Chris Thomson

Summary

Chris Thomson is an experienced professional at the intersection of law, public policy, and innovation. As Director of Legal Affairs and Senior Counsel to The Pew Charitable Trusts, he leads a team of attorneys serving one of the most impactful nonprofits in the world, working to address some of the world's most significant environmental and public policy issues. Prior to Pew, he served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel to United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), where he was responsible for directing the organization's public policy, advocacy, legal affairs, and strategic planning for over 13 years. During his tenure with UCP, he was highly respected for his ability to offer practical and strategic advice to management, the Board and membership. Prior to joining UCP, Mr. Thomson served as Associate Director of the White House Tasks Force on Livable Communities, where he spearheaded the Clinton Administration's initiative to enable local communities to solve problems of sustainability, urban sprawl/revitalization, energy reliability, open space preservation, transportation, and community health. He also established and directed federal multi-agency participation in numerous partnerships with states, local communities and nonprofit organizations. Prior to the White House, he was Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior where he successfully managed teams of federal negotiators of Indian land and water claim settlements, resulting in the $25 million Shivwitz Band settlement in Utah which secured to the tribe water for economic development, and the $60 million Red Lake settlement in Minnesota. He also served as Scheduler to the Secretary and Special Assistant to the Director of the Minerals Management Service. He previously practiced with the law firm of Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge in Washington, DC. A native of Texas, he is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Michigan Law School.