Christopher Conniff

Practice Areas

Christopher Conniff, co-leader of Ropes & Gray’s securities & futures enforcement group, is an experienced trial lawyer who advises clients in the areas of white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement, internal investigations and complex commercial matters. Chris has developed a particular specialty in the banking, private equity, health care, hedge fund and sports industries, and has helped clients navigate investigations in the areas of securities fraud, insider trading, money laundering, public corruption, health care fraud, FCPA violations and criminal antitrust. Chris is a Chambers-recognized lawyer who is applauded for his skill navigating the “ins and outs of government investigations” and being able to get to the heart of every matter quickly. His practice also includes regular counseling on crisis management, corporate compliance, and international risk. More recently, Chris has been advising life sciences companies and asset managers on insider trading risk related to COVID-19 vaccine research and development. Chris is co-chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and leads its Sports Industry Initiative.

Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, Chris was an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he successfully investigated and prosecuted cases charging a wide array of federal offenses, 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. Chris’s other significant cases include a first-of-its-kind 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.

Personal

JD, Fordham University School of Law; BA, College of the Holy Cross