FBI Director Christopher Wray to share career insights at NYC Bar Association event

September 25, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

FBI Director Christopher Wray, a native of New York City, is set to discuss his career and leadership at the New York City Bar Association's Debevoise & Plimpton/Barbara Paul Robinson Series on Oct. 1. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein

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On Oct. 1, FBI Director Christopher Wray will take part in the Debevoise & Plimpton/Barbara Paul Robinson Series, an event hosted by the New York City Bar Association. Wray will be interviewed by John Kiernan, a retired partner at Debevoise & Plimpton and former president of the New York City Bar Association.

The series, which features prominent legal figures sharing their life stories to inspire others in the profession, will be held in person at the association’s headquarters. The program will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by a reception. Muhammad Faridi, current president of the New York City Bar Association, will deliver the welcome address.

Wray, who was born in New York City, has been the FBI Director since August 2017. A Yale graduate, he earned both his bachelor’s degree and law degree at the prestigious university, completing his legal education at Yale Law School in 1992. After law school, Wray began his legal career by clerking for Judge J. Michael Luttig on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, laying the groundwork for what would become an impressive career in both public service and private practice.

Wray’s law enforcement career began in 1997 when he joined the Department of Justice as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Georgia. In this role, he prosecuted a variety of federal criminal cases, ranging from public corruption to gun trafficking and financial fraud.

His success led him to Washington, D.C., where he was appointed associate deputy attorney general in 2001 and later served as the principal associate deputy attorney general. During his time in Washington, Wray oversaw sensitive investigations involving the Department of Justice’s law enforcement agencies.

In 2003, Wray was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. In this capacity, he supervised major national and international investigations and led the Department’s Counterterrorism Section.

Notably, he played a key role in the U.S. government’s post-9/11 efforts to combat terrorism and espionage, collaborating with both domestic and international partners. His tenure culminated in being awarded the Edmund J. Randolph Award, the Department of Justice’s highest honor for leadership and public service.

Before his appointment as FBI director, Wray spent nearly two decades in private practice, including time at the law firm King & Spalding LLP, where he chaired the Special Matters and Government Investigations Practice Group. He became a leading expert in white-collar crime and government investigations.