Chris Blackburn

Chris Blackburn didn’t start his legal career right away. He spent time in finance and on the farm — real-world experience that grounded his view of people and shaped how he practices law today. But law was always there. He grew up around it. Saturdays spent tagging along with his father to client meetings and being in and out of the office as a kid gave him an early, unspoken apprenticeship. When he finally made the decision to return to law school, it wasn’t just a career shift. It was a commitment — to his family, to helping others, and to building something that mattered.

Chris is now a trial lawyer based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he practices alongside his father, sisters, and brother-in-law at Blackburn Romey. He brings a hands-on, deeply personal approach to every case, no matter the size. “Small cases are our niche,” he says — and he means it. Whether it’s a slip and fall at a senior complex or a devastating semi-truck collision, Chris doesn’t ask whether a case is worth taking. He asks whether someone needs help.

That background — farming, trucking, finance — gives him an edge in the courtroom, especially in trucking litigation. He knows what it means to drive a semi, to understand weight, braking distance, and blind spots from the inside. That kind of insight doesn’t just help with discovery. It earns trust with juries.

He tries cases fast. Efficiently. It\’s a deliberate strategy modeled after top trial attorneys, because jurors respect clarity and momentum. His verdicts speak to that, especially in conservative venues where even modest awards are hard-won.

At the heart of Chris’s work is a sense of humility and collaboration. He’s helped lead internal efforts at the firm to define its culture, mission, and values — putting integrity, teamwork, and client-centered service at the core. And that foundation has kept the team strong. Many of the attorneys and staff have been there over a decade, building something together.

Chris sees himself first as a problem-solver and guide, not just a litigator. He shows up for his clients — wholly and with purpose. He knows their lives, because in many ways, he’s lived them too.