Cannon-Unione, Jennifer

Chris Cannon graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1976 and Southwestern University Law School where he was a member of the Law Review, in 1979. Following graduation, Chris clerked for two years for the Hon. William Sweigert, a United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. Chris then worked for the Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office and after one year left to join the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California, where he remained until he established the firm of Sugarman and Cannon.

Chris has a particular expertise in fraud and tax cases, and has represented many individuals and companies charged with financial wrong doing, at trial and on appeal. In many white collar cases, his early advice and intervention has been able to convince the authorities not to file charges.

His trial victories include:

Chris has also represented individuals charged with tax and money laundering offenses in Canada, Grand Cayman, Israel, Luxembourg, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, the Isle of Mann, Germany, England, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Liechtenstein, Bermuda and other countries. He was also involved in the defense of the first foreign head of State to be tried in the United States since Manual Noriega and presently represents other lawyers involved in the operation of tax shelters.

In post judgment proceedings Chris secured the release of an individual serving a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty to possessing the largest quantity of methamphetamine ever seized in the United States; overturned a life sentence for a man convicted of multiple drug and weapons offenses; and restored freedom to a man serving a 25 year sentence for an assortment of fraud charges including lying to a federal judge while acting as lawyer.

Chris is currently representing individuals accused of operating pharmacies and gambling operations over the internet and is involved in several cases where individuals have been accused of irregularities connected with the mortgage process.

He has also represented:

Finally, Chris has represented many individuals who have been charged with drug crimes. As a criminal lawyer he has watched the marijuana business change from the importation of marijuana via ships; to the more recent emphasis on indoor grows. He has observed the changes in the cocaine business and he has represented many individuals accused with the design and manufacture of almost every known ethnogen.