30 Years of Legal Experience
Attorney Chris McDonough, Esq. is an experienced defense attorney for lawyers facing grievances or disciplinary proceedings throughout New York. He has worked on these matters exclusively for over thirty years, first as a grievance prosecutor for thirteen years and on the defense side since 2003.
There are hundreds of reported cases handled by him. He has handled many more grievance cases that resulted in dismissals or private discipline. He has also represented hundreds of law students and former lawyers seeking admission or readmission before the Character and Fitness Committees and the Appellate Divisions.
Chris McDonough is admitted to practice in New York (1988) and Colorado (1990). He earned his Juris Doctorate in 1988, with cum laude honors. He served as Assistant Counsel to the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District from 1989 through 2002.
His practice is limited to attorney discipline, and all aspects of professional ethics and character and fitness matters. In 2010 he was voted the top disciplinary defense attorney in New York in the New York Law Journal poll (the only year that this category was included). With the Foley Griffin team, he advises lawyers accused of criminal conduct who are defended by Brian Griffin and Daniel Russo.
In addition to his work as an attorney, he has:
- Taught legal ethics as an Adjunct Professor,
- Authored numerous articles, texts, law reviews, etc. on grievances, risk management, advertising, disciplinary proceedings and professional ethics, impaired lawyers, civility and professionalism, etc.
- Regular lecturer for bar associations, law firms, bar groups, law school classes, alumni associations, etc.