Chris now serves YMFZ in an advisory role following two decades as the firm’s managing shareholder, during which he led the firm through significant growth and success. With a legal career spanning both private practice and the financial industry, Chris brings deep experience in corporate finance, regulatory compliance, and business law.

Before joining YMFZ in 1995, Chris served as Associate Counsel and Vice President for Risk Management and Compliance at Mellon Bank Corporation, where he developed extensive insight into financial institutions law. He then built a substantial practice advising banks, lenders, and corporate clients on a wide range of matters involving corporate and commercial finance, asset servicing (including institutional trust and custody), and global securities lending.

Chris focused his finance practice on corporate and middle-market secured lending, credit facility structuring and documentation, and capital markets transactions. He also counseled local and regional businesses on general corporate matters, commercial transactions, and regulatory issues, offering strategic legal advice that aligns with clients’ operational and financial goals.

With a reputation for sound judgment and deep industry knowledge, Chris continues to consult with the firm on matters involving its financial and banking clients, offering strategic guidance informed by decades of experience in both private practice and the financial sector. His insight remains a valuable asset to the firm’s clients navigating complex regulatory, transactional, and commercial finance matters.