Christopher DeGennaro is a high-stakes trial lawyer committed to winning cases and resolving his clients’ most significant matters. Chris is a strategic and creative problem solver, adept at big-picture strategizing and honed issue spotting. Clients turn to Chris for his ability to resolve disputes before they become costly litigations and, when necessary, for his ability to litigate with a view towards and through trial.
Chris has significant trial experience, having tried civil and criminal cases to verdict. He focuses his practice on complex commercial matters, white collar criminal defense, and high-stakes employment disputes. Chris’ keen strategic sense, coupled with his confident and collected disposition, provides his clients with a significant amount of comfort in otherwise tumultuous, and at times existential, situations.
Chris is creator, producer, and host of Foley’s acclaimed On Trial podcast, in which he interviews experienced trial practitioners and analyzes the most interesting and important elements of trials and trial strategy. He is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation, Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations, Labor & Employment, and Consumer Law, Finance & Class Action practice groups.
Chris devotes considerable time to various pro bono efforts, including Black Connect’s Small Business Legal Services Program and the E.D.N.Y.’s Criminal Justice Act Panel. Chris also serves as the New York office co- liaison for Foley’s Racial Justice and Equity practice group (RJEPG).
Prior to joining Foley, Chris clerked for the Honorable A. Kathleen Tomlinson in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.
Chris is a highly skilled trial lawyer, praised for his confidence, decisiveness, quick thinking, good judgment, and cross-examination chops. A trial lawyer’s trial lawyer, he is routinely called upon by colleagues and clients alike to take on especially contentious civil and criminal matters because of his ability to litigate any case towards and through trial. After cutting his teeth as an Assistant District Attorney with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office where he conducted a number of criminal trials, Chris has racked up an impressive civil trial record, including trying eight-figure disputes for Foley clients. In 2021, Chris won a multimillion-dollar breach of contract and unfair competition trial on behalf of a Fortune 200 consumer products company in a confidential JAMS arbitration in Chicago, Illinois, obtaining a $2 million breach of contract verdict, defeating a $12 million unfair competition claim, and recovering over $1 million in attorneys’ fees. And just last year, Chris tried a $50 million breach of contract case before the Honorable Andrea Masley in the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of New York (New York County) for an elite, Manhattan-based law firm (awaiting decision). Chris is creator, producer, and host of Foley’s acclaimed On Trial podcast, in which he interviews experienced trial practitioners (including attorneys from Foley) and analyzes the most interesting and important elements of trials and trial strategy. He is an asset to our trial team.
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- Won multimillion-dollar trial for Fortune 200 consumer products company in contract arbitration against former distributor.
- Tried $50m commercial real estate dispute for elite, Am Law 100 law firm against commercial landlord in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court.
- Won dismissal of $20m business tort and breach of contract action for national transportation holdings company in the Commercial Division of the New York Supreme Court.
- Won summary judgment of $100m M&A-related lawsuit (regarding alleged fraud in connection with acquisition due diligence) for health care consulting firm in S.D.N.Y. (affirmed by 2d Cir.).
- Won dismissal of M&A-related lawsuit (regarding post-closing adjustment) for global logistics company in D. Del.
- Obtained favorable settlements of consumer class action lawsuits on behalf of a variety of global consumer products companies.
- Won summary judgment of gender discrimination lawsuit for New York-based investment firm in S.D.N.Y. (affirmed by 2d Cir.).
- Representing individuals and businesses in cases and investigations involving allegations of securities and financial fraud, campaign finance violations, and other complex frauds.