Craig M. Reiser
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Craig Reiser is a go-to litigator when reputations are on the line. He excels in defending high-profile, high-value, and high-complexity commercial claims on behalf of both companies and individuals. Craig is particularly known for his ability to quickly identify the critical legal issues in each case and formulate winning strategies tailored to his clients’ unique needs. The success of Craig’s approach is reflected not only in his clients’ continued confidence, but in his track record.

Craig has defended malpractice and breach-of-duty claims against major international law firms, in numerous forums, with collective exposures in the billions. He represented a global law firm in federal bankruptcy court, has represented numerous major law firms in connection with malpractice claims arising from various commercial transactions, and won a precedent-setting dismissal of a $7 billion putative class action brought against a global law firm by non-client investors.

Craig also represents clients in an array of other high-profile litigations, including his successful defense of chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in a headline-grabbing defamation and antitrust lawsuit brought by another grandmaster against Carlsen and four other defendants. Craig is also currently defending a global pharmaceuticals company in two of the largest multidistrict litigations in the United States, one involving antitrust claims and the other involving the opioid crisis, and has successfully negotiated favorable resolutions for dozens of clients to help avoid the expense of protracted litigation.

On top of all of this, Craig maintains an active pro bono practice that includes federal appellate representation of indigent clients in civil and immigration matters. Craig also serves as Axinn’s General Counsel.

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Clerkships

  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Kent A. Jordan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2011-2012)
  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Eduardo C. Robreno, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2010-2011)

Experience

Craig’s representative matters include the following:

Professional Liability

  • Defended global law firm in connection with malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims arising from its defense of the rapper 50 Cent in rights of publicity dispute.
  • Defended global law firm in connection with claims asserted by the Stanford Financial equity receiver and investors, securing dismissal of investor claims in precedent-setting interlocutory appeal of $7 billion putative class action.
  • Defended global law firm in connection with multimillion-dollar malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims arising from real estate transaction.
  • Defended global law firm in connection with malpractice claims arising from tax advice.

Antitrust Litigation

  • Currently defending Google in multidistrict litigation challenging Google’s advertising technology business.

  • Currently defending Alvogen, Inc. in the sprawling Generic Pharmaceuticals MDL, where plaintiffs allege participation in an industry wide conspiracy to raise prices of generic drugs.

  • Secured favorable resolution for health care technology company in class action alleging conspiracy to monopolize electronic prescribing.

  • Representing high-profile technology company in connection with the FTC’s action against Meta and related proceedings.

Other Complex Litigation

  • Secured dismissal of claims against chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in dispute arising from the high-profile chess cheating scandal.
  • Currently defending Alvogen, Inc. in the Opioids MDL and in Pennsylvania state court.
  • Successfully defended affiliate of Mercury Public Affairs in high-profile contract and corporate governance dispute.
  • Represented investment bank in connection with litigation relating to mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations in state and federal courts across the country.
  • Successfully defended trade secret claims asserted against registered broker-dealer in an eight-figure FINRA arbitration.

Honors

  • Benchmark Litigation "Future Star" (2024)
  • Benchmark Litigation "40 & Under" (2023 - 2024)
  • Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America (2025)
  • Lawdragon, 500 X – The Next Generation (2024)
  • New York Law Journal "Rising Star" (2023)
  • The Legal 500 United States (2022 – 2023)
  • The National Law Journal "Litigation Trailblazer" (2023)
  • Recognized in Am Law "Litigator of the Week" column for representation of chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen

Education

  • JD, summa cum laude – University of Pennsylvania Law School (2010)
  • Honors BA, Political Science, summa cum laude – University of Delaware (2007)

Admissions

  • New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

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