Christopher M. Mattei

Chris is widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier trial attorneys.  A highly effective courtroom advocate, Chris has been called to upon to handle some of the highest profile trials in the country, including serving as lead counsel for Sandy Hook families in their defamation lawsuit against far-right media personality, Alex Jones. That trial culminated in a $1.4 billion jury verdict, the largest defamation verdict in American history and the largest verdict of any kind in Connecticut history. 

In 2024, Forbes Magazine named Chris to its inaugural list of America’s top 200 lawyers.

Chris represents victims of defamation, medical negligence, sexual abuse, and civil rights violations. Most recently, Chris obtained a $10.9 million judgment following a jury trial against a prominent orthopedic practice that negligently and fatally failed to diagnose a deep vein thrombosis following knee replacement surgery.

Chris also has an extensive pro bono practice. In 2019, Chris coordinated the defense of 11 protesters in the City of Bridgeport, who were arrested during a racial justice demonstration. In 2023, Chris successfully challenged an election official’s unlawful denial of ballot access to a Democratic mayoral candidate, a trial result affirmed by the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Prior to joining Koskoff, Chris served as Chief of the Financial Fraud & Public Corruption unit with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. As a federal prosecutor, Chris supervised and served as trial counsel in the prosecution of former Governor John G. Rowland and others on campaign finance and obstruction of justice charges.

Described by one New York Times reporter as an “incredible powerhouse lawyer,” Chris often appears in major media outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post, to offer legal commentary concerning the rule of law, disinformation, and criminal justice.