Craig Crawford - Coblentz Law

Details

P 415.293.6429

F 415.989.1663

ccrawford@coblentzlaw.com

Education

J.D.

University of San Francisco School of Law (2005)
B.A.

University of California, Berkeley (2000)

Practices

Litigation

Industries

Technology

Craig Crawford works with businesses, their founders, and their investors to resolve their most important business disputes. He works closely with his clients to implement strategies aimed at achieving the best possible business outcome. Whether the client is a startup, a venture-backed emerging company, a multigenerational family enterprise, or a Fortune 500 company, Craig resolves disputes with minimal business disruption.

When a dispute must be litigated, Craig has an impressive record before judges, juries, and arbitrators. He focuses on the key issues in a dispute to help his clients obtain efficient results through pretrial motions and at trial.

Craig is the former director and past president of CASA of San Mateo County, a board member of the Barristers Section of the San Mateo County Bar Association, and a former member of the Golf Committee of the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County.

Craig earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2005. He received his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in 2000.

Business and Fiduciary Litigation

Represented an investment group in an arbitration based on fraudulent representations made in the sale of a wholesale equipment company. Obtained a seven-figure award in arbitration and a six-figure settlement against an M&A advisor.*
Obtained dismissal of class action privacy claims against a leading AI-enabled communications company.*
Represented the purchaser of a construction company in a two-week jury trial against the seller based on pre-sale misrepresentations and post-sale unfair competition. The jury unanimously found that the seller had fraudulently inflated the value of the company and awarded the client a six-figure damages award.*
Represented a co-founder of an investment company in an arbitration against his co-founder for breach of fiduciary duty related to the mismanagement of an investment portfolio and self-dealing. Following a two-week arbitration, the arbitrator issued a seven-figure award for compensatory and punitive damages and 100% of the client’s attorney fees.*
Represented a health care company in a court trial for breach of lease and license agreements. The trial judge awarded the client all of its requested damages and attorneys’ fees.*
Obtained summary judgment for the co-founder of an investment banking firm against claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty brought by the other co-founder.*
Defended a member of an LLC against claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary, resulting in the buyout of the plaintiffs’ membership interest and allowing the client to acquire majority ownership of the business he co-founded.*
Represented an investor and board member of a startup Web 2.0 company against other board members and executives related to claims that their consent to a proposed transaction was procured by fraud. Following the grant of summary judgment, prevailed on appeal and cross-appeal on matter of first impression related to cost award.*
Defended the manager of a sports franchise against claims of negligence and breach of fiduciary duty, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.*
Represented a group of terminated employees seeking to recover performance bonuses and deferred compensation from a pharmaceutical company following an acquisition.*
Obtained a preliminary injunction in a multimillion-dollar commercial lease dispute involving a matter of first impression that resulted in settlement on favorable terms for the client.*
Obtained summary judgment for a lender and loan servicer in a multimillion-dollar wrongful foreclosure, TILA, RESPA, and unfair business practices dispute.*
Served as a member of the trial team that obtained a defense verdict in a multimillion-dollar bellwether product liability trial.*
Defended a nationwide consumer class action under the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act and California false advertising law related to greenwashing claims in the cosmetics industry; negotiated a favorable settlement before entry of first appearance.*

Employee Mobility and Trade Secret Litigation

Defended an industry-leading software company against claims of trade secret misappropriation against a competitor, leading to an early non-monetary settlement and dismissal of claims.*
Represented a former advisor to an e-health company against claims of trade secret misappropriation as a founder of a competing startup.*
Represented a leading communications company against claims that it had induced its competitor’s top sales agent to misappropriate his former employer’s confidential pricing information.*
Defended a major building services provider in a multimillion-dollar trade secret lawsuit regarding the alleged theft of customer lists and business leads, resulting in a favorable settlement before trial.*
Represented an insurance company in prosecuting a trade secret misappropriation claim related to departed insurance brokers who left with confidential customer lists and client preference information; obtained an injunction that resulted in a favorable settlement of claims.*
Represented the former CEO of an acquired company in a dispute over the enforceability and scope of a noncompete agreement concerning investments made in a related technology.*
Advised the founder of an e-commerce company on the enforceability of a noncompete agreement following the company’s acquisition.*

* Denotes experience prior to joining Coblentz.