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Craig L. Sanders

Senior Managing Associate
Chicago
T.
312.624.6332
liamE

Craig Sanders resolves complex commercial disputes with a fusion of legal precision and business pragmatism, guiding clients through trials, appeals and alternative dispute resolution nationwide so they can stay focused on operations and growth.

A seasoned litigator with nearly a decade in practice, Craig has represented Fortune 500 companies, mid-market enterprises and individuals in high-exposure contract, business tort, personal injury and intellectual property battles—spanning pharmaceuticals, bioengineering products, shipping services, medical devices, consumer products, payment processing services and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, among others. His strategic counsel and courtroom advocacy consistently deliver favorable outcomes, whether securing multimillion-dollar verdicts or negotiating efficient settlements.

Before practicing law, Craig served for over 10 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force as an F-15E Weapon Systems Officer, flying combat missions and performing under peak pressure. Though he traded in the cockpit for the courtroom, that operational discipline now drives his practice: meticulous preparation, decision-making and execution. From federal and state courts in New England to arbitration panels in California, Craig’s national footprint minimizes ramp-up time and maximizes leverage.

Service remains central to Craig’s life. He maintains a robust pro bono practice, representing asylees fleeing violence, clients deprived of constitutional rights and low-income tenants in housing disputes. Craig also serves as head of Benesch’s Veteran Employee Resource Group. Outside of the firm, he serves on the Next Generation Board for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Representative Experience

  • Defended ComEd, an Exelon company, in a breach of contract action stemming from a series of disputes following the termination of a significant construction relationship. After a week-long trial, the Court found for ComEd on virtually all issues. The matter is now being appealed by the plaintiff.

  • Secured emergency injunctive relief within 48 hours of the sale of a client’s business to halt a surreptitious overseas funds transfer by the buyer. Subsequently secured a total victory for the client following trial, including recoupment of all fees and costs.
  • Represented a biotechnology company in trade secret claims seeking eight-figure damages. Secured a favorable, confidential settlement.

  • Defended a multinational pharmaceutical company in a putative federal class action. Secured dismissal following nominal settlement.
  • Represented a Fortune Global 500 information technology company in a two-week arbitration involving a breach of a managed services contract with more than $100 million at issue. Successfully narrowed claims in pre-hearing summary judgment by over half. Ultimately secured net seven-figure win for client against the Claimant.

     

  • Litigation
  • Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2017, J.D.
    • cum laude
    • Development Editor, Northwestern University Law Review
    • Northwestern National Moot Court Team

    • President, Northwestern Veterans Law Association 

  • University of Georgia, 2002, BBA, Finance
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • Listed, Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Stars, Business Lit, 2025
  • The Next Generation Board, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Articles and Presentations
May 13, 2021
IRPA Claims – A Troubling New Trend?
News
January 23, 2025
17 Benesch Attorneys Selected to 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
January 25, 2024
16 Benesch Attorneys Selected to 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
April 7, 2020
Craig L. Sanders and Olivia Sullivan mentioned in Crain's Chicago Business People on the Move

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