Chukwukpee is an associate in the Business Litigation group and focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation; criminal investigations including price-fixing, conspiracy, healthcare fraud, and mail and wire fraud; commercial real estate litigation; and financial services litigation. Chukwukpee manages and conducts discovery for state and federal litigation matters, class actions, and investigations; briefs dispositive and non-dispositive motions; prepares for, and conducts, witness interviews and settlement negotiations; and argues motions. As a highly effective communicator, Chukwukpee develops creative strategies to achieve favorable outcomes for corporate and individual clients in a variety of circumstances. He has successfully represented commercial landlords and tenants alike in real estate litigation, consistently achieving cost-effective settlements that satisfy all parties. Chukwukpee has successfully represented clients in state and federal appeals. Chukwukpee has also led various consumer protection defense claims in state and federal courts in Maryland and the District of Columbia, arbitration proceedings, and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. These claims have included all manner of consumer protection claims, general banking and UCC claims.

Before joining the firm, he served as a judicial intern to The Honorable Chief Judge George L. Russell, III in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
 

Representative Experience

Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.

White-Collar Defense, Investigations, and Regulatory Enforcement

  • Representation of a critical defense infrastructure supplier in a FCA qui tam matter, which settled for $500,000 with no admission of liability for alleged damages of $29 million.
  • Representation of healthcare defendant in an FCA qui tam matter.
  • Representation of a defendant involving Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud allegations.
  • Representation of targets or subjects in grand jury proceedings in various United States District Courts.
  • Representation of corporate defendant facing federal indictments for conspiracy, mail and fraud and money laundering charges.
  • Representation of firearms distributor in action by state AGs, resulting in full dismissal.

Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation

  • Successfully defended a financial services institution during a bench trial in Maryland state court.
  • Successful transfer of venue and full dismissal of claims brought by a corporation’s former employee alleging breach of contract and inventorship claims.
  • Representation of a class action involving interstate telecommunication providers.
  • Successfully opposed motion for preliminary injunction during oral argument.
  • Representation of corporate entity seeking to quash Federal Trade Commission issued subpoenas.
  • Representation of corporate entities seeking appeal of the Small Business Administration decision.
  • Representation of a lender in federal bankruptcy action.
  • Representation of several receiverships, including initiating lawsuits to protect receiver’s interests.
  • Successful negotiations on behalf of commercial landlords and tenants in various property disputes.
     

Professional & Civic Engagement

  • Committee Member, ABA White Collar & Criminal Litigation and Member, American Bar Association (White Collar & Criminal Litigation, Business Law Committee)
  • MSBA YLS Committee Member and Member, Maryland State Bar Association
  • Board of Directors, Friends of Patterson Park
  • Collegiate and Law School Mock Trial Judge, 2020 – Present
  • Debate Judge, Baltimore Urban Debate League, 2018 – Present
     

Thought Leadership

Honors & Awards

  • Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America (BL Rankings), Commercial Litigation, 2023-2024