Chris is a seasoned litigator who helps clients navigate complex financial, commercial, and regulatory disputes with strategic insight and efficiency. He has a proven track record of successfully defending high-stakes litigation and focuses on achieving favorable outcomes while minimizing business disruption. Previously, as managing director and senior managing counsel of litigation at a leading global financial institution, Chris oversaw complex litigation portfolios, including securities fraud, Ponzi schemes, and financial services disputes, providing strategic leadership in high-profile cases.
Chris delivers high-quality, practical, and thoughtful legal advice through extensive experience in-house and in private practice. He handles both domestic and international litigation matters, as well as regulatory investigations. Chris understands the importance of collaborating with and promptly reporting to boards of directors, senior management, business partners, and in-house counsel to achieve corporate goals and foster business development.
Clients across industries—including financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing— value Chris’ experience. He has led the defense in class actions and multi-district litigation, securing notable wins at trial, summary judgment, and dismissal. He has successfully litigated cases in state and federal courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration, including high-stakes FINRA proceedings.
As a trusted advisor to clients, Chris has led corporate-wide policy initiatives, mentored diverse legal teams, and provided strategic guidance in response to federal regulatory reviews.
“With over two decades of experience as in-house counsel and a trial lawyer, my approach centers on listening to clients, understanding their business and unique challenges, and leveraging the expertise of our outstanding team at McGuireWoods to develop and execute practical, strategic solutions that effectively manage risk while keeping costs in mind.”
Experience
- Managed the highly-successful defense of multi-district Ponzi scheme litigation, including class actions and FINRA arbitration trials.
- Guided the client in multi-district residential mortgage-backed securities litigation, including class actions, with over $2 billion in alleged damages, securing victories at trial, summary judgment, and dismissal.
- Led a two-week FINRA arbitration over short-trading practices, obtaining a full defense award and reimbursement of the client’s fees and costs.
- Recovered 95% of client losses in a foreign jurisdiction from fraud committed in the United States.
- Defended an international manufacturer of vacuums used in clean rooms against allegations of breaching a multimillion-dollar shipping contract, from filing through a successful three-week non-jury trial.
- Represented an international financial services client accused of fraudulent loan transactions and mismanagement of trust assets, leading the case from filing through a one-month non-jury trial.
- Negotiated resolution for a professional baseball team accused of violating the civil rights of protestors.
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Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne UniversityJD
Editor-in-Chief, Duquesne Law Review, cum laude
1995 -
University of Notre DameBBA
with honors
1992
Board of Trustees, Laura’s Light, 2019-present
Board of Directors (former), Neighborhood Legal Services, 2011-2014
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Allegheny County Bar Association
Leadership Pittsburgh XXII
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Recipient, The Bank of New York Mellon Outperformance Award, 2009
Named a “Pennsylvania Rising Star,” Super Lawyers, Philadelphia Magazine, 2005, 2006, 2007