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Christopher P. Conniff
Partner
Ropes & Gray
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-8704
T + 1-212-596-9036
F + 1-646-728-2922
+ 1-212-841-0405 secretary
E-mail
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Practice
Christopher Conniff is a partner in Ropes & Gray's Government Enforcement Group and represents clients in investigations and cases involving the full spectrum of white-collar criminal and regulatory matters. Chris also handles complex civil cases and conducts internal investigations for corporate clients.
Professional Experience
Chris has significant experience at the trial and appellate level gained from years as both a federal prosecutor and a defense attorney. Since joining the firm, he has represented clients in criminal and regulatory matters in the areas of securities fraud, insider trading, health-care fraud, and public corruption. Chris's recent representations include defense of a major pharmaceutical company in a wide-ranging criminal investigation into off-label promotion and fraudulent marketing, two private equity firms in a high-profile public corruption investigation by a state attorney general's office, a billion-dollar pension fund in connection with an insider trading investigation by the SEC, and a private equity firm in connection with an insider trading investigation by FINRA. He has also conducted several internal investigations. Chris has also represented Division I coaches and student athletes in NCAA investigations.
Prior to joining the firm, Chris spent six years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he successfully investigated and prosecuted multiple cases charging a wide array of federal offenses—including RICO, murder, embezzlement, money laundering, fraud, and tax evasion—and argued appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. While at the USAO, Chris led the team that prevailed in the highly publicized prosecution of more than 30 members and associates of the Gambino Organized Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra, including the Family’s Acting Boss and Underboss. He also served as lead trial counsel in the successful prosecution of the members of an international arms trafficking organization. Chris’s other significant cases included the prosecution of two founders of a publicly-traded payment services company charged with money laundering in connection with their transfer of billions of dollars from United States customers to overseas internet gambling companies.
Before serving as a prosecutor, Chris was a partner in a New York firm representing clients in cases ranging from public corruption to fraud and tax evasion as well as complex civil matters. Highlights include: defending the Government Affairs Director of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters during a five-week federal corruption trial; gaining dismissal of a complaint against an internet research firm in a securities class action; defending a national discount brokerage firm against a former executive’s breach of contract claims, and representing a defendant in three-month international bank-fraud trial that was one of the largest of its kind ever brought by the New York County District Attorney’s office.
Bar Admissions
- New York, 1992
- Massachusetts, 1991
Education
- 1991,
J.D., Fordham University School of Law; Dean's List
- 1988,
B.A. (Political Science), College of the Holy Cross
©2010 Ropes & Gray LLP. All rights reserved.
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