Chris offers clients the unique combination of legal acumen, policy understanding, political insight, and boots-on-the-ground practicality he has cultivated through practicing in the State Attorneys General niche for more than a decade. He understands the important strategic considerations that distinguish handling a State Attorney General (AG) matter from private litigation or litigation against the federal government, and he uses this savvy to guide his clients through complex investigations, litigation, and public policy advocacy on the state and federal levels. Chris also provides advice and counsel on the myriad compliance issues his clients face daily.
Representing clients ranging from small startups to the third-largest company in the United States, Chris has a truly national practice with particular focus in the areas of consumer protection, antitrust, data privacy (including data breaches, data security, and data collection), and the False Claims Act. Outside the State Attorneys General realm, Chris also has significant experience representing consumer products manufacturers and distributors in product recalls, compliance matters, and industry-wide investigations led by the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Chris strives to be a true partner to his clients, helping those facing a State AG investigation navigate the attendant political and policy concerns, nuances among the various state laws at issue, and the strategic considerations unique to State AG matters. Drawing upon the vast institutional knowledge of the firm’s State Attorneys General Practice, Chris has the perspective on State AGs and their staff needed to identify and examine all of the possible factors driving an investigation. He uses this insight to help his clients articulate their defense in a thorough, consistent, and persuasive manner.
His broad client base encompasses companies in industry sectors including telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, disruptive technology, telemedicine, cannabis, transportation, hospitality, and nutrition/personal health. Chris also has significant experience representing trade associations. He regularly handles issues centering on state Unfair and Deceptive Acts or Practices laws, state data breach reporting and notification laws, Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, state and federal False Claims Acts, state Medicaid Fraud Acts, the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, among others.
Chris was a recipient of the Phi Delta Phi Award for Excellence in Jurisprudence and Professional Responsibility. He also maintains an active pro bono practice, including representing a number of clients with cases pending before the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. In addition, he regularly serves as a guest judge for collegiate and law school mock trial and moot court competitions.