Christopher D. Livingston

Christopher D. Livingston joined Martin Disiere Jefferson & Wisdom in August 2026 with nearly 30 years of experience defending governmental entities, public officials, and employers in the civil rights, constitutional, and employment spaces. Chris has represented cities, state agencies, public universities, and their officials at the administrative, trial, and appellate levels, including Section 1983 and constitutional claims, inverse condemnation and takings suits, employment discrimination and retaliation litigation, EEOC and Texas Workforce Commission proceedings, police and fire civil service appeals under Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code, and labor arbitrations. He argued Kennedy v. City of Arlington, 165 F.4th 937, before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and served as Counsel of Record on an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States in Nissen v. Ambler on behalf of a coalition of municipal risk pools and law enforcement organizations addressing qualified immunity and the use-of-force standard. Alongside his litigation practice, Chris counsels public and private employers on discipline, separation, policy, and risk management questions before they become claims.

Chris brings an unusually complete view of public sector disputes, having served as Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Garland, as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas, and earlier in his career as counsel to police officer and firefighter employee organizations. He holds a Certified Public Manager designation.

Super Lawyers, Texas Super Lawyers List (2013-2016)

Super Lawyers, Texas Rising Stars List (2009-2012)

Certified Public Manager

Professional

State Bar of Texas

Dallas Bar Association

College of the State Bar