Christopher G. Karagheuzoff
PEOPLE

Christopher G. Karagheuzoff

Partner
karagheuzoff.christopher@dorsey.com

Overview

CHRIS WORKS EFFICIENTLY TO ASSESS LEGAL RISK AND DELIVER CLEAR, THOROUGH, AND PRACTICAL ADVICE TO ENABLE HIS CLIENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR BUSINESS OBJECTIVES.

Christopher’s broad-based practice focuses on general commercial litigation and arbitration, complex litigation and class action defense, licensing disputes, insurance defense, the defense and prosecution of trade secret and non-compete claims, and unfair trade practices and antitrust litigation and counseling.  He is a partner in the Trial Group and a member of the Commercial Litigation & Class Action Defense and Electronic Discovery groups, among others.

Chris’ class action experience includes the defense of major corporations, including products manufacturers and distributors, publishers, financial services institutions, and retailers, in deceptive and unfair advertising, sales, and trade practices class actions; class actions alleging the violation of federal and state consumer protection, accommodation, and anti-discrimination laws; and in antitrust class action lawsuits.  Chris’ commercial litigation and arbitration experience includes the prosecution and defense of licensing and other contract breach claims on behalf of entertainment and apparel companies; the prosecution and defense of claims on behalf of insurers in large scale insurance fraud and insurance contract breach cases; the defense of surety bond issuers in connection with claims on large commercial bonds; the prosecution of computer fraud and trade secret misappropriation claims on behalf of a major defense contractor; and the prosecution and defense of clients in “business divorce” cases.  

Chris has also defended clients in a wide variety of products litigation, including but not limited to directly defending and acting as coordinating counsel to those confronting significant asbestos and lead paint liabilities; represented employers and former employees in non-compete litigation; assisted in client internal investigations; negotiated performer agreements; and counseled and litigated on behalf of clients across a wide spectrum of businesses in connection with their brand, distribution, licensing, non-compete, non-disclosure, agency and other agreements, as well as on their websites and other advertising and promotional materials.  

Chris has contributed book chapters to, authored articles for, and been quoted by, numerous legal publications and media outlets on a wide variety of legal subjects.  He is also the partner in charge of coordinating all pro bono litigation activities in the firm’s New York office, and has also dedicated much time to pro bono litigation.  Such litigation includes the representation of neglected and abused children in litigation against New York City's child services agency and against state juvenile detention center personnel, of detainees in human rights litigation, and of veterans seeking to obtain prompt disability benefit determinations.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Family Representation and, until recently, also served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Hunger Free America.

Education & Admissions

New York University School of Law (J.D., 1995), cum laude

Harvard University (B.A., 1992), magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • New York
  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Experience

Select Client Achievements

  • Dismissal of class action litigations throughout the country in every class action that has been litigated up to and/or through class certification motion practice, including by way of example those arising from the alleged misrepresentation of product capabilities, alleged fraudulent sales practices, alleged consumer electronic product defects, and allegedly misleading advertising campaigns
  • Obtained summary judgment against plaintiffs alleging fraud in connection with sales of large-scale insurance policies
  • Resolved large-scale surety bond litigation on behalf of insurer client on favorable terms after obtaining the only federal court decision abrogating the attorney-client privilege in the Enron bankruptcy cases on crime-fraud exception grounds. See 349 B.R. 115 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Aug. 25, 2006)
  • Obtained complete dismissal in arbitration of claims against claimant alleging $20 million in unpaid legal referral fees
  • Successful prosecution of claims in arbitration against major apparel manufacturer on behalf of manufacturer’s licensee

Representative Litigation

  • Defend various clients, including by way of example major consumer electronics distributors, publishers, insurers, consumer financial services companies, and arbitration services provider, in various deceptive trade/sales practices and antitrust class action lawsuits 
  • Prosecute and defend in arbitration entertainment and apparel company clients in licensing agreement and contract breach claims 
  • Defend life insurer in large-scale, complex fraud cases 
  • Counsel clients on various antitrust issues, including in connection with government scrutiny of proposed corporate combinations, dealer termination, and price discrimination
  • Prosecute and defend computer fraud, trade secret misappropriation, and non-compete claims on behalf of various clients, including by way of example leading defense contractor, major consumer electronics manufacturer, and home products manufacturer
  • Defend and prosecute shareholder claims, represent clients in "business divorce" disputes, defend companies and their directors in securities class action litigation, and broker-dealers in arbitration
  • Defended clients in a variety of product liability suits, including national coordinating and trial counsel work in connection with the defense of thousands of cases brought against asbestos manufacturer and against asbestos insulator clients, and direct defense work on behalf of clients in asbestos and lead paint cases

