Atty. Christopher Hotaling
Christopher Hotaling is a member of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group. After 16 years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S.
Criminal Defense: White-Collar Attorney · Serving Chicago, IL
Profile Summary
About Christopher Hotaling at a Glance
Christopher Hotaling is a criminal defense and white collar attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Nixon Peabody LLP. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois Bar Association. Educated at University of Virginia (J.D., 2000) and Duke University (—). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026). Serves clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Get Legal Help from Christopher Hotaling in Chicago
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About Christopher Hotaling
- Christopher Hotaling is a member of the Government Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group
- After 16 years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S
- Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Chris focuses his practice on representing entities and individuals in all types of government investigations, criminal prosecutions, and regulatory enforcement actions
- A seasoned trial attorney, clients also come to Chris for their most significant complex commercial litigation
- What do you focus on?
- Leveraging my years of experience as a federal prosecutor in Chicago, I represent clients on a wide range of criminal and regulatory matters covering a broad scope of industries, including health care, financial services, and securities
- I regularly interact with the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory agencies in enforcement actions and investigations
- I also have significant experience investigating and litigating an expansive array of white collar and regulatory areas including securities fraud, bankruptcy fraud, health care fraud and the False Claims Act, tax fraud, money laundering, RICO, and public corruption
- Relying on the skills I developed as the section chief covering domestic and international money laundering, I further focus on conducting investigations and advising clients across industries, including financial services and the emerging cannabis industry, on anti-money laundering (AML) and Bank Secrecy Act issues
- These same skills allow me to counsel clients who are the subject of corruption investigations involving Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations
- I’m well positioned to help our clients not only ensure their AML compliance systems are adequate, but also advise and negotiate on their behalf if they are the target of a money laundering or FCPA investigation
- Before joining the firm, I was the Chief of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Section at the U.S
- Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago
- During my tenure as section chief, I personally led or supervised over 500 complex investigations touching on virtually every corner of federal criminal law
- Additionally, while acting as section chief, I served as the DOJ Opioid Coordinator for the Northern District of Illinois
- In that role, I coordinated the federal response, together with state and local stakeholders, to address the rampant opioid crisis, including the deadly role fentanyl and its’ analogues played in that crisis, affecting the entire northern Illinois area
- I also have extensive courtroom experience, including 24 federal jury trials, many involving complex fraud and financial issues, and arguments in over 12 matters before the U.S
- Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Practice Areas Explained
Christopher Hotaling's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Christopher Hotaling handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Chicago.
Criminal Defense in Chicago
A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.
Christopher Hotaling is one of 212,605 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in Illinois →
White Collar Crimes in Chicago
Christopher Hotaling is one of 19,824 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Chicago
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Chicago Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Chicago-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions About Christopher Hotaling
Where is Christopher Hotaling's law office located?
What practice areas does Christopher Hotaling handle?
Where did Christopher Hotaling go to law school?
How can I contact Christopher Hotaling for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Christopher Hotaling received?
Professional Profile
Why Clients in Chicago Choose Christopher Hotaling
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Christopher Hotaling's practice in the field of criminal defense and white collar.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering criminal defense and white collar, Christopher Hotaling can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Chicago
A Chicago-based practice means Christopher Hotaling attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Search Reference
How People Find Christopher Hotaling Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in Chicago commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like Christopher Hotaling.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with Christopher Hotaling directly.
Christopher Hotaling's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Awards & Professional Honors
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — Christopher Hotaling
No reviews yet.