Christopher R. Wray

Chris’ practice focuses on high-stakes government investigations, class action defense, and appellate advocacy. He has been designated as an “Up and Coming” lawyer by Missouri Lawyers Media, won two national awards for his legal writing and handled bet-the-company litigation at all levels of the state and federal court system, including before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is considered a zealous advocate and legal thought leader.

Prior to joining the firm, Chris served as the chief of staff and deputy solicitor general in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. During his time in public service, Chris won high-profile trials and appeals, including cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Supreme Court of Missouri and the Missouri Court of Appeals. Chris oversaw all operations of the Attorney General’s Office, supervising more than 300 attorneys and staff. Chris led several high-level government investigations from the attorney general’s office, including on some of the state’s highest profile matters. 

Before joining the attorney general’s office, he served as Missouri’s deputy state treasurer, where he managed the state’s $4 billion portfolio and its banking and unclaimed property operations. 

Today, he uses his government experience to defend against governmental subpoenas and civil investigative demands, prosecute tax controversies, and limit the scope of unclaimed property audits. 

Chris’ experiences with both the state and federal courts have given him valuable insights into the judicial decision-making process. He clerked for the Hon. W. Duane Benton on the Eighth Circuit. While in law school, Chris externed with the Hon. Lisa White Hardwick on the Missouri Court of Appeals. 

Before law school, Chris was an auditor at a Big 4 accounting firm in Kansas City and St. Louis. He is a certified public accountant. Chris serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, teaching accounting fundamentals to lawyers. He has also served on the adjunct accounting faculty for the University of Notre Dame and Avila University, teaching courses on auditing, financial accounting, fraud examination and taxation. He leverages his auditing and forensic accounting background to assist not only with the financial aspects of litigation, but also with how to scope internal and government investigations.

Chris performs hundreds of hours of pro bono work per year, in matters ranging from criminal law to family law. He has been recognized as a “Pro Bono All Star” at the firm.