On Thursday, March 5, 2026, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department granted a motion by the Attorney Grievance Committee for the First Judicial Department to immediately suspend attorney Christopher Scott Cardillo from practicing law. The suspension will remain in effect until further order of the court.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Christopher Scott Cardillo,” with case number 2025-05420.
The disciplinary proceedings stem from allegations of professional misconduct, specifically the misappropriation of client funds. According to the filing, the Attorney Grievance Committee (AGC) initiated the investigation following a complaint received in May 2023 from an individual identified as X.Z. The complaint alleged that Cardillo induced X.Z. to deposit approximately $4.7 million into Cardillo’s escrow account under the guise of protecting the funds from potential seizure in a federal criminal prosecution. X.Z. claims that despite repeated requests, Cardillo failed to return the funds.
Cardillo denied the allegations, asserting that his dealings with X.Z. were part of an “arms length transaction” unrelated to his legal practice and that X.Z. had solicited him to invest the money in business ventures. He characterized the dispute as a “civil nature” matter.
However, the AGC obtained bank records through a judicial subpoena, confirming that $4.7 million was deposited into Cardillo’s escrow account between December 26, 2017, and April 18, 2018. The AGC alleges that only a fraction of this amount was used for X.Z.’s benefit, with the majority disbursed to Cardillo personally or to unrelated third parties. Additionally, over $3 million in debit withdrawals remain unaccounted for.
The court’s decision to suspend Cardillo was based on a separate matter involving another client, A.C. The AGC demonstrated that Cardillo deposited A.C.’s $15,000 settlement check into his escrow account but subsequently transferred the funds to his business account, which had a low balance. These funds were then used for personal and business expenditures unrelated to A.C. When it came time to distribute A.C.’s settlement proceeds, Cardillo replenished the shortfall using funds deposited by X.Z.
The court found that Cardillo’s handling of A.C.’s settlement proceeds constituted “uncontroverted evidence” of professional misconduct, specifically the conversion and misappropriation of client funds. This conduct, the court stated, demonstrates Cardillo’s failure to safeguard entrusted property and maintain required escrow records, posing an immediate threat to the public interest.
As a result of the suspension, Cardillo is prohibited from practicing law in any form, appearing as an attorney before any court, or providing legal advice. He must also comply with the rules governing the conduct of disbarred or suspended attorneys. Cardillo has 20 days from the date of service of the order to request a post-suspension hearing.
According to Avvo, Mr. Cardillo acquired his law license in New York in 2002.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
