Christopher Pantel

Counsel

Phone +1-202-921-4070

Christopher R. Pantel fuses his early career experience at an elite Wall Street law firm with extensive, in-court expertise to deliver quality representation. Mr. Pantel represents clients in arbitration, mediation and administrative proceedings and is a versatile litigator. In addition to risk mitigation and avoidance consulting, Mr. Pantel focuses on business litigation, consumer rights, contract disputes, employment law, internal investigations, and compliance (including SEC, FCPA, Sarbanes-Oxley, OFAC, FLSA and various state wage and hour laws).

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Mr. Pantel began his career in the Complex Litigation and Business Fraud practice group at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, where he worked on high-profile matters for multiple corporate entities. He then practiced all facets of civil litigation in state and federal courts in and around Los Angeles (2008-2017) before relocating his practice to Washington, D.C.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Pantel interned with the Office of the General Counsel (Civil Litigation Unit) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., and also with Judge Paul W. Grimm of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Mr. Pantel is a member of the bars of Virginia (2002), the District of Columbia (2003), and California (2008). He is admitted to practice before all Virginia and California state courts, the courts of the District of Columbia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and the United States District Courts for the Central, Northern and Eastern Districts of California.

Education

Mr. Pantel earned his J.D., with honors, from George Washington University Law School (2002), as well as a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University (1996).

SOME PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Served as an attorney with the Department of Homeland Security where he advised Senior Executive Service-level personnel on revisions to policies and management directives; provided legal advice in support of numerous administrative investigations in relation to alleged violations of federal law and/or agency policy; litigated high-profile matters in federal district courts concerning executive branch policies, and advised in other matters.
Handled numerous cases brought under the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (codified in Cal. Lab. Code § 2698, et seq.).
Defended the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District in employment and negligence cases pending in state and federal court.
Defended the City of Los Angeles in a wage and hour class action for purported failure to provide meal and rest breaks (prevailed on the City’s motion for summary judgment).
Prevailed against a restaurant chain in a wage and hour class action on behalf of hundreds of current and former employees for failure to comply with California wage and hour laws.
Prevailed against a Southern California municipality and its then-City Manager on behalf of a longtime employee for hostile work environment, retaliation and constructive discharge, among other allegations.
Represented the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii in a successful bad faith action against an international insurance broker.
Represented a manufacturer in connection with a qui tam lawsuit, as well as litigation against two international law firms for legal malpractice and conflict of interest.
Prevailed at the summary judgment stage in numerous tort cases involving asbestos, benzene, toluene and other dangerous substances.
Handled discrimination, harassment and retaliation investigations.
Conducted an internal investigation for a pharmaceutical company in connection with DOJ and SEC allegations of purported FCPA violations.
Conducted an Oil-for-Food investigation in Europe.
Served with the Independent Monitor assigned to America Online per its Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
Handled Sarbanes-Oxley, OFAC, FCPA and SEC compliance matters.
Represented WorldCom, Inc., in connection with Securities and Exchange Commission v. WorldCom, Inc., Civil Action 02 CV 4963 (S.D.N.Y.) (June 27, 2002).
In re: Enron Corp. – achieved dismissal of an adversary proceeding appurtenant to bankruptcy.

PUBLICATIONS

“Deferred prosecutions and the independent monitor,” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, September 2005.