Experienced prosecutor, First Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Chiou has been named as the temporary replacement for the outgoing U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich, who is one of the remaining 55 presidentially appointed U.S. Attorneys to have been requested to vacate their posts as a part of the transition process into the Biden Administration. On February 9, 2021, Acting U.S. Attorney General Monty Wilkinson announced, on behalf of the United States Department of Justice, that the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorneys are requested to step down from their positions to make way for the appointment of new Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officials to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the nation. Outgoing U.S. Attorney Trutanich had then announced his resignation on the same day, with his departure set for February 28, 2021. By virtue of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, Christopher C. Chiou will assume the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada on March 1, 2021, and shall continue to lead in the position for a maximum of 300 days, or up until a new U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada has been appointed.
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Appointment
Christopher C. Chiou — First Assistant United States Attorney in the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada, has been appointed as the interim Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the district, succeeding the outgoing U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich, who has announced his departure from the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada on February 9, 2021. On the same day that U.S. Attorney Trutanich has tendered his letter of resignation to President Joe Biden, Acting U.S. Attorney Robert M. “Monty” Wilkinson had made an announcement requesting the rest of the 55 Trump-appointed U.S. Attorneys to step down from their positions in order to allow the Biden Administration to nominate and appoint new Top Federal Prosecutors across the nation. This act is considered a tradition in the turnover from one administration to another. As the resignation of U.S. Attorney Trutanich takes effect on February 28, 2021, Christopher C. Chiou will assume the position on March 1, 2021, by virtue of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. The appointment of First Assistant U.S. Attorney Chiou as Acting United States Attorney for the District of Nevada shall only be effective for the next 300 days following his installation in the position or until a successor has been appointed and confirmed by President Joe Biden and the Senate, respectively.
Educational Background and Bar Admissions
An alumnus of the Williams College in Williamstown, MA, Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou has graduated Cum Laude in 2001, earning a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology. He subsequently pursued law and attended the Harvard Law School in Cambridge, MA, receiving his Juris Doctorate in 2004. After law school, Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou was then granted admission into the State Bar of California, where he has been a member since December 3, 2004. Just recently, in 2018, U.S. Attorney Chiou was granted admission into the State Bar of Nevada.
Legal Career – Private Practice
Before joining the United States Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou worked in the private sector and served as an Associate, and later a Partner, at the Jenner & Block LLP — an international law firm that provides exemplary results in corporate transactions, as well as in litigation process from the trial level through the U.S. Supreme Court. In this capacity, Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou was able to focus on and build invaluable experience in handling cases involving compliance matters, complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, and white-collar criminal defense. U.S. Attorney Chiou has provided excellent and efficient representation for clients involved in complex commercial disputes that stemmed from breach of contract, fraud, and/or tort issues within the law firm. Moreover, he was able to stand for individuals and corporations that required legal aid in matters involving white-collar criminal defense, with emphasis on cases relating to environmental crimes in violation of the Clean Care Act, insider trading, internal corporate matters, as well as government investigations violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou has performed duties in the Jenner & Block LLP under the Litigation Department and the Complex Commercial Litigation Practice.
Areas of Practice
Being a licensed prosecutor with 16 years of experience in the legal field, Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou has developed expertise in handling and prosecuting cases in Contracts & Agreements, Lawsuits & Disputes, and in Litigation, with even more practical knowledge in the following areas of practice — Antitrust & Competition, General Civil, and Litigation.
Awards and Publications
In 2010, Acting U.S. Attorney Chiou has been acclaimed as a “Rising Star” under the Southern California Super Lawyers. He was also co-author of the “When is Discretion the Better Part of Valor?” — an article published under the Business Crimes Bulletin in January of 2007.
Legal Career – Government Service
Following his years of service in private practice, Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou shifted to government service and joined the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Prior to being appointed as the interim Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the district, U.S. Attorney Chiou had held several leadership positions in the Office, including being the Deputy U.S. Attorney and the First Assistant U.S. Attorney to former U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich.
Office Jurisdiction
Named as the new interim Top Federal Prosecutor for the District of Nevada, Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Chiou bears the responsibility of managing and overseeing all of the criminal and civil cases within the district that are brought upon the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada on behalf of the United States. On top of that, he is in charge of leading a staff of approximately 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support personnel, who are all designated to work on prosecuting criminal cases involving cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, organized crime, public corruption, terrorism, white-collar crimes, among other violent federal criminal offenses. Apart from prosecuting criminal matters, the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Nevada is also responsible for handling civil rights violations, along with a broad range of affirmative and defensive civil litigation such as asset forfeiture, financial litigation, and programs fund.
Contact Details
Full Name: Christopher C. Chiou
District/State: Nevada
Public email ID: N/A
Headquarters – Las Vegas
U.S. Attorney’s Office
501 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Suite 1100
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 388-6336
(800) 539-8002
Reno Branch Office
U.S. Attorney’s Office
400 South Virginia Street
Suite 900
Reno, NV 89501
(775) 784-5438
(800) 303-5545
Media Point of Contact
(702) 388-6346
Social Media Profiles of Christopher Chiou
Username: Christopher Chiou
URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cchiou21/
Username: N/A
URL: N/A
YouTube
Username: N/A
URL: N/A
Username: US Attorney Nevada
Tag: @USAO_NV
URL: https://twitter.com/USAO_NV
Updated: May 20, 2021