Covington & Burling LLP | Biographies | Jason P. Criss http://www.cov.

com/jcriss/

JASON P. CRISS
Special Counsel
jcriss@cov.com
Covington & Burling LLP
The New York Times Building
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10018-1405
Tel: 212.841.1076
Fax: 646.441.9076

PRACTICES
White Collar Defense &
Investigations
Communications & Media
– Newsgathering & First
Amendment
Litigation
Financial Institutions
EDUCATION
Columbia Law School, J.D., 1999
James Kent Scholar
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
Archie O. Dawson Prize for
excellence in advocacy
Yale University, B.A., 1996
magna cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP
Hon. Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain, U.S.
Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit,
2000-2001
Hon. Roger B. Andewelt, U.S. Court
of Federal Claims, 1999-2000
BAR ADMISSIONS
New York
Jason Criss’s practice focuses on media law, white collar criminal
defense matters, and internal investigations. He regularly advises
journalists on content liability and newsgathering issues, and he has
represented media clients in First Amendment and defamation cases
before trial and appellate courts. His white collar and regulatory
experience has included the representation of public companies,
financial institutions, and individuals in investigations conducted by the
Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission,
Congressional committees, and self-regulatory organizations. He has
conducted investigations for financial institutions and audit committees
into potential insider trading, research analyst conflicts of interest,
export control violations, and accounting fraud. He also has represented
clients in complex litigation matters including breach of contract,
professional malpractice, and securities cases.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Represented WSTM, the Syracuse NBC affiliate, and WSTM’s
investigative reporter in a defamation case dismissed before
discovery.
Represented WOIO, the Cleveland CBS affiliate, in its successful
First Amendment challenge to the Cleveland mayor's ban on city
employees communicating with the station.
Represented UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, the nation’s
largest health insurer, in federal criminal, SEC enforcement, and
Congressional committee investigations into stock options
backdating. Developed UnitedHealth’s Plan of Remediation,
which was praised by the SEC when it decided not to charge
UnitedHealth with fraud or to seek a financial penalty from the
company.
Represented Adelphia Communications Corporation in its defense
of the federal criminal investigation, SEC enforcement action, and

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threatened forfeiture actions arising out of wrongdoing by

members of the Rigas family.
Represented Société Générale in federal criminal and SEC
enforcement investigations into alleged insider trading in the
PIPEs market and an SEC enforcement investigation into the
alleged compromise of research analyst independence.
Perform daily pre-broadcast review of news reports, editorials,
and promotions for a group of 36 television stations. Regularly
advise the stations’ reporters regarding newsgathering,
defamation, and intellectual property matters.

HONORS AND RANKINGS

Charles F.C. Ruff Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year (2004)

PRO BONO

From 2002-2004, coordinated Covington’s representation of 25

families of uniformed rescuers killed at the World Trade Center,
including the preparation of applications to the September 11th
Victim Compensation Fund, administration of victims’ estates, and
the resolution of disputes with victims’ creditors. The nine Victim
Compensation Fund applications Mr. Criss supervised resulted in
the payment of a total of $16.2 million in compensation to
uniformed rescuer families.
Represented media companies and press freedom organizations
as amici in First Amendment appeals to the Second Circuit and
New York Court of Appeals.
Counsel to the New York Press Photographers Association.
Represented the NYPPA in various matters related to the First
Amendment rights of journalists, including proposed restrictions
on public photography.
Briefed and argued criminal appeal to the Appellate Division, First
Department.
Represented not-for-profit organization in grand jury investigation
related to thefts from the organization by the organization’s former
office manager.

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

New York City Bar Media and Communications Law Committee,

Member
Hunter College High School Alumnae/i Association, Secretary

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