Catherine A. Christian is a Partner at Liston Abramson LLP. She is a highly experienced trial lawyer and advocate with more than 30 years of public service in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and as a prominent leader within the New York legal community.

Ms. Christian began her legal career in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney under the legendary Robert M. Morgenthau. Her experience includes several decades of trial and investigative experience, including felony and homicide jury trials, at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the NYC Special Narcotics Prosecutor. In these offices, she held various leadership positions, including Special Assistant District Attorney for External Affairs, Senior Trial Counsel, Director of Legal Staff Training, Chief of Alternative Sentencing, and Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit.

As an Assistant District Attorney, Ms. Christian supervised investigations and prosecutions of financial fraud, conducted long-term wiretap investigations of multi-defendant international criminal organizations, and reviewed convictions where there were credible claims of innocence or wrongful conviction. She also served as Assistant Counsel for the New York State Commission of Investigation where she investigated corruption, fraud, and mismanagement by public officials.

As president of the New York County Lawyers’ Association, Ms. Christian administered a multimillion-dollar annual budget and expanded the bar association’s pro bono program.

She has served as a member of the Appellate Division First Department’s Attorney Grievance Committee and Character and Fitness Committee. She has held numerous leadership positions in the New York City and New York State Bar Associations, American Bar Association, and the New York Women’s Bar Association.

Ms. Christian is an MSNBC and NBC News legal analyst and co-chaired the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on the Modernization of Criminal Practice.

AWARDS:
Weinberg Center for Elder Justice Champion for Justice Award (2024);

New York State Bar Association Kay Murray Award (2017);
New York Law Journal Lawyers Who Lead by Example Public

Service Award (2014); Dickinson School of Law Hon. Sylvia Rambo Award (2015);

New York County Lawyers’ Association President's Medal (2010);
American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Section Liberty Award for Advancing Diversity in the Legal Profession (2008).