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Christopher N. Manning

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Chris Manning represents individual and corporate clients in complex civil and criminal matters. Chris serves as lead counsel in trial and appellate proceedings across the country, and he advises clients around the world on matters relating to litigation in the United States.  He is Co-Chair of Williams & Connolly’s Arbitration and FCPA & Cross-Border Investigations practice groups.

Chris’s civil practice focuses on False Claims Act litigation, Anti-Terrorism Act litigation, securities and financial services litigation, and high-stakes commercial disputes. Chris also represents individuals and companies under investigation or indictment in white-collar criminal defense matters and in parallel investigations or proceedings by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, state attorneys general and civil plaintiffs. Chris has been recognized by Chambers and in The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Law360, The Washington Post Magazine, and Super Lawyers. The National Law Journal named Chris to its short list of Washington-area lawyers who “have already made their marks in private practice, in government agencies, on Capitol Hill and with public interest groups.”

Representative Experience

While each case is unique, and no one case is predictive, Chris’s experience includes:

Anti-Terrorism Act / Alien Tort Statute Litigation

  • As lead counsel, representing a global biopharmaceutical company and its affiliates in Anti-Terrorism Act litigation pending in federal district court in Washington, D.C. relating to alleged activities in Iraq.
  • As lead counsel, representing an international development company in Anti-Terrorism Act litigation pending in federal district court in Washington, D.C. relating to alleged activities in Afghanistan.
  • As lead counsel, represented a global financial services company in Anti-Terrorism Act litigation pending in federal district court in New York relating to the 2014 crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in Ukraine.
  • As lead counsel, representing a defense contractor in litigation pending in federal district court in Washington, D.C. relating to military conflict in Yemen. 

Commercial Litigation / Arbitration

  • As lead counsel, successfully represented a global biopharmaceutical company in a $100 million commercial arbitration before the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), prevailing on all claims.
  • Successfully represented a world-renowned biomedical research institution in a multimillion-dollar commercial arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (AAA).
  • As lead counsel, successfully represented a Big 4 accounting firm in multiple commercial arbitrations, mediations, and related court proceedings in New York and California that included both JAMS and “ad hoc arbitration” proceedings.
  • As lead counsel, successfully represented an aircraft manufacturer in multiple commercial arbitrations before the AAA and the ICDR.
  • As lead counsel, successfully represented a U.S. financial services firm in obtaining a multimillion-dollar arbitration award before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
  • As lead appellate counsel, won a ruling before the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland vacating a multimillion-dollar trial judgment against a real estate development firm and reversing the judgment against the firm’s Chairman and CEO.
  • As lead counsel, successfully represented a District of Columbia law firm and its partners in a multimillion-dollar commercial dispute before the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.

Education

Clerkships

Recognitions

"FCPA - USA (Global)," Chambers USA, 2025

"FCPA (Nationwide)," Chambers USA, 2024-2025

"Litigation Star," Benchmark Litigation, 2023-2025

Recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America ®, 2023-2026

Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2014-2020

Big Suits: SEC v. UBS, American Lawyer, July 2011

“40 Under 40,” The National Law Journal, 2009

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Admissions

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