Christopher Chaisson

Partner
blank image Christopher Chaisson

Christopher Chaisson

Partner
Washington T: 202.836.8485 F: 202.327.6135
New York City T: 914.580.9173 F: 202.327.6135
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Christopher Chaisson

Christopher Chaisson

PARTNER
cchaisson@whitefordlaw.com
WASHINGTON
T: 202.836.8485
F: 202.327.6135

NEW YORK CITY
T: 914.580.9173
F: 202.327.6135
Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Chaisson is an experienced attorney focused on white collar criminal defense, government investigations, and commercial litigation as well as transactional work and general legal counsel to high-growth start-ups. He has a diverse background in criminal law, national security, and the private sector. Mr. Chaisson has first-chair trial experience as a former organized crime prosecutor and brings over a decade of experience working in intelligence and national security as an Operations Officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He has also served as a senior business executive in two DC-area start-ups.

Prior to and immediately following the 9/11 attacks, Mr. Chaisson served as a state and federal prosecutor in New York City. During that time, he was part of the elite Rackets Bureau in the Investigations Division of the Office of the Bronx District Attorney. As part of his work as a prosecutor, he was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Following the 9/11 attacks, he turned his attention to threats abroad, spending over a decade as a CIA Operations Officer recruiting foreign assets and collecting foreign intelligence on pressing national security matters. The intelligence he personally collected was routinely included in the Presidential Daily Brief (PDB). This included a substantial contribution to the body of intelligence in the lead up to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Mr. Chaisson brings a rare blend of courtroom expertise, transactional negotiation skills, international experience, and business acumen to bear in service of his clients.

Mr. Chaisson maintains advanced professional proficiency in Persian/Farsi and is also proficient in Dari.
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Member: District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Member: American Bar Association
  • Member: No One Left Behind
  • Chief of Staff: Allied Airlift 21 (Nonprofit Volunteer)
  • Representing high net worth individuals and international companies in economic sanctions matters before the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and in federal court
  • Advising defense contractors on export control matters (ITAR & EAR compliance)
  • Advised foreign subsidiary of U.S. publicly traded company on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance
  • Advised cryptocurrency industry client on potential CFIUS obligations in capital raising transaction
  • Representing multiple clients in government investigations (DOJ; IRS; Office of Congressional Ethics; Grand Jury Investigations)
  • Served as consulting expert counsel on the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) in SDNY criminal prosecution
  • Secured outright dismissal of employment law litigation matter against international energy company in federal court
  • Select experience prior to joining Whiteford:
    • Tried multiple felony jury trials to verdict as first chair as well as multiple other bench trials
    • Served as part of the team of prosecutors who successfully investigated, took down and ultimately obtained a conviction against the acting head of the Bonanno crime family
    • Led and participated in long-term government investigations and electronic surveillance of investigative targets and subjects
INSIGHTS

Author: The Sunset of Scanwell Jurisdiction and the Award of Attorney’s Fees to Disappointed Offerors

Contributor: Public Contracts Law Journal, Volume 30, Issue 1, Fall 2000

ARTICLES

May 21, 2025

Client Alert: New York State Attorney General’s Office Announces Focus on Martin Act Investigations and Prosecutions

In recent media appearances, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office will “significantly expand” the use of the Martin Act—New York General Business Law article 23-a—to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute insider-trading activity occurring wholly or partially within the State. Enacted in 1921, the Martin Act confers uniquely broad civil and criminal enforcement powers to the Attorney General, permitting the State to pursue securities fraud cases without establishing scienter, reliance or damages and to subpoena documents and testimony even in the absence of a pending action. Willful violations of the Act constitute a class E felony punishable by up to four years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine; each fraudulent act may be charged separately, and the Attorney General may also seek injunctive relief, disgorgement and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, together with pre-judgment interest and, in appropriate cases, a bar from serving as an officer or director of a public company.
November 22, 2024

Client Alert: DOJ and OFAC Actions Showcase Expansive U.S. Oversight of Foreign Conduct

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) have recently announced two enforcement actions that demonstrate the U.S. government's aggressive and expansive application of U.S. law to foreign conduct with minimal U.S. nexus. These actions underscore the need for foreign companies and individuals to be aware of and comply with U.S. legal requirements, especially in the areas of anti-corruption and sanctions, and to implement effective compliance programs and controls to mitigate the risk of U.S. enforcement. Our firm has extensive experience and expertise in advising and representing clients on these complex and evolving issues, and we are ready to assist you in navigating the challenges presented by the U.S. regulatory and enforcement landscape.
October 16, 2024

Client Alert: OFAC Update: Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Rule Changes Effective November 7, 2024

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets control (OFAC) issued a final rule amending specific reporting and procedural regulations effective November 7, 2024. OFAC published the interim final rule on May 10, 2024, seeking comments by June 10, 2024. The final rule’s enactment is noteworthy because OFAC seriously considered public comments concerning reporting requirements for unblocked or transferred property. The final rule adds three exceptions to the reporting of unblocked or transferred property based on the public comments received after publication of the interim final rule.
March 4, 2024

Client Alert: Foreign Extortion Prevention Act

On December 22, 2023, President Biden signed into law the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (“FEPA”). FEPA is aimed at the “demand” side of foreign corruption and bribery, making it unlawful for any foreign official to demand a bribe from a U.S. issuer or domestic concern or to make such a demand within the United States. FEPA is intended to serve as a complement to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), which for decades has made it unlawful for a U.S. issuer to offer a bribe to a foreign official in order to obtain an improper business advantage. While the FCPA already addressed the payment of bribes to foreign officials, FEPA now criminalizes the request from foreign officials as well. 
January 2, 2025 - News

Whiteford Names Five New Partners

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that Christopher Chaisson, Mario A. de Castro, Alexandra L. Neifert, Nasim J. Saeidi and Jeffrey C. Seaman have been named Partners of the firm, effective January 1, 2025.