News & Resources

Articles

Handbook on International Arbitration Practice (Book Chapter, Anti-Foreign Suit Injunctions)
Response to Questions Posed in NYSBA’s Inside Publication Regarding the Erosion of Attorney-Client Privilege in Corporations
"EU Eases Monitoring of Microsoft Antitrust Compliance," Law360
"Defending Against 'At-Issue' Privilege Waiver," New York Law Journal
"McLaughlin v. American Tobacco Co.: Raising the Bar Even Higher for Fraud-Based Consumer Class Actions," Andrews Class Action Litigation Reporter
"Navigating Muddy Waters: Anti-Foreign Suit Injunctions in Aid of Compelling Arbitration," Dispute Resolution Journal
"Product Defect Suits and Failure to Manifest," New York Law Journal
"Limiting Agreements For Broader Judicial Review of Arbitral Awards Under The Federal Arbitration Act," May 5
"Use of Standing Arbitrators in Commercial Transactions," New York Law Journal (co-author)
"Thirteen Steps to Cope With Corporate Privilege Erosion," ACC Docket
"All the Mid-Levels Have Gone!," New York Law Journal

News & Press Mentions

Super Lawyers Recognizes 10 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Super Lawyers Recognizes 11 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Super Lawyers Recognizes 15 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
Super Lawyers Recognizes 19 Dorsey Lawyers in New York
"BP Oil Arrest: First of Many or Act of Desperation?" Fox Business
"Would a Google purchase of Yelp draw regulatory interest?", Marketwatch.com
"Regulators Likely to Green-Light Microsoft, Yahoo Deal," E-Commerce Times
Microsoft-Yahoo Search Pact Raises Antitrust Issues
"Big Phone Companies are Unlikely Antitrust Targets," Marketwatch.com
Book Deal Puts Google Under Antitrust Microscope
"EU Eases Monitoring Of Microsoft Antitrust Compliance," Law360
Karagheuzoff: Google, Mozilla Join Chorus Against Microsoft in EU Antitrust Tiff
"Google Mozilla Join Chorus Against Microsoft in EU Antitrust Tiff," E-Commerce Times
"Clamor Against Yahoo-Google Ad Partnership Grows," E-Commerce Times
"Lobbying war on Google, Yahoo deal reaches deep," Marketwatch.com
Mann Act Implicated in Spitzer Resignation
U.S. Congress Clashes with President Bush on Warrantless Wiretapping
Fox Business Network Interviews Karagheuzoff on International Privacy Law Protections
Fox Business Network Interviews Karagheuzoff on Government Contracting

Events & Speaking Engagements

Seminar Playback: Avoiding (and Defending) ADA Lawsuits Brought Against Financial Institutions for Web-Based ADA Violations
"Fundamentals of In-House Privilege," Association of Corporate Counsel (New York Chapter)
Electronic Discovery, The New Federal E-Discovery Rules, Modern Records Management and You: Perfect Together
"Electronic Discovery Under the Amended FRCP: New Stakes for Corporate Data Management & Litigation," Association of Corporate Counsel/New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association
"Spoilation Under Rules 26(b)(2) & 37(f): Shield in Hand, Sword in Sheath," Association of Corporate Counsel/New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association

Industries & Practices

Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
  • Antitrust & Competition Law
  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Consumer Financial Services
  • Electronic Discovery
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Labor & Employment
  • Pro Bono
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member

Community Involvement

  • Hunger Free America, Board of Directors (2010-Sept. 2018), Chair (2015-2017)
  • Center for Family Representation, Board of Directors (Development Chair)

Accolades

Contributed 50+ Pro Bono Hours in 2021

  • Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2021
  • Listed in New York Super Lawyers, 2018-2019; 2021-2022
Christopher G. Karagheuzoff