Craig C Martin

Practice Areas

Craig C. Martin is the Chairman, Americas of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Prior to founding the Willkie Chicago office in 2020, Craig was the Chairman of a national law firm. Craig is a trial lawyer with deep experience in antitrust, commercial, patent, and ERISA litigation. Recognized as a “courtroom to boardroom” lawyer, Craig regularly represents clients in their most important strategic, reputational and economic matters in virtually every substantive area of the law.

Over the course of his career, Craig has become one of the most trusted advisors to the Fortune 100, wealthy family offices and private investors as well as notable business, civic and political leaders. His practice ranges from advising corporate boards; to trials; to strategic, legal and business advice in transactions globally. Consistent with his professional roots, Craig is frequently asked to try cases of substantial economic, strategic and reputational substance; to represent boards of directors regarding investigations and sensitive matters; and to provide trusted advice to myriad prominent families and other private businesses.

Craig is widely recognized in the media. He is listed in Chicago Magazine’s “Power 100,” a list of Chicago’s most powerful people, and Crain’s Chicago Business “Who’s Who” in Chicago civic, professional, and cultural leaders. Crain’s Chicago Business has also recognized Craig as a Notable Litigator & Trial Attorney. He is included in the IAM Strategy 300. BTI Consulting has recognized Craig as a Client Service All-Star for exemplary, client-focused legal practice.

Craig received a JD from Harvard Law School. He received his BA, magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame.

Professional Memberships

Craig serves on the Aspen Institute board of trustees, is a member of its Executive Committee and chairs its Audit & Risk Committee. He is a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago board of directors, its Executive Committee and chairs its Nominating and Governance Committee. He also serves on the boards of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, the Crown Family Philanthropies, the Chicago Urban League, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and World Business Chicago. He is a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago and the National Association of Corporate Directors.

For nearly two decades, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, including serving as secretary, vice-chairman and as chairman from 2011 to 2014. Craig remains a Trustee at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago.

Craig teaches Advanced Trial Advocacy at Harvard Law School and Crisis Management at the Stanford Directors College.

He is a member of the Naples Roundtable, the American Law Institute, the American Bar Association, Section on Litigation, and the Richard Linn American Inn of Court.

Awards