Covington & Burling LLP | Biographies

Christopher Denig represents companies and individuals in investigations by the DOJ, SEC, OFAC, Congress, and other federal and state enforcement agencies. His work includes the representation of major pharmaceutical companies in such investigations and related civil litigation. Mr. Denig has expertise representing companies, public company boards and board committees in investigations and related civil litigation involving financial wrongdoing and other issues, including representation before the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel. He has extensive experience handling Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Anti-Kickback Act (AKA) investigations, as well as designing anti-corruption compliance and training programs. Mr. Denig also has broad civil litigation experience and routinely manages complex eDiscovery projects.

Mr. Denig clerked for Judge Richard M. Berman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School and B.A. from Swarthmore College.

Representative Matters

Pharmaceutical Investigations

Counsel to a major diversified healthcare company in congressional hearings and other federal and state government investigations into OTC product recalls and cGMP issues. Also represents the company in related consumer class actions, securities case, and other civil litigation.
Counsel to a major pharmaceutical company in its successful defense of a DOJ investigation concerning the promotion and marketing of a major drug resulting in a declination by DOJ and dismissal of a related False Claims Act (FCA) case.
Counsel to a major pharmaceutical company in a DOJ investigation relating to alleged off-label promotion.
Counsel to a pharmaceutical company in a DOJ investigation relating to alleged off-label promotion and kickbacks.

SEC/Board Committee Matters

Represented Audit Committee of a publicly-traded REIT in an internal investigation regarding accounting issues.
Represented Audit Committee of a natural foods company in an SEC investigation regarding inventory accounting issues.
Represented Special Litigation Committee of the Board of Hewlett-Packard Co. in shareholder derivative litigation arising out of the Board's response to leaks of confidential company information to the press.
Represented Audit Committee of one of the largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States in an SEC investigation of accounting practices relating to the dating of stock options.
Represented Special Committee of the Board of Tyco International, Ltd. regarding issues of corporate looting and accounting improprieties.
Represented Special Committee of the Board of Adelphia Communications Corp. regarding issues of corporate fraud being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan and the SEC.
Represented Special Committee of the Board of a major computer company to investigate issues raised in shareholder derivative demand letter relating to alleged insider trading.
Mr. Denig also represents companies before the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel.

Anti-Corruption, Foreign Trade Controls and AKA Matters

Assists major companies with internal investigations regarding foreign trade controls issues and making voluntary disclosures to the State Department.
Represented a major pharmaceutical company in an SEC inquiry regarding FCPA issues in Europe.
Lead an internal investigation for a Fortune 500 company regarding possible FCPA issues in Asia.
Represents individuals in FCPA investigations by the DOJ and SEC.
Represented a major company in an AKA investigation by the DOJ, resulting in a declination.
Represents a large technology company in an OFAC investigation.

Anti-Corruption Compliance, Training, and Due Diligence

Counsels companies on compliance with the FCPA, UK Bribery Act, and other anti-corruption laws, designs anti-corruption compliance and training programs, and provides companies with due diligence advice during corporate transactions.

Civil Litigation

Broad experience in FCA, securities, employment law, disability law, and general commercial litigation matters.
Represented more than 50 defendants in United States ex rel. Taylor v. Gabelli, et al. (SDNY), a significant FCA case involving allegations of fraud against the Federal Communications Commission.

Honors and Rankings

Washington DC Super Lawyer, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2013)
Part of Covington team that received pro bono award for employment law work from the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs at its annual Wiley Branton Awards ceremony (2006).

Pro Bono

§ 1983 action against the city of Covington, Louisiana and members of its police department on behalf of a plaintiff who was wrongfully convicted and exonerated by DNA evidence; obtained more than $2 million in total recovery in settlement of this action and related state court litigation.
Since 2002, has represented a putative class of deaf postal workers seeking sign language interpreters at safety and other important work meetings in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Successfully represented criminal defendants accused of felonies in the Maryland courts.
Successfully represented DC private school in contract dispute in D.C. Superior Court and before the American Arbitration Association, eventually negotiating a favorable settlement.