
Biography
Craig Franco is a lead trial attorney, who delivers top-notch outcomes for clients in both state and federal courts. By understanding his client's goals and objectives - both in litigation and in business - Craig can chart a successful strategy for the win.
Craig is AV-rated by the Martindale-Hubbell peer rating service, the highest rating available for skill and ethics. He is listed with the distinguished "Best Lawyers in America®" list, and he is perennially listed in in publications such as Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite," and Thomson-Reuters' Virginia and D.C. "Super Lawyers."
Craig has tried hundreds of jury and non-jury cases in state and federal courts in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. He also has handled numerous arbitrations and mediations before the AAA, ICDR, JAMS and the McCammon Group. Craig routinely represents shareholders in contentious business break-ups, government contractors in their various disputes, management in employment discrimination claims, and employers and executives in restrictive covenant and trade secrets' disputes.
Craig is regularly hired by his peers to serve as an expert witness on the reasonableness and necessity of attorneys' fees in cases pending in the local federal and state courts and before Arbitration panels.
Beyond the courtroom, Craig enjoys spending time with his wife and two teenage kids. As a sports enthusiast, Craig also enjoys attending Ravens' games and the occasional Nationals' game.
Professional Associations
- Virginia State Bar, Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course Faculty, 2017 to 2022
- Virginia State Bar, Litigation Section
- Fairfax County Bar Association
- Arlington County Bar Association
- George Mason American Inn of Court, President, 2019 to 2020
- Virginia State Bar, Chair, 19th Circuit Committee on the Resolution of Fee Disputes, Present
Honors And Awards
- AV Preeminent® Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
- The Best Lawyers in America® – Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2022 - 2024
- Virginia Super Lawyers – Business Litigation, 2015 - 2023
- D.C. Super Lawyers – Business Litigation, 2015- 2023
- Virginia Super Lawyers – Rising Star – Business Litigation, 2007-2013
- Virginia Business magazine’s “Legal Elite”, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021
- Arlington magazine's Top Attorneys, 2019, 2021-2022
- Selected by The Washington Business Journal as a Top Washington Lawyer, 2006
Practice Highlights
- Raytheon Technical Services Co. v. Hyland, 641 S.E. 2d 84 (VA 2007)
- Rite Aid Corp. v. Levy Gray,894 A.2d 563 (Md. 2006)
- Rite Aid Corp. v. Levy Gray, 876 A.2d 115 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2005)
- Walter E. Lynch & Co., Inc. v. Fuisz, 862 A.2d 929 (D.C. 2004)
Published Works
- Pharmacies Beware: Your Package Inserts May Create Liability for Breach of an Express Warranty, COLUMNS - Drugs & Supplements,, April, 2006
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Employment Litigation
- Corporate Litigation and Shareholder Disputes
- Trade Secret Litigation
- Enforcement of Restrictive Covenant & Confidentiality Agreements
- Estate and Fiduciary Litigation
Education
- George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Virginia
- J.D. - 1997
- The College of William and Mary
- B.A. - 1994
- Major: Economics
Bar Admissions
- Virginia
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Past Positions
- Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney – Arlington County, 1999 to 2001