Photo of Chris Walsh
Christopher J. Walsh
Associate, Litigation Department
Office603-628-1140
900 Elm Street
Manchester, NH 03101

Chris Walsh is an accomplished litigator who focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, and other high-stakes commercial litigation.  Chris is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and Business Litigation Practice Group, and he represents organizations and individuals in matters involving allegations of fraud, misconduct, corruption, price fixing, collusion, unfair and deceptive business practices, shareholder disputes, and breach of contract, among others.  In 2016, the Financial Times North America Innovative Lawyers report recognized Chris for his successful legal strategy that led to his client being freed after 30 years of wrongful imprisonment.

Chris is a graduate of Yale University and the American University Washington College of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude, served as managing editor of the American University Law Review, and competed as a member of the Moot Court Honor Society.  After law school, Chris worked for the Honorable Diana E. Murphy, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Admissions

  • New Hampshire
  • New York
  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire

 

Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America – Ones to Watch (Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, and Criminal Defense: White Collar) (2023)
  • Best Lawyers in America – Ones to Watch (Commercial Litigation) (2022)

Representative Clients

Government Litigation and White Collar Defense:

  • Represents one of the world’s largest technology companies in suit brought by state attorney general alleging consumer protection violations, strict products liability, and negligence.
  • Represents pharmaceutical manufacturer under joint criminal and civil DOJ investigation relating to sales and marketing practices, relationships with health care providers, pharmacies, and distributors/wholesalers, among other issues.
  • Represents competitive intelligence research firm in DOJ criminal investigation relating to alleged theft of trade secrets.
  • Represented prominent biopharmaceutical company in DOJ investigation and follow-on qui tam litigation alleging various kickback theories related to health care provider consulting arrangements and other company-sponsored programs.
  • Represented private equity firm defending qui tam suit alleging scheme with firm’s portfolio company to submit claims for medically unnecessary lab tests.
  • Represented Gordon Caplan in “Varsity Blues” college admissions prosecution.
  • Represented George Perrot in post-conviction proceedings resulting in his release after having wrongfully served nearly 30 years in prison.  Mr. Perrot’s conviction was based on now-discredited hair microscopy evidence, and his conviction was the first in the country to be overturned resulting from the FBI’s historic hair microscopy review.
  • Represented international medical device manufacturer in DOJ investigation regarding potential bribery and other ethics concerns with distributor relationship.
  • Represented major biopharmaceutical company in investigations by DOJ and state enforcement authorities alleging various theories of kickbacks to health care providers and false claims violations in connection with the company’s blockbuster Hepatitis C products.
  • Represented special purpose acquisition company under SEC investigation in connection with disclosures and financial representations made in public filings.
  • Represented former Chief Executive Officer of Fortune 500 company under SEC investigation for alleged accounting violations.
  • Represented former General Counsel of public company under SEC investigation alleging disclosure and accounting violations.

Complex Business and Commercial Litigation:

  • Represents registered investment advisory firm and its founder in connection with shareholder dispute alleging minority freezeout and breach of fiduciary duty, among other issues.
  • Represents clean oil service provider in litigation with competitor regarding unfair and deceptive business practices.
  • Represents former CEO of cannabis start-up company relating to improper termination, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud, and consumer protection issues.
  • Represents software development company in contract dispute with real estate brokerage firm.
  • Represents high-net-worth family trust in litigation against investment advisor regarding breach of fiduciary duty and misrepresentations.
  • Represents commercial lender in contract dispute with dealer regarding floor plan financing.
  • Represented industrial equipment supplier in dispute with manufacturer over product quality defects.
  • Represented automotive distributorship in dispute over terms of dealership acquisition.
  • Represented Chief Executive Officer and director of leading agricultural distributor in shareholder derivative action asserting breaches of fiduciary duty.
  • Represented former Chief Commercial Officer of pharmaceutical manufacturer concerning allegations of price fixing and collusion.
  • Represented private equity firm in connection with allegations concerning potential violations of false advertising laws.

Publications

  • New Hampshire Bar News – Supreme Court At a Glance Contributor
  • “FRE 2014 Amendments: Clarifying Certain Hearsay Exceptions,” ABA Section of Litigation, Trial Evidence News & Developments (May 27, 2014).
  • “Out of Strike Zone: Why Graham v. Florida Makes it Unconstitutional to use Juvenile-age Convictions as Strikes to Mandate Life Without Parole Under section 841(b)(1)(A),” 61 American University Law Review 165 (2011).