Year Joined Organization: 1994

Lawyer Overview

Professional Experience

Chris, a partner, is admitted to practice law in Michigan, Florida, the U.S. District Court in the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. The focus of his practice is civil and criminal litigation, family law, administrative law, and appellate practice in both state and federal courts.

From 1973 to 1980 Chris was employed by the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan. While in that position, he was promoted in 1975 to the position of Chief of the Controlled Substances Unit and Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division. During that same time frame, he tried over 100 federal trials involving white collar crime, and other criminal violations.

From 1980 to 1984, he was appointed Deputy Chief and Acting Chief of the Detroit Strike Force by the U.S. Justice Department, prosecuting organized crime and labor racketeering cases throughout Michigan.

In 1985, Chris left the U.S. Department of Justice and became a partner in another Detroit law firm for 8 years. During his association with that firm, he was chosen by his partners to be in charge of the litigation department which consisted of 8 attorneys. He participated in over 50 high profile civil and criminal trials in federal and state courts, both in this state and in other state jurisdictions.

After leaving that firm in early 1993, Chris practiced civil and criminal litigation as a sole practitioner in the Detroit area for over 18 months. He joined this firm in 1994.

Areas of Emphasis

Civil and criminal litigation, appellate practice in both state and federal courts, administrative law, and family law.

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Practice Group
• Family Law
• Civil Litigation
• Administrative Law

West Practice Categories

Criminal Law, Family Law, Litigation & Appeals, Securities Law, Securities Regulation

Bar Admissions

• Michigan, 1972
• Florida, 1978
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1974
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1972
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1996
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1980

Professional Associations and Memberships

• United States Department of Justice, 1979 - 1980 (Member, Narcotics Advisory Committee)
• State Bar of Michigan (Member, Criminal Law Section)
• State Bar of Michigan (Member)
• The Florida Bar (Member)
• Federal Bar Association, Detroit Chapter, 1980 - Present (Sustaining Member)
• Federal Bar Association, 1980 - Present (Member)
• Federal Bar Association, 1989 - 1991 (Director, Detroit Chapter)
• Federal Bar Association, Criminal Law Section, 1990 - 1991 (Chairman, Detroit Chapter)

Honors and Awards

• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, (Trial Lawyer Honorary Society), 2008 - Present
• Best Lawyers In America, 2008 - Present
• Michigan Super Lawyers, 2007 - Present
• Who's Who in America, 1997 - Present
• Who's Who in the Midwest, 1986 - Present
• Who's Who in American Law, 1984 - Present
• United States Attorney General's Special Commendation Award, 1979 and 1985

Classes and Seminars

• Lecturer/Instructor, Civil and Criminal Trial Practice Seminars, Federal Bar Association, Detroit Chapter, 1980 - Present
• Lecturer/Instructor, United States Attorney General's Advocacy Institute, 1984

Past Employment Positions

• Third Judicial Circuit Court, Detroit, Michigan, Research Law Clerk, 1972 - 1973
• U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of Michigan, Assistant United States Attorney, 1973 - 1980
• U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of Michigan, Chief, Controlled Substances Unit, 1975 - 1980
• U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of Michigan, Assistant Chief, Criminal Division, 1975 - 1980
• U.S. Department of Justice, Detroit Strike Force, Deputy Chief and Acting Chief, 1980 - 1984

Education

• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Detroit, Michigan, 1972
  J.D.
  Honors: Member, National Junior Moot Court Team 1971, University of Detroit
  Honors: Moot Court Award 1971
• Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
  Honors: Attended, 1969-1970
• Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 1969
  B.A.

Published Works

• Primer on Federal Criminal Procedure, Oakland County Bar Journal, Laches, February, 1987
• A Primer on Federal Criminal Procedure, Michigan Bar Journal, January, 1993

Address

27777 Franklin Road
Suite 2500
Southfield, MI 48034-8214

Phones

248.351.3000

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.jaffelaw.com