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Christopher Conniff

Christopher, click here to claim your profile for free! Ropes & Gray

33 years of experience
Business Law
Massachusetts, Massachusetts, 1991, New York, New York, 1992

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Practice Area

Business Law

Additional Practice Areas

General Civil
Litigation

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

Massachusetts
Since 1991

Massachusetts, 1991

New York
Since 1992

New York, 1992

Professional Experience

Partner: Ropes & Gray; Current

: Current; Chris has significant experience at the trial and appellate level gained from years as both a federal prosecutor and a defense attorney in private practice. Since joining the firm in September 2007, he has represented clients in criminal and regulatory matters involving securities, fraud and public corruption charges, including the representation of: two private equity firms in a high profile public corruption investigation; 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. 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.

Education