Christina Prusak Chianese

CHRISTINA PRUSAK CHIANESE represents clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters at both the trial and appellate level in federal and state court throughout the United States as well as in domestic and international arbitration. She regularly represents clients in high-stakes disputes that are global in scope and implicate significant, sensitive, and reputational issues. She is a cross-border practitioner equally experienced in counseling clients and developing strategies for crisis management situations across jurisdictions both in the United States and abroad.

Christina’s practice focuses on the representation of global asset management firms, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and their founders, and senior investment professionals across a wide range of industry sectors. Her matters are often multidisciplinary in nature, and include a variety of cases and crises both as defendants and plaintiffs. Christina has represented clients in contract and investment disputes, actions involving a wide array of business tort, fraud, and civil RICO claims, corporate governance matters, defamation cases, fiduciary duty litigation, and bankruptcy litigation, as well as in regulatory and white collar criminal matters. Her matters have arisen from business activities in the United States and a variety of foreign jurisdictions, including Asia, emerging markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and the Caribbean. She frequently advises clients on litigation pending or threatened simultaneously in multiple jurisdictions in the United States and abroad.

Benchmark Litigation recognized Christina as a “Litigation Star” in Commercial Litigation in its 2026 list. In 2025, Christina was recognized by Crain’s New York Business as a “Notable Litigator & Trial Attorney.” The list celebrates the market leaders who “demonstrate involvement in significant litigation and trial proceedings.”

Prior to joining Sidley, Christina clerked for The Honorable Karen Nelson Moore of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Christina received her J.D. in 2010 from New York University School of Law, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, where she was a notes editor for the New York University Law Review, and both a Pomeroy Scholar and an Allen Scholar. Christina received her B.A. in 2007 from Georgetown University, magna cum laude.

• Representing the founder of a multibillion-dollar hedge fund as plaintiff in pursuing defamation claims in New York state court, after securing appellate reversal of the trial court's dismissal of the client's claims on forum non conveniens grounds.
• Represented a family office as plaintiff in litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery arising from a dispute over an investment in a real estate fund, securing a favorable settlement after uncovering additional claims in discovery.
• Defended a multibillion-dollar asset management firm and related investment professionals from claims asserted by a former business partner in multiple forums in the United States and abroad.
• Defended a multibillion-dollar asset management firm and its investment professionals from breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference of contract and other claims arising from a portfolio company investment asserted in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York and in New York State Supreme Court.
• Defended a multibillion-dollar asset management firm from claims asserted by its joint venture partner relating to an emerging markets-based portfolio company investment.
• Defended the founder of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund against civil RICO claims filed in the Southern District of New York, securing a complete dismissal at the pleading stage.
• Defended a foreign investment firm and its founder and principals in litigation in New York State Court and before the Appellate Division First Department, securing a dismissal on forum non conveniens grounds at the pleading stage.  
• Advised a multibillion-dollar asset management firm on corporate governance issues related to a portfolio company investment.
• Defended a multibillion-dollar asset management firm in an international ICC arbitration regarding an emerging markets-based portfolio company investment.
• Represented a global technology company in proceedings related to enforcement of a judgment.
• Defended a financial services company in successfully resisting Section 1782 discovery litigation in U.S. federal court.
• Defended an asset management firm and one of its investment professionals in Section 1782 discovery litigation in the Southern District of New York and before the Second Circuit.
• Defended a multinational company against contract, fraud and civil RICO claims allegedly giving rise to nearly US$2 billion in damages, and securing a complete dismissal at the pleading stage.
• Defended a multibillion-dollar hedge fund and its principal in successfully dismissing a securities class action alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
• Represented an international bank and its professionals in connection with an investigation by FINRA.
• Represented a multibillion-dollar hedge fund and its founder in connection with inquiries arising out of an SEC examination.
• Defended a multinational company in successfully resisting a multi-billion dollar turnover petition.
• Represented a creditor in ICC arbitration arising out of a borrower’s default on restructured loan obligations.
• Represented a joint venture owned by two prominent international companies in parallel ICSID and ICC arbitrations against a foreign sovereign and one of its political subdivisions.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Christina serves as a New York co-chair of the SidleyWomen committee.
• Christina currently serves on the board of the Brooklyn Ballet and on the board of Central American Legal Assistance (CALA), a non-profit organization that provides legal services to New York’s low-income immigrant community.