LAWYER PROFILE
Christopher Michael Viapiano

Christopher Michael Viapiano

USA 2026

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Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Ranked in 2 practice areas

Litigation: Securities

District of Columbia

1 year ranked

Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations

District of Columbia

1 year ranked

About

Provided by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Practice Areas

Securities Litigation; Criminal Defense & Investigations Litigation

Career

Christopher Viapiano is a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell’s Litigation Group, Co-Head of the Firm’s Securities Litigation Practice and a member of the Criminal Defense & Investigations Group. Mr. Viapiano represents financial institutions and other leading companies in securities and shareholder derivative litigation, antitrust and commodities litigation, books and records demands and litigation, criminal and regulatory enforcement matters, and corporate internal investigations. He has represented clients under investigation by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve, and state attorneys general.

Personal

Stanford Law School, J.D., 2005; Hamilton College, B.A., 2002

Served as a law clerk to the Honorable Donald F. Parsons, Jr., Delaware Court of Chancery, 2005-2006

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Litigation: Securities - District of Columbia

Band 2
Individual Editorial

Christopher Viapiano represents financial institutions and other companies in securities and shareholder derivative litigation, among other matters. He co-heads the firm's securities litigation practice.

Learn more about this teamView ranking table

Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations - District of Columbia

Up and Coming
Individual Editorial

Christopher Michael Viapiano is recognized as an up-and-comer for his excellent representation of clients on matters involving OFAC and AML compliance.

Learn more about this teamView ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • He is always ten steps ahead of everyone else.

    Litigation: SecuritiesChambers Guide to the USA

  • He has a deep understanding of how his clients' businesses work and the regulatory framework around financial institutions, but is equally adept at seeing the big picture exposure issues for the client and crafting a strategic response.

    Litigation: SecuritiesChambers Guide to the USA

  • Christopher works incredibly hard and is extraordinarily sharp.

    Litigation: SecuritiesChambers Guide to the USA

  • Christopher is a fantastic litigator who has a world of experience advising large banks on thorny legal issues. He's great at developing a strategy playbook and modifying it when necessary.

    Litigation: SecuritiesChambers Guide to the USA

  • I think extremely highly of Christopher as he is so thorough, calm and thoughtful. He is always a voice of reason.

    Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government InvestigationsChambers Guide to the USA

  • Christopher is very sharp and good at developing case strategies.

    Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government InvestigationsChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (144)

California

California: Los Angeles & Surrounds

California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou

District of Columbia

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