C. Christian Young

C. Christian Young (Charles Christian Young) is a principal at Cohen and Wolf, P.C. in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he chairs the firm's Personal Injury Group and its Criminal Defense Group. He has practiced law in Connecticut since 1998 and is admitted in the Connecticut state courts and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Before joining Cohen and Wolf, he was a partner at the Law Offices of Young and Riccio.

Personal injury and wrongful death. Mr. Young represents people who have been seriously injured, and the families of those killed, by the careless, reckless, or criminal conduct of others. His cases include motorcycle and motor vehicle collisions, commercial trucking accidents, premises defects and hazardous property conditions, negligent supervision, dram shop claims, dog bites, firearms discharge injuries, pedestrian accidents, and, wrongful death actions. He also litigates uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage disputes against insurers after the tortfeasor's liability limits are exhausted, and legal malpractice claims. 

Criminal defense. Mr. Young defends adults, juveniles, and students charged in Connecticut state and federal courts. His matters include homicide, assault and violent offenses, domestic and family violence, sex offenses, firearms offenses, controlled substance and trafficking charges, larceny and embezzlement, fraud and white-collar offenses, computer and cyber-crimes, motor vehicle offenses, and DUI/DWI.  

Firearms law. Mr. Young advises individuals, businesses, licensed dealers, municipalities, and public agencies on the application of and compliance with Connecticut and federal firearms law, including permitting and eligibility, transfers, prohibiting events, restoration of rights, National Firearms Act items and estate transfers, ATF requirements, and firearms surrender and revocation issues arising from criminal charges and protective orders. He handles pistol permit appeals before the Connecticut Board of Firearms Permit Examiners and has lectured on firearms law for the National Business Institute and the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association.  

Appellate and administrative practice. He handles appeals in the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts and in federal court, and represents clients in administrative and licensing proceedings, including Department of Motor Vehicles suspension hearings and firearms permit appeals.  He engages with the ATF, Special Licensing and Firearms Unit, the Board of Firearms Permit Examiners, and, he also represents medical professionals with the Department of Public Health when legal issues compromise their licensure standing.  

Commercial and complex litigation. Mr. Young has represented individuals, businesses, and developers in commercial, contract, and complex civil litigation. 

Teaching, service, and public policy. Mr. Young served as an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law, teaching Advanced Legal Research and Writing. He was a guest lecturer in Constitutional Law at Gateway Community College. He serves on the Connecticut Domestic Violence Criminal Justice Enhancement and Advisory Council, on its Arrest Warrants and Orders of Protection Subcommittee and its Firearms Working Group, which addresses the intersection of protective orders, firearms surrender, and victim safety. He is Criminal Defense Chair of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association (2021–present) and a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the Fairfield County Bar Association, and the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He served two terms on the Ansonia/Milford Grievance Panel (2007–2013). He is an elected member of the Amity Regional School District No. 5 Board of Education and previously served on the Town of Orange Board of Education (2013–2021), where he chaired the Buildings and Grounds/Safety and Security Committee and co-chaired the Policy Committee. At Cohen and Wolf, he leads the firm's Personal Injury group and heads the Criminal Defense practice.

Honors and recognition

• Legal 500 Connecticut Elite, White Collar Crime, 2026
• Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, Personal Injury, 2026
• Best Lawyers in America®, Criminal Defense – General Practice, 2024–2026
• Best Lawyers in America®, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, 2025–2026
• Connecticut Super Lawyers®, "Top 50 Connecticut Super Lawyers," 2017, 2018, 2020, 2024–2026
• Connecticut Super Lawyers®, "Top 100 New England Super Lawyers," 2017, 2018
• Connecticut Super Lawyers®, Personal Injury General: Plaintiff, 2024–2026
• Connecticut Super Lawyers®, Criminal Defense, 2014–2026
• Moffly Media, "Top Lawyers in Fairfield County," Criminal Defense, 2021–2025
• Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, "Outstanding Contribution to Criminal Defense," 2017
• Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ peer review rated*
• Avvo rating 10.0

Education
Quinnipiac University School of Law, J.D., 1998
Calvin University (formerly Calvin College), B.A., 1995

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.