Chris has focused his professional services on the representation of professionals and businesses, with a practice involving a wide-range of professional liability matters. Chris has honed his skills in the defense and counseling of accounting and finance professionals and firms. He has been published by various professional liability-centric legal publications and presented on panels at conferences on topics related to Artificial Intelligence usage by professionals and on accountant liability. His clients range from small to large-size accounting firms with additional outside counseling provided to mid-sized accounting firms that lack the benefits of an in-house general counsel. Aside from the typical representation in the various state and federal courts, he has represented clients in matters pending before the IRS, SEC, and PCAOB as well as investigations conducted by the DOJ and FBI.
Outside of his representation of accountants, he is well-versed in the representation of lawyers, architects, engineers, agents, brokers, and directors and officers. Beyond professional liability matters, his focus is on the representation of corporations engaged in commercial disputes. Prior to entering private practice, he worked for a U.S. District Judge in the Western District of Texas, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and the Kings County Housing Court, experiences that have given Chris an important perspective in handling his litigation matters. Chris is well-versed in trial matters, with experience jumping into cases as late as two weeks before trial with exposures up to 8 figures.
Experience
Accountant Liability and Financial Services Liability
- Obtained a complete reversal of a New York County Commercial Division decision that denied summary judgment for an accounting firm who served as tax preparers and were alleged to have failed to report allegedly fraudulent transactions. The New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department reversed the lower court, directed summary judgment be granted, and narrowed the scope of liability for accountants to departures from the professional standards recognized in the industry. The Appellate Division further reiterated a tax preparers ability to rely on information provided by a tax payer, drawing a distinction between information that is “incorrect, incomplete, or inconsistent” and information evidencing fraud.
- Granted Summary Judgment on reargument, with the Judge reversing their own prior decision, on an accounting malpractice matter arising from the provision of expert forensic services in New Jersey Superior Court.
- Granted pre-answer dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction in representation of Canadian accounting firm in accountant malpractice matter venued in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
- Obtained voluntary discontinuance in accounting malpractice claim after uncovering potential fraud by the plaintiff.
- Regularly represent Top 50 accounting firms in compliance with subpoenas and summons issued by IRS, SEC, and DOJ, as well as subpoenas issued in the course of litigation.
- Represent financial services firms with regard to FINRA Arbitrations and enforcement matters.
- Attained dismissal following Rule 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss in representation of a Canadian accounting firm in action for accounting malpractice.
Lawyer Malpractice
- Obtained pre-answer dismissal of legal malpractice action commenced against arbitrators arising from another private dispute.
- Obtained pre-answer dismissal of legal malpractice action by successfully arguing that the underlying action could not have succeeded because the defendant was entitled to governmental immunity and enjoyed additional protections as a volunteer ambulance service
Insurance Agents and Brokers
- Obtained summary judgment dismissal of a $8 million claim made against Insurance Broker in the Commercial Division.
- Obtained summary judgment dismissal in Southern District of New York of a $30 million dollar claim against an insurance broker for damages arising from another party’s scheme to defraud insured.
- Attained summary judgment on behalf of an insurance brokerage client with the court finding no duty owed by the client and that the plaintiff had no damages due to its fractional ownership of the entity holding the insurable interest in the property.
Commercial Litigation
- Successfully represented luxury hotel operator in contract dispute with luxury hotel owner in Panel Arbitration before AAA.
- Obtained dismissal of action brought by homeowners in representation of Board of Directors.
- Obtained dismissal of defamation action brought against directors of New York corporation.
- Represented, through trial, a corporation as the plaintiff-employer in a lawsuit against former employee-manager for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conversion, and tortious interference with business relations arising from the employee’s improper diversion of customers to his own personal side business in competition with the plaintiff.
Admissions
- New York
- New Jersey
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Western District of New York
- United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Education
- Boston University School of Law, J.D., 2013
- Boston University International Law Journal: Senior Articles Editor
- Sutherland Cup Moot Court Team: Swing Speaker
- ABA Arbitration Competition Team: Student Coach
- Civil Litigation Clinic
- The University of Texas at San Antonio, B.A., 2010
- Student Government Association: Senior Senator
Honors & Recognition
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2020-2024
- Rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
- Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in 2024
Professional & Civic
Memberships
- Professional Liability Defense Federation
- Accountants, Fiduciaries, and Financial Professionals Committee, Co-vice chair 2024-2025
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society
- Lawyer-Pilot’s Bar Association
Certifications
- Private Pilot Certificate for Airplane Single-Engine Land (ASEL)
Publications
- “Fake Cases, Real Consequences: Misuse of ChatGPT Leads to Sanctions,” NYLitigator, Vol. 28 No. 2
- “Remote Provision of Professional Services and E&O Risks,” The Brief, Fall 2022
- “Disasters, Catastrophic Events, and Pandemic: Identifying and Understanding the Agent/Broker E&O Risks and Preparing to Defense the Coming Wave of Claims,” PLUS Journal, Spring/Summer 2020
- “Which Lawyer Was Responsible?” PLUS Journal, 3rd Quarter 2019
Presentations
- “Understanding/Mitigating Emerging Risks in Accounting Liability,” Professional Liability Defense Federation, September 25-27, 2024
- “Artificial Intelligence and the Law: Who Are We Now?” NYSBA Deep Dive into the Metaverse and Web3: Second Global Law Symposium, New York University Kimmel Center, October 16, 2023
