Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Financial Services Disputes and Investigations

Partner - Litigation and Investigations

Christine (Chris) Cesare previously served as the global managing partner for the Litigation and Corporate Risk Practice and was a member of the firm's Management Committee. In that leadership role she helped manage the day-to-day worldwide operations of the firm. Her external responsibilities focused on client service and, in particular, ensuring that our lawyers delivered services of the highest value, with excellence, innovation and efficiency. Her responsibilities to the firm focused on further developing our collaborative culture, leading efforts to set and reach our diversity, equity and inclusion goals, driving revenue and profitability, and when necessary, assisting with crisis management.

Chris served as head of the Commercial Litigation Client Service Group from 2008 to 2013 and also previously served as a member of the firm's Executive Committee and its Compensation Committee.

Chris' practice has always focused on complex commercial litigation, including class actions.

Chris has represented financial institutions in actions and class actions involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, lender liability, negligence, indemnification and unjust enrichment as well as claims under various state and federal statutes, including consumer statutes. Her experience has involved advice and representation in connection with consumer mortgage matters implicating issues of predatory lending, TILA and RESPA violations and claims of bad faith. She has also represented financial institutions acting as corporate trustees and has experience defending corporate trustees in actions involving claims for breach of contract, negligence, indemnification, constructive trust and breach of fiduciary duty. In the course of representing financial services companies issuing prepaid cards, Chris has been involved in litigation matters challenging the issuance of such cards, including disclosure cases, as well as claims relating to rewards and loyalty programs.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & HONORS New York Women’s Committee of BCLP, Member Client Council Committee of BCLP, Member Sponsorship Program for Partnership Candidates, Member