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Alexandra E. Chopin
Partner
Alexandra Chopin specializes in high-value cross-border commercial disputes for US and non-US-based financial institutions, global corporations and sovereign-owned entities facing regulatory, commercial and risk management issues. Alex primarily represents clients before US federal and state trial and appellate courts and regulatory agencies, and is recognized for her expertise in jurisdictional challenges that preclude US courts’ jurisdiction over non-US conduct and clients.
Alex is particularly skilled at developing coordinated global defense strategies for clients who are parties to disputes in more than one type of tribunal, or who are targets and witnesses in multijurisdictional government investigations. A former journalist and political campaign media specialist, Alex also represents newspapers, broadcast media and public figures in defamation actions throughout the US.
Commercial Litigation
- Won recommendation of dismissal of a US government contractor in multijurisdictional litigation. Cabrera, No. 1:19-cv-03833 (D.D.C. 2019).
- Obtained reversal of a US$655.5 million jury award and dismissal of all claims by demonstrating the absence of US jurisdiction. Waldman, 835 F.3d 317 (2d Cir. 2016).
- Defeated a highly politicized effort to obtain Supreme Court review, winning a supporting brief from the Solicitor General. Waldman, cert. denied, 138 S.Ct. 1438 (2018).
- Defeated motion to recall mandate and reinstate judgment. Waldman, 925 F.3d 570 (2d Cir. 2019).
- Defeated US jurisdiction over commercial breach of contract claims under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. Despotovich dba Tradexim Int’l Co. CA v. Republic of Croatia, No. 21 CIV. 50 (AT), 2022 WL 3447989, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 17, 2022), aff’d (2d Cir. Aug. 7, 2023).
- Defeated US jurisdiction over contract-related claims by a US corporation. Consulting Concepts Int’l, Inc., aff’d No. 21-941-CV, 2022 WL 2236946 (2d Cir. June 22, 2022).
- Established a key appellate precedent confirming due process protection against the exercise of jurisdiction in a US court. Livnat, 851 F.3d 45 (D.C. Cir. 2017), cert. denied, 139 S. Ct. 373 (2018).
- Defeated jurisdiction over commercial claims by a US government contractor. D&S Consulting, Inc., 322 F. Supp. 3d 45 (D.D.C. Aug. 21, 2018), aff’d 961 F.3d 1209 (D.C. Cir. 2020).
- Defeated jurisdiction over a foreign bank for alleged actions outside the US. O’Neill, 295 F. Supp. 3d 416 (S.D.N.Y. 2018); aff’d 714 F.3d 659 (2d Cir. 2013), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 2870 (2014).
- Won dismissal of foreign law claims related to bank financial services. Wultz, 2012 WL 5431013 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 5, 2012); 2013 WL 1641179 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 16, 2013).
Regulatory Investigations and Litigation
- On behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, conducted a multiyear monitorship of Fiat Chrysler America’s compliance with federal motor vehicle safety laws and regulations.
- Defended a billion-dollar mortgage industry company in litigation and investigations by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and other financial regulatory agencies.
- Avoided penalties for a top-three global energy company in Department of Justice antitrust and European competition authority investigations.
- Avoided penalties for a leading national renewable energy company in Department of Justice and Department of Treasury Inspector General investigations.
- Represented private equity investors in leading renewable energy startups in Congressional and Justice Department investigations and related bankruptcy litigation.
- Obtained dismissal of False Claims Act litigation on behalf of a for-profit education institution.
- Successfully resolved False Claims Act litigation by negotiating a civil settlement with the Department of Justice on behalf of a national medical laboratory.
Education
- Emory University, J.D., 2001
- Emory University, B.A., 1995
Admissions
- District of Columbia, 2005
- New York, 2003
Courts
- District of Columbia District Courts (all)
- Georgia (All state courts)
- New York (All state courts)
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Ct. of App., Federal Circuit
- U.S. Dist. Ct., N. Dist. of Georgia
- U.S. Dist. Ct., S. Dist. of New York
- U.S. Ct. of App., Second Circuit
- U.S. Ct. of App., District of Columbia Circuit
Memberships & Affiliations
- Adjunct Faculty, Georgetown Law School, E-Discovery Training Academy
- Litigation Advisory Board, LexisNexis
- D.C. Bar Association
- Georgia Bar Association
- New York Bar Association
Clerk Experience
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Hon. C. Lynwood Smith, Jr.
June 2001 - June 2002
- Faculty, “Dispute Resolution – Routes To Settlement,” December 2018.
- Faculty, “Jurisdictional Paths and Detours: Are Courts Circumnavigating Daimler and Walden?” October 2017.
- Faculty, “Is Over There, Over Here? The Impact On Financial Institutions Law Under the FSIA,” October 2016.
- Co-author, “E-mining for Evidence: Best Practices for Cost Effective and Compliant E-Discovery in Runoff,” Airroc Matters, fall 2014.
- Panelist, Masters’ Conference, “EU Data Privacy Regulations: New and Far More Stringent?” October 2014.
- Faculty, “Is Corporate Monitoring of Employee Use of Social Media Alienating Customers?” D.C. Bar Association, September 29, 2013.
- Faculty, “International Data Management After Edward Snowden,” The Masters Conference for Legal Professionals, Washington DC, September 19, 2013.
- Faculty, “Social Media − Planning for practical discovery while considering the landscape of recent case law and data privacy challenges,” The Masters Conference for Legal Professionals, Washington DC, October 4, 2011.
- Faculty, “Strategies for Spanning the E-Discovery Divide,” Masters Series for Legal Professionals, Houston, Texas, Augist 16, 2011.
- Faculty, “The Effect of Social Media on Litigation In the Courts and Before Administrative Agencies,” Federal Circuit Bench & Bar Conference, Key Biscayne, Florida, June 23-25, 2011.
- Moderator, “What Would You Do? Finding the Practical, Legal and Ethical Solutions to E-Discovery Problems,” Patton Boggs LLP, April 8, 2011.
- Faculty, “Get a Grip on Social Media in the Workplace,” The Masters Conference, Washington DC, October 4-6, 2010.
- Faculty, “Capital One: The Future of Search,” Capital One Financial Corp., McLean, Virginia, November 10, 2009.
- Faculty, “Global Corporate Change – Navigating Discovery, Risk and Security,” The Masters Conference, Washington DC, October 13-14, 2009.
- Faculty, “Recent Developments In E-Discovery Law and Practice,” Patton Boggs LLP, April 4, 2009.
- Faculty, West Legalworks, “E-Discovery: An A to Z Workshop,” The George Washington University, Washington DC, July 15-16, 2008.
- Author, “Acces au métier d’avocat aux Etats-Unis,” Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats, July 2003.
- Author, “Disappearing Due Process: The Case for Indefinitely Detained Permanent Residents’ Retention of Their Constitutional Entitlement Following a Deportation Order,” 49 Emory L.J. 1261, 2001.