Roger Hertog Program on Law and National Security | Columbia Law School

Gregory Craig

Former White House Counsel, Partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Gregory Craig is currently a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Washington, D.C., where he chairs the firm’s Global Policy and Litigation Strategy Group. From 2009 to 2010, Mr. Craig served as counsel to President Barack Obama. Prior to his position in the White House, he was a partner at the law firm of Williams & Connolly LLP, where he practiced law for many years. During his career as a trial lawyer, Mr. Craig has participated in many high-profile cases and has represented many prominent elected officials, private individuals, and corporations. From 1984 to 1988, Mr. Craig served as senior adviser to Senator Edward M. Kennedy for foreign policy and national security affairs. In 1987, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright appointed him to be director of the policy planning staff in the State Department. In late 1998, President Bill Clinton brought him to the White House to serve as assistant to the president and special counsel, and to manage the impeachment defense. He was part of the team that represented President Clinton in the Senate trial in early 1999. Mr. Craig served as a senior foreign policy adviser in the Obama presidential campaign and played the role of Senator John McCain in preparations leading up to the three presidential debates. He was educated at Harvard College (magna cum laude), Cambridge University (diploma in historical studies), and Yale Law School.