When you have to go to war, Craig’s the litigator that you want in the foxhole with you.
In addition to being one of Phillips Lytle’s most experienced trial attorneys (with over 20 years of experience trying high-stakes cases in state and federal court), Craig also serves as the firm’s Litigation Practice Group Leader and as the co-leader of the firm’s Appellate Practice Team.
Not only is Craig a skilled trial and appellate advocate, he is an authority in tort and product liability defense, commercial litigation and creditors’ rights, personal injury litigation, and real property valuation, tax assessment and eminent domain proceedings. His reputation for responsiveness, tenacity and creative problem-solving are his hallmarks, making him a valued, contributing member of the firm’s Business Litigation, Product Liability and Mass Tort Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Canadian Cross-Border and Personal Injury Defense Litigation Teams, as well as the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee. Clients appreciate Craig’s in-depth knowledge of their businesses and industries, and that he always stands with them, shoulder-to-shoulder, as their advocate and trusted advisor.
Craig’s numerous published opinions speak to his skills as a trial lawyer and appellate advocate, but his volunteer service as a youth soccer coach, community soccer organization board member, and former board member and president of a local travel soccer program speak to both his commitment to the youth of our community and his deep roots in his adopted hometown.
Crossgates Mall v. Town of Guilderland, 82 Misc.3d 1234(A...
Crossgates Mall v. Town of Guilderland, 82 Misc.3d 1234(A) (Supreme Court, Albany County 2023) – Obtained judgment, after trial, reducing fair market value of commercial property located in the Town of Guilderland, for the purposes of tax assessment, by over $100 million for the 2021-22 tax year.
Levin v. City of Rochester, 203 A.D.3d 1540 (3d Dep’t 2022) – Obtained order compelling city to produce termination notice sent to city employee, which had been improperly withheld in discovery, and successfully defended appeal from that order, resulting in affirmance. Case later settled for $11 million in favor of our client.
Sagez v. Columbus McKinnon Corp., 2016 WL 11634571 (S.D. Ill. 2016) – Defeated motions to dismiss, for lack of jurisdiction, brought by foreign manufacturers sued in Illinois in connection with wrongful death action involving products that they manufactured.
Matter of Board of Managers of French Oaks Condominium v. Town of Amherst, 23 N.Y.3d 168 (2014) – Successfully represented Town on appeal involving an issue of first impression before the New York Court of Appeals, which resulted in that court’s seminal decision interpreting 22 N.Y.C.R.R. 202.59(g)(2) and requiring that real property appraisals used in tax certiorari proceedings in New York must adequately set forth the facts, figures and calculations supporting the appraiser’s conclusions.
Ferland v. GMO Renewable Resources LLC, 105 A.D.3d 1158 (3d Dep’t 2013) – Obtained order granting summary judgment to landowner who leased recreational property to fish and game club and was subsequently sued by injured snowmobiler, based on immunity under New York’s recreational use statute. Also successfully briefed and argued appeal resulting in affirmance of that order.
Presenter, “Product Liability and Business Expansion to the U.S.,” Invest Buffalo Niagara Webinar, December 2018
Panelist, “#UBLawResponds on the Ground and Moving Forward: Standing with Puerto Rico Throughout Recovery Toward a Resilient Future,” University at Buffalo School of Law Clinical Legal Education Event, April 2018
Activities & Professional Associations
Present Activities
Law360 New York Editorial Advisory Board, 2024
U.S. Soccer D License
UB School of Law Advocacy Institute, National Advisory Board, Member
