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- Professionals
- Christopher M. Denig
Chris Denig represents companies, boards of directors, and senior executives in government enforcement matters, internal investigations, and related litigation.
As a partner in the White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, Mr. Denig routinely represents clients before the U.S. Department of Justice, Securities & Exchange Commission, Congress, State Attorneys General, and other law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Mr. Denig has advised clients in the life sciences, financial services, defense, technology, and manufacturing industries on a variety of white collar matters including those relating to foreign bribery, corporate whistleblowers, accounting fraud, insider trading, export controls, and government contracting.
He regularly represents major pharmaceutical and medical device companies with issues relating to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), off-label promotion, kickbacks, Park issues, state consumer protection/unlawful trade practices issues, as well as False Claims Act and other civil litigation. Mr. Denig also has experience managing 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.
Pharmaceutical Investigations
- Regularly represents major pharmaceutical and medical device companies in DOJ and State Attorney General investigations regarding cGMP issues, off-label promotion, kickbacks, state consumer protection/unlawful trade practices investigations, and related FCA matters.
- Counsel to a major pharmaceutical company in congressional hearings and other federal and state government investigations into OTC product recalls and cGMP issues and also in related consumer protection and other civil litigation.
- Counsel to a medical device company in an unlawful trade practices investigation before a state AG.
- 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.
False Claims Act and Other Litigation
- Represented McKesson Corporation in challenge to the use of a medication in lethal injection death penalty proceedings, as reported in the New York Times.
- Co-lead counsel to UnitedHealth Group subsidiary in ongoing False Claims Act litigation.
- 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.
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 & AKA Matters
- Regularly assists major companies in handling sensitive internal, whistleblower, and government anti-corruption investigations in Asia, South America, Africa, and Europe.
- Assists major companies with internal investigations regarding foreign trade controls issues and making voluntary disclosures to the State Department.
- Represented a major company in an AKA investigation by the DOJ, resulting in a declination.
- Represented a large technology company in an OFAC investigation, resulting in a declination.
Anti-Corruption Compliance, Training, & 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.
Pro Bono
- Has successfully led § 1983 actions against police and prosecutors in Louisiana arising out of wrongful convictions, Brady violations, and similar issues.
- Successfully 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.
Memberships and Affiliations
- The George Washington University Law School, Adjunct Professor of Law
January 25, 2018, Covington Advisory
Our message this year is simple: FCPA enforcement is here to stay. Despite pre-election statements to the contrary, various senior officials in the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) have, over the past year, consistently reaffirmed DOJ’s and the SEC’s commitment to FCPA enforcement.
United States v. Esquenazi - U.S. Court of Appeals Clarifies FCPA's 'Foreign Official' Standard
May 23, 2014, Covington Advisory
A Blow To State Encroachment On Federal Turf
April 16, 2014, Law360
Ethan Posner and Christopher Denig write on the implications of the Arkansas Supreme Court overturning a $1.2 billion judgment against Janssen in the Risperdal litigation brought by the Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel alleging thousands of violations of the Arkansas Medicaid Fraud False Claims Act and Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Covington Secures Approval of Class Action Settlement for 6,000 Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Postal Workers
August 2, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, August 2, 2013 — The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved a precedent setting settlement earlier this week that will establish state-of-the-art reforms in the procedures and technology for delivering interpreter services to a nationwide class of 6,000 current and former deaf and hearing-impaired employees of the U.S. Postal ...
Covington Promotes 10 Lawyers to Partnership
October 3, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, October 3, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP announced today that 10 of its lawyers have been elected to the firm’s partnership effective October 1. This group is comprised of diverse and talented individuals who have made their mark at Covington through exceptional work and the highest standards of client service. “We’re delighted to welcome these ...
The Insider's Perspective on Administrative Law E-Discovery
January 11, 2011, ESIBytes Podcast
You've Got Mail (and the Government Wants It)
September 22, 2010, Covington & Burling Webinar
July 21, 2010, Covington E-Alert
Preparing for and Conducting an Effective Internal Investigation
June 2010, 8th Annual European Forum on Anti-Corruption sponsored by C5
February 20, 2009, Pharmaceutical Law & Industry Report
Document Retention and Destruction
January 13, 2009, Lorman Educational Services, Tudor Hotel New York, NY
December 4, 2008, Covington E-Alert
Record Destruction and Litigation Issues
June 2008, Lorman Education Services Seminar
Covington Announces Nine New Counsel
4/3/2008
WASHINGTON, DC, April 3, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP has announced the promotion of four new of counsels and five new special counsels in the firm’s five offices. The new of counsels are as follows: Christopher Denig (Washington) focuses on representing clients in complex federal civil litigation (including class actions), internal corporate ...
April 2008, IADC Corporate Counsel College Program
- Washington DC Super Lawyer, Criminal Defense: White Collar (2013; 2015)