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Jason P. Criss

Of Counsel

New York +1 212 841 1076

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    For more than two decades, Jason Criss has guided clients through challenging government inquiries and complex internal reviews and investigations. He has played a leading role in many high-profile and sensitive engagements, including matters highlighted by Law360 (2018 and 2019) and the National Law Journal (2021) when those publications named Covington’s White Collar Defense and Investigations practice White Collar Group of the Year.

    As a senior member of Covington’s Institutional Culture and Social Responsibility Practice Group, Jason has led significant investigations into workplace culture, DEI issues, and reports of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment. He also has co-led racial equity assessments for three of the country’s leading financial institutions.

    In his White Collar Defense and Investigations practice, Jason advises clients on compliance issues, represents corporations and individuals in government investigations, and conducts internal investigations into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other statutes.

    Jason has represented a wide array of clients, including:

    • Several of the world’s largest consumer goods companies in FCPA investigations;
    • A global, publicly-traded company in a criminal antitrust investigation into its hiring practices;
    • A number of leading independent schools and other non-profit organizations in sexual misconduct and bullying investigations; and
    • Individuals in investigations conducted by the United States Department of Justice, the SEC, and other regulators.

    Jason also has an active and varied pro bono practice, including his work as media counsel for several non-profit news organizations. He is one of the leaders of the firm’s Kurt Wimmer Media Freedom Pro Bono Initiative. The American Lawyer recognized the Wimmer Initiative’s work to protect and advance media freedom with its 2023 Tony Mauro Media Lawyer Award and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press will be honoring the Wimmer Initiative with its inaugural Freedom of the Press Pro Bono Service Award.

    Jason is a Trustee of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, and a former President of the Hunter College High School Alumnae/i Association.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Co-led the investigation into abuse, harassment, and bullying of National Women’s Soccer League players commissioned by the League in partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association.
    • Co-led the investigation into the workplace culture at Oregon Health & Science University.
    • For a global, publicly-traded company, secured a declination from DOJ in a criminal antitrust investigation relating to the company’s hiring practices.
    • Co-led the independent investigation into issues of potential sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination at CBS News.
    • Co-led investigations into adult sexual misconduct at Choate Rosemary Hall, Trinity School, and a number of other independent schools and youth-serving organizations.
    • Co-led racial equity assessments for three of the country’s leading financial institutions.
    • For AB InBev, obtained a declination from the DOJ and a favorable settlement from the SEC in parallel FCPA investigations into the company’s former Indian joint venture.
    • For Uber, obtained a declination from the DOJ in an FCPA investigation into the company’s operations in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China.
    • Represented a senior executive of an energy company in the successful defense of a criminal prosecution by the Government of Ecuador and in related United States discovery proceedings.
    • Secured a prompt declination in an SEC investigation into potential FCPA violations at a food and beverage company’s Egyptian subsidiary.
    • Co-led investigation for a large multinational company into exports potentially in violation of the China Military Rule, resulting in the Commerce Department closing the matter without any monetary sanction or criminal referral.
    • Conducted internal investigations into potential violations of the FCPA and corporate policies for companies operating in Eastern Europe, India, and Latin America.
    • Represented a pharmaceutical company in a drug safety and labeling investigation. DOJ declined criminal prosecution of the company and declined to intervene in the relator’s False Claims Act suit.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Columbia Law School, J.D., 1999
        • James Kent Scholar
        • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
        • Archie O. Dawson Prize for excellence in advocacy
    • Yale University, B.A., 1996
        • magna cum laude
        • Phi Beta Kappa
    Bar Admissions
    • New York
    Judicial Clerkship
    • Hon. Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2000 - 2001
    • Hon. Roger B. Andewelt, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1999 - 2000
    Accolades
    • Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Pro Bono Service Award (2024)
    • American Lawyer, Tony Mauro Media Lawyer Award (2023)
    • American Lawyer, Global Dispute of the Year: U.S. Fraud Litigation (2014)
    • Legal 500 US, Litigation - White Collar Criminal Defense (2012)
    • Charles F.C. Ruff Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year (2004)

    Areas of Expertise

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