Gregory B. Craig

A trial lawyer with extensive experience in a wide variety of cases, Greg Craig has successfully defended individuals and entities in a number of high-profile criminal and civil proceedings. In 2013, Mr. Craig was named one of “The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal.

Civil Litigation: Examples of Mr. Craig’s civil litigation experience include the following:

In 2000, Mr. Craig successfully represented Elian Gonzalez’s father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, in administrative and court proceedings involving Mr. Gonzalez’s effort to regain custody of his son. Also in 2000, Mr. Craig helped lead the trial team representing Warnaco in contract/license litigation with Calvin Klein and his company. In 1999, Mr. Craig represented a major corporation in a trial in which a senior executive brought suit against the company alleging age discrimination. He represented former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in connection with the Volcker Commission’s investigation of the Oil-for-Food Programme at the U.N.

During the last 15 years, Mr. Craig has represented a variety of foreign individuals and entities that have required advice and assistance with various U.S. government agencies, including the Consular Bureau in the State Department, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Office of Foreign Asset Control in the Treasury Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  For example, Mr. Craig represented two Chicago policemen in extradition proceedings in federal court in Chicago and brought a declaratory judgment action on their behalf in federal court in Washington, D.C., which resulted in a federal judge finding the U.S. extradition statute of 1848 unconstitutional.

From 1978 to 1979, Mr. Craig represented Alexander Solzhenitsyn in a libel case in federal court in San Francisco and advised him on other matters up through 1983.  In 1977, he brought suit on behalf of one of the first (and lead) plaintiffs in the swine flu litigation that was subsequently consolidated by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.  From 1973 to 1975, working with Edward Bennett Williams, Mr. Craig represented the clubs of the National Hockey League in antitrust litigation involving the World Hockey Association.  From 1972 to 1974, working with Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Mr. Craig represented the Washington Post Company and various reporters in connection with the Watergate scandal and the grand jury investigation of Vice President Spiro Agnew.

Criminal Litigation:  Examples of Mr. Craig’s criminal litigation experience include the following:

Mr. Craig has been an active participant in the American criminal justice system for more than 35 years.  His career as a criminal defense lawyer began in 1974 when he became the assistant federal public defender for the District of Connecticut.  He served in that capacity until September of 1976.  Since then, Mr. Craig has represented numerous American corporations and corporate executives who have been the subjects of grand jury investigations and/or who also have  been charged with criminal offenses.

In 1975, he represented an individual charged with arson in a six-week trial in federal court in Connecticut.  In 1977, working with Edward Bennett Williams, Mr. Craig represented Mr. Richard Helms, a former director of Central Intelligence, who was under grand jury investigation for perjury.  That same year, he represented the first FBI agent ever to be indicted, who was accused of illegal wiretapping, breaking and entering, and mail opening in connection with the FBI investigation of the Weather Underground.  In 1978 to 1980, also with Edward Bennett Williams, Mr. Craig represented a prominent local businessman charged with bribing a D.C. government official.  In 1981 to 1982, working with Vince Fuller, Mr. Craig represented John Hinckley, who was charged with the attempted assassination of President Reagan.  In 1983 to 1984, working with Edward Bennett Williams, Mr. Craig represented a prominent businessman who was charged with tax evasion in federal court in Miami. In 1990, Mr. Craig represented Senator Edward M. Kennedy in connection with the trial of his nephew, William Kennedy Smith, in Palm Beach, Florida.

Other Experience:

For five years (1984-1988), he served as Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s senior adviser on defense, foreign policy and national security issues.

In 1997, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright appointed Mr. Craig to be one of her senior advisers, and he served the Secretary as her Director of Policy Planning during the years 1997 to 1998.

In September 1998, President Clinton appointed Mr. Craig to be Assistant to the President and Special Counsel in the White House where Mr. Craig led the team that was assembled to defend against impeachment.  Mr. Craig also was a member of President Clinton’s trial team in the United States Senate and presented the defense with respect to Count One during that trial.

From January 2009 to January 2010, Mr. Craig served as President Obama’s White House Counsel.

Mr. Craig also has taught trial practice at both Yale Law School (1975-1976) and Harvard Law School (1981-1984).

In addition, Mr. Craig has served on the boards of many non-governmental organizations and foundations, including The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (vice chair); the International Human Rights Law Group (chair); the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial; and the American Security Project. He repeatedly has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who Legal – Commercial Litigation and Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America.

Bar Admissions