALFA International - EPL & Professional Liability Practice Group Seminar, New York, New York (June 2018)
  • Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Professional Liability E&O Program Conference, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Moderator, ""My Client is a Nightmare!" How to Prepare Your Difficult LPL Client for a Deposition," American Bar Association Spring 2018 National Legal Malpractice Conference, Washington D.C. (April 2018)
  • "Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (March 2018)
  • "What Every Agent Needs to Know in 60 Minutes," Southeastern Network Agencies Group, McDonough, Georgia (January 2018)
  • Abusive Litigation Seminar, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (January 2018)
  • "Abusive Litigation," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (February 2017)
  • "Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (March 2016)
  • “Awards of Attorney’s Fees and Litigation Expenses Under OCGA 9-15-14: A Primer,” Institute Of Continuing Legal Education In Georgia: Abusive Litigation, Atlanta, Georgia (February 2016)
  • "Professional and Ethical Dilemmas in Litigation," Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (March 2015)
  • "Intake Procedures - Unleash Your Inner Detective," Attorney Protective Webinar (October 2012)
  • "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished," Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia Conference (September 2012)
  • "What Do You Mean You Won’t Pay? Navigating Coverage Issues at Mediate and Beyond," ABA National Legal Malpractice Conference, Chicago, Illinois (September 2012)
  • “Title Standards and Lawyer Liability,” State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (2011)
  • “Claims For Attorney’s Fees And Expenses Under OCGA §9-15-14,” Georgia ICLE (1998-2012, 2014)
  • “LPL Market Outlook for 2010: Claims Trends, New LPL Carriers, and Emerging Products,” American Conference Institute’s Second National Forum on LPL/Legal Malpractice, New York (2009)
  • “Title Standards and Lawyer Liability,” State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia (2009)
  • “Highest-Risk Behavior: Specific Lawyer Activities Most Likely to Lead to Malpractice Claims,” ABA Lawyers' Professional Liability Conference, Fall 2009 National Legal Malpractice Conference, Chicago, Illinois (2009)
  • “Awards of Attorney’s Fees, Litigation Expenses and Damages for Abusive Litigation Under O.C.G.A. §§ 9-15-14, 51-7-80 and 9-11-68,” Georgia ICLE, Trial and Error: Advice on Becoming a Good Lawyer and Avoiding Rookie Mistakes Seminar (2008)
  • “Legal Malpractice, Drafting and Litigating Contracts: Avoiding Common Traps,” Georgia ICLE, Contract Litigation (2007)
  • “Pursuit of Attorney’s Fees and Litigation Expenses in Slip and Fall Case,” Georgia ICLE, Advanced Slip and Fall (2007)
  • “Bad Faith/E&O Coverage Litigation,” Georgia ICLE Residential Real Estate (2007)
  • “Use of Depositions,” Lorman Education Services Seminar (2005)
  • “Hot Topics in Business Bankruptcy” and “Hot Topics in Consumer Bankruptcy,” Panelist, Georgia ICLE (2005)