About Christian T. Kemnitz

Christian Kemnitz devotes his practice to the defense of financial services firms in litigation, regulatory enforcement proceedings and internal investigations. His work frequently involves disputes over futures, options, swaps, securities and other complex financial products. In particular, he has extensive experience defending matters relating to spoofing, manipulation and other forms of disruptive trading.

Financial services litigation, arbitration and enforcement actions

Chris' work on financial services litigation includes proposed class actions brought under securities laws. He also frequently represents broker-dealers in civil disputes, including arbitration claims brought by customers. In this work, Chris has a long and successful record at arbitration hearings. In the heavily regulated field of financial services, he also handles enforcement proceedings before the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), self-regulatory bodies, and at stock, option and futures exchanges.

Chris also advises corporate and individual clients in white-collar criminal matters, including investigations initiated by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the SEC and the CFTC. Often those investigations are preceded by internal investigations. Chris has run such internal investigations for manufacturing companies, investment banks, broker-dealers and hedge funds.

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Practice Focus

  • Enforcement actions by the CFTC, DOJ, and futures exchanges regarding futures and swaps trading
  • Civil and regulatory disputes arising from trading in options, securities and complex equity products
  • Disputes with customers, particularly those that involve complex trading strategies using options and other derivatives
  • Internal investigations involving trading and markets

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • The University of Chicago Law School, JD
  • Michigan State University, BA
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
Court Admissions
  • US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Community Involvements
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • The Chicago Bar Association
Languages
  • German
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Chambers Global
    Derivatives: Enforcement, USA, 2024–2025
  • Chambers USA
    Recognized Practitioner, 2016
    Derivatives: Enforcement, 2023–2025
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2015–2021, 2024
  • Thomson Reuters
    Stand-out Lawyer, 2024–2025
Award Methodologies