Chris Burris

is a partner in the Special Matters / Government Investigations Practice Group in King & Spalding’s Atlanta office. His practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, corporate internal investigations, defense of regulatory enforcement actions, complex civil litigation involving fraud and corporate compliance and governance matters.

Mr. Burris joined King & Spalding after serving on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. While in the Navy, Mr. Burris gained litigation experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and government appellate counsel. At the trial level, he tried cases ranging from complex fraud claims matters to rape and murder. As an appellate counsel, he handled appeals on a myriad of legal issues such as the execution of mentally retarded defendants, First Amendment protections within the military, and the enforcement of international treaties within the criminal justice system. Mr. Burris continues to serve as a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves.

Representative Experience:

Criminal Defense & Regulatory Enforcement Matters

Mr. Burris has represented numerous corporations and individuals in a wide variety of criminal and regulatory enforcement matters. These have included the following:

Represented a major international financial institution in the internal investigation and self-disclosure of accusations of employee participation in an alleged Ponzi scheme.

Represented a large publicly traded manufacturing company in the internal investigation and self-disclosure of potential Bank Secrecy Act violations.

Represented a large publicly traded corporation in the protein industry during a federal and state criminal investigation of immigration hiring practices and alleged healthcare fraud.

Represented an owner of a privately held national pharmaceutical distributor in Section 2255 proceedings regarding his conviction on mail/wire fraud and RICO charges stemming from allegations of grey market recycling of drugs.

Represented an owner of a large privately held manufacturing company in the defense of a federal criminal tax investigation.

Represented an elected state official during a federal investigation of public corruption, which led to no charges being filed.

Represented a number of publicly traded corporations in a variety of state attorneys general investigations regarding allegations of violating state price gouging laws.

False Claims Act / Qui Tam Litigation & Related Matters

Mr. Burris has particular experience in the defense of False Claims Act / Qui Tam actions, having handled over 20 matters in that area since joining King & Spalding. These have included the following:

Represented a national specialty pharmacy in multiple False Claims Act / Qui Tam matters focusing on a variety of issues, including allegations of the payment of kickbacks, improper submission of dosage quantities, and the failure to timely refund credit balances.

Represented a major national retail pharmacy chain in multiple False Claims Act / Qui Tam matters focusing on coordination of benefits issues.

Represented a major national skilled nursing facility chain in False Claims Act / Qui Tam litigation focusing on quality of care issues.

Represented a Fiscal Intermediary / Medicare Administrative Contractor (FI/MAC) in multiple False Claims Act / Qui Tam matters focusing on a variety of issues, including allegations of the failure to adequately supervise the enrollment of Medicare providers.

Represented a major defense contractor in False Claims Act / Qui Tam litigation involving allegations of substandard manufacturing quality control processes.

Represented a major national financial institution in False Claims Act / Qui Tam litigation involving allegations of charging borrowers unallowable fees under the Veteran Administration's Home Loan Guaranty Program.

Internal Corporate Investigations & Compliance Matters

Mr. Burris has conducted numerous internal investigations on behalf of management, boards of directors, and audit committees to assess allegations regarding a wide array of issues. These have included the following:

Conducted an independent internal investigation for the board of directors of a major energy corporation regarding allegations of internal theft and fraud by members of senior management.

Conducted an independent internal investigation for the board of directors of an internationally operated non-profit organization regarding allegations of misuse of corporate resources and FCPA violations by members of senior management.

Conducting internal investigations for a number of additional publicly traded corporations, regarding issues ranging from allegation of improper accounting, to theft of corporate resources, to backdated stock options.

Represented numerous individuals during internal corporate investigations focusing on a variety of issues, ranging from backdated stock options to internal fraud.

Privacy / Information Security & Related National Security / Defense Matters

Mr. Burris has represented numerous clients in a wide variety of matters involving privacy and other information security issues. These have included the following:

Represented a large publicly traded corporation in one of the first national investigations by a multi-state attorneys general task force focusing on the loss of consumer information held by the company.

Represented a € 8 billion international service industry provider in an extensive internal investigation of multiple employee frauds that had been facilitated through the access and abuse of various employees’ and customers’ personal information.

Represented a Fortune 500 financial services company in a data breach response and in ensuing investigations by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which focused on Regulation S-P’s requirement to safeguard consumer financial and personal information.

Represented numerous other publicly traded corporations in a variety of state attorneys general investigations, regarding issues involving state unfair and deceptive trade practices acts, and data security breach laws.

Represented a major international telecommunications company in its response to the disclosure of the United States’ Terrorist Surveillance Program (TSP), and issues and litigation arising from the company’s alleged cooperation with the TSP.

Assisted a number of telecommunications and other companies in revising their compliance processes regarding various surveillance and privacy laws and regulations, including Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Stored Wire and Electronic Communications Act, and the Telecommunications Act.