< Directory Craig A. Newman

Craig A. Newman is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and its litigation practice group.

Mr. Newman’s practice involves a combination of litigation, corporate counseling and strategic advice.  He represents institutions, companies, executives, corporate boards, entrepreneurs, private equity and hedge funds and investment and commercial banks in a range of matters. He has also conducted internal and independent investigations into alleged accounting fraud, legal, ethical, and internal control/policy violations and other wrongdoings.

Mr. Newman brings a perspective developed as both a law firm partner and senior corporate executive.  Mr. Newman was Executive Managing Director & General Counsel of a large, Wall Street multi-disciplinary investment firm from 2006-2007.  He also served as Senior Vice President & General Counsel of Americast, the national media, technology and telecommunications venture led by The Walt Disney Company and former regional bell operating companies, from 1996-1999.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Newman was a partner with Arnold & Porter, where he advised clients in litigation, regulatory, intellectual property and transactional matters.  Most recently, Mr. Newman has represented, among other clients:

• Global hedge fund in litigation against UK-based financial institution relating to the termination of a $1.5 billion total return swap portfolio of corporate loans and bonds;
• Top tier investment banking firm in development and implementation of protocols to manage counter-party risk in multi-billion dollar transactions;
• Private equity and investment funds in providing counsel with respect to the fiduciary obligations and duties of corporate officers and directors under a broad range of scenarios;
• Group of prominent members of the Internet blogging community including a UCLA Constitutional law scholar, as amici, in a defamation case before the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals;
• Private equity firm in litigation against a financial institution and servicer of securitized mortgage trust securities based on allegations that substantial portions of underlying residential mortgage pools were delinquent, failed to comply with governing federal requirements and violated underwriting and compliance requirements;
• Joint venture in American Arbitration Association arbitration arising out of the termination of a media and advertising operating business affiliated with a Fortune 500 marketing company;
• Federally appointed Receiver in securities fraud civil enforcement action instituted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission arising out of a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme;
• Quebecor World (USA) Inc., and its affiliated entities, which operate the second largest printing business in the United States, as conflicts counsel in their Chapter 11 reorganization in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York;
• Majority lender and agent in defending claims by non-controlling lender group in state and federal courts related to the sale and reorganization of an international asset management and investment firm;
• Oracle Partners in litigation relating to control and ownership of a real estate investment company including successfully securing a mandatory injunction granting Oracle Partners the right to operate the company pending trial; and
• NYSE-listed company in litigation related to the disclosure of the identity of an anonymous blogger who posted confidential and proprietary information on the Internet.

Mr. Newman is a frequent lecturer and writer, having spoken at conferences on business litigation, securities law and media issues. Mr. Newman is also a regular contributor to leading publications including the Financial Times, Fortune, Bloomberg, the Columbia Journalism Review, the American Banker, among others.

Mr. Newman also serves as Chairman of the National Board of Advisors of the Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Arizona State University and a member of the Advisory Board of Newsy, a multi-source news service.  He is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism, a member of the Media Counsel at The Paley Center for Media in New York City and on the faculty of the Practising Law Institute.

Mr. Newman is admitted to practice in New York, the District of Columbia and Michigan.

Honors & Awards

• Member, Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Hall of Fame
• Bernard Kilgore Fellowship awarded by The Society of Professional Journalists/Sigma Delta Chi and The George Washington University
• The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Copyright Award

News

• Craig Newman quoted in Arizona Republic article “ASU history professor at center of plagiarism debate”
• Craig Newman quoted in The Wrap article “For Rupert Murdoch, Parliament Report Could Spur U.S. Legal Woes”
• Craig Newman quoted in Law360 article “With More Investor Safeguards, JOBS Bill Heads To Obama”
• Craig Newman quoted in Westlaw Journal article “Website operator can’t claim absolute immunity for alleged defamation”
• Craig Newman quoted by The Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, IDG News regarding Twitter censorship plan
• Craig Newman quoted in Adweek article "How to Get Equity Without Really Trying"
• Craig Newman quoted in Management Today article "Off on a Rant"
• Craig Newman quoted in American Medical News article “5 ways to manage your online reputation”
• Craig Newman quoted in Internet Evolution article "Tweeters Meet Trouble in Mexico"
• FCC's Future of Media report cites RK&O partner Craig Newman's recent essay in the Columbia Journalism Review
• RK&O Partner Craig Newman profiled in 2011 edition of Cronkite Journal
• RK&O files amicus brief in First Amendment case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Craig Newman quoted in InsideCounsel article "Waive the Flag: Bank of America case has companies reconsidering what is privileged"
• Craig Newman profiled in National Law Journal

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

• Daniel Stein and Craig Newman to lead “Civil Enforcement Cases: Emerging Trends and Issues in the Wake of the Financial Crisis” PLI briefing
• Craig Newman presents “Understanding Policy Issues vs. Securities Rules if You’re in the Crowdfunding Business” at The Crowdfunding Conference
• Craig Newman moderated "Crowdfunding: The Next Big Thing or Entree to Digital Fraud?" PLI briefing
• Craig Newman presents "Expressing Freedom of Speech or Breaking the Law?" podcast hosted by Thomson Reuters
• Craig A. Newman co-presents "Your Reputation Online: Best Practices for Private Equity Firms & Portfolio Companies" webinar hosted by Dow Jones and the Private Equity Analyst

Publications

• "Derivatives risk remains poorly understood" by Craig Newman and David Daniels published in Financial Times