Christopher Vieira

Christopher Vieira is an associate in the Newport Beach office of Irell & Manella LLP, where he is a member of the firm's Litigation practice group. 

Mr. Vieira earned his J.D., cum laude, at Duke University School of Law in 2010 where he was Executive Editor of the Alaska Law Review and Chair of the Duke Moot Court Board.  Mr. Vieira earned his B.A., cum laude, in Government and Legal Studies at Claremont McKenna College in 2007.

An accomplished oral advocate, Mr. Vieira won the Duke Mock Trial Tournament and quarterfinaled in Duke's Hardt Cup Moot Court Tournament.  He was a semifinalist at the Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition, where he was also named the tournament's best advocate.

Mr. Vieira argued his first case, Robinson v. Clipse, 602 F.3d 605 (4th Cir. 2010), during his final semester at Duke.  The case involved an appeal of a summary judgment in a federal civil rights case. The Fourth Circuit found that the district court erred when it granted summary judgment on the basis of the statute of limitations.  The appellate court also held that when a pro se prison inmate is granted in forma pauperis status, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 4(m) time period for serving the inmate's summons and complaint will not begin to run until after the district court authorizes the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service.

Bar & Court Admissions

• 2010, California
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit