Practice Profile: Christopher Harwood's practice focuses on complex civil litigation, as well as criminal and regulatory matters. His extensive experience includes dozens of investigations, litigations, and settlements involving the False Claims Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and FIRREA. His cases have involved allegations of financial fraud, health care fraud, federal program and grant fraud, money laundering, failure to file SARs, failure to implement an effective anti-money laundering program, violation of U.S. sanctions laws, breach of contract, and employment discrimination and retaliation.

Leadership, Pro Bono and Civic Work: Mr. Harwood previously served for eight years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where he was Co-Chief of the Civil Frauds Unit, Civil Healthcare Fraud Coordinator, and Coordinator of Parallel (Civil/Criminal) Proceedings. Prior to joining the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office, Mr. Harwood was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia for three years.

Prior Experience: In addition to his stints as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York and the District of Columbia, Mr. Harwood previously served as a law clerk to the Hon. Norman H. Stahl of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the Hon. Joseph L. Tauro of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He also practiced at Cravath Swaine & Moore.

Education: 

J.D., Cornell Law School, 2003, Law Review editor

B.A., Cornell University, 2000

What advice would you give to young lawyers? Each lawyer has his or her own style of lawyering. Find the style that works for you and go with it.