Christopher A. DeGennaro

Senior Counsel

Christopher A. DeGennaro

Senior Counsel

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 lawyers and analyzes the most interesting and important elements of trials and trial strategy. He is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution, 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 (as finder of fact) in the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of New York (New York County) for an elite, Manhattan-based Am Law 100 law firm (awaiting decision). Chris is creator, producer, and host of Foley’s acclaimed On Trial podcast, in which he interviews experienced trial lawyers (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.

Representative Experience

  • Won multimillion-dollar trial victory 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.
25 April 2024 On Trial

A Trial Lawyer’s Trial Lawyer: Paul Callan On Trial

In this episode of On Trial, host Christopher DeGennaro sits down with seasoned trial lawyer and CNN legal commentator Paul Callan, former deputy chief of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, with 30 years’ experience as a trial lawyer.
15 April 2024 On Trial

The Art of Trial: On Trial with the Honorable Loretta A. Preska of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

In this episode of On Trial, host Christopher DeGennaro sits down with Senior U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska of the Southern District of New York.
15 May 2023 On Trial

Connecting with the Jury: Mike Gay On Trial

In this episode of On Trial, host Christopher DeGennaro sits down with Foley senior partner Mike Gay, former chair of Foley’s national Litigation Department, with 30 years’ experience as a trial lawyer focusing on bet-the-company litigation.
10 May 2023 Events

Black Connect's Business Law Day

Foley & Lardner hosted members and startup executives from Black Connect for a "Black Connect's Business Law Day" at its New York office on May 10.
23 March 2023 Consumer Class Defense Counsel

Solis v. Coty, Inc.: A Look at Article III Standing in PFAS Consumer Products False Advertising Cases

There has been a recent uptick in false advertising consumer protection lawsuits relating to the presence of Per- and Poly-fluoroalklyl Substances (PFAS) in consumer products.
12 January 2023 On Trial

The In-House Perspective: Sabrina Mizrachi On Trial

In this episode of On Trial, host Christopher DeGennaro sits down with Sabrina Mizrachi, VP—Litigation and Global Product Regulatory at The Estée Lauder Companies.