Craig A. Thompson

Representative Matters

• Served as lead trial counsel on behalf of the state of Maryland in ground-breaking litigation concerning higher education funding and programs
• Served as lead counsel and first-chair counsel in a jury trial on behalf of a leading American grocery store chain facing allegations of pharmacy error; obtained a defense verdict
• Obtained defense verdicts for an international pharmaceutical company in major products liability trials in various states
• After arguments before a state court judge, secured summary judgment in favor of an industry association and three of the leading product manufacturers in a lawsuit challenging a Baltimore City ban on individual sales of the particular product
• Served as second chair on a trial team that secured a defense verdict for a leading pharmaceutical company, in a bellwether products liability case that was used to help determine how numerous other claims would be tried
• Served as a member of the trial team for pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, in litigation involving its drug Mirapex
• Participated as a member of the trial team that negotiated a multi-billion-dollar settlement for the state of Maryland, the largest in Maryland history
• Participated as a member of the team that defended a major pharmaceutical company in national litigation concerning one of its products; identified and developed expert witnesses
• Managed and defended a multi-defendant personal injury claim on behalf of a major paint manufacturer
• Defended an international retailer against a commercial racial profiling claim
• Serves in advisory roles for prominent local, state, and national politicians

Pro Hac Vice Admissions

• California
• Illinois
• Missouri
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia

Education

• J.D. University of Maryland School of Law 1995
• • Listed in Who’s Who Among American Law Students
  • Alumni Association Award (presented to a member of the graduating class who exhibits outstanding service to the law school through qualities of character and leadership)
  • "Proud and Positive" Award
  • President - BLSA
  • President - Law School Debate Society
• B.A. University of Maryland 1992
• • (Dual Degree)
  • Listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities
  • Dean’s List
  • Outstanding Attorney – Eastern Regional Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament
  • Byrd/Elkins Outstanding Male Senior Finalist
  • OMSE Award for Academic Excellence

Bar Admissions

• Maryland
• District of Columbia

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court of the District of Maryland
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Chairman, Maryland Stadium Authority Board of Directors
• Member, American College of Trial Lawyers
• Member, American Board of Trial Advocates 
• Dean, Corporate Counsel College, International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), 2023
• President, IADC, 2018 – 2019
  • Keynote speaker, IADC Trial Academy, 2019, 2022, 2023
  • Faculty member, IADC Trial Academy, 2013
• Member, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Permanent member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
• Member, Board of Visitors for the National Judicial College
• Member, Maryland Defense Counsel
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, Bar Association of Baltimore City
• Member, Education and Youth Development Transition Committee, 2016 (Appointed by Baltimore City’s Mayor-elect)
• Former chair, Venable's Diversity Committee (Led the firm’s inclusion and diversity initiatives for five years)
• Featured columnist, Diversity and the Bar, Minority Corporate Counsel Association
• Past column writer, The Daily Record
• Member, Auditing Panel, Baltimore City Public School System Office of Legislative Audits, Maryland General Assembly, 2004
• Past adjunct professor, University of Maryland, College Park
• Past lecturer, Georgetown University Law Center
• Past lecturer, Howard University School of Law
• Past lecturer, Penn State Dickinson School of Law, Penn State University
• Past lecturer, Washington and Lee School of Law
• Past lecturer, College of William & Mary School of Law
• Past keynote speaker, Sylvania Woods Conference, American University Washington College of Law

According to Chambers USA, Craig is described as “a very talented trial lawyer.” According to interviewees, “he has amazing presence; he makes an instant connection with the jury and is able to build an excellent narrative out of the facts.”

• The Best Lawyers in America, 2013 – 2022, 2024 – 2025
• Benchmark Litigation
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyer, 2018 – 2022
  • Local Litigation Star, 2020 – 2024
  • National Practice Area Star, 2021 – 2022
• LMG Life Sciences, Life Sciences Star, 2019 – 2020
• Who’s Who Legal
  • Thought Leader, Life Sciences: Product Liability, Product Liability Defense, Litigation, 2018
  • Life Sciences, 2012 – 2017, 2020
  • Product Liability Defense, 2012 – 2017, 2020 
  • Litigation, 2017
• University of Maryland
  • Hiram Whittle Legacy Award, 2018
  • Outstanding Young Alumnus, 2001
• The National Black Lawyers Top 100
• Chambers USA
  • Products Liability & Mass Torts, Nationwide, 2016 – 2024
  • Litigation: General Commercial, Maryland, 2023 – 2024
• Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated
• Super Lawyers
  • Maryland, 2010 – 2018, 2021 – 2023
  • Personal Injury Defense: Products, Baltimore, 2013
• Legal 500
  • Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2012, 2014 – 2015, 2019, 2021
  • Dispute Resolution - Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions - Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2022 – 2024
• Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2022
• Who’s Who in Black Baltimore, 2010
• The Daily Record
  • Influential Marylanders, 2009, 2023
  • Leadership in Law, 2005
• Black CEO Summit, Business Advocate of the Year, 2007
• University of Maryland School of Law Black Law Student Association (BLSA), Alumnus of the Year, 2006
• Baltimore Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 1999, 2001
• University of Maryland School of Law, Practitioner of the Year, 2000
• Monumental City Bar Association, Emerging Leader, 2000
• Greater Baltimore Committee, Graduate, Leadership Program, 1996
• City of Baltimore, Craig Anthony Thompson Day, May 23, 1992 – Decreed by then Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke
• Lawyers of Color, Law Firm Leaders, 2022

Volunteerism

• Chair, Moore for Maryland campaign
• Chair, Board of Trustees, University of Maryland, College Park Foundation
• Past board member, Hospice of Baltimore
• Past board member, National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

Personal Activities

• Authored a series of children's books on African American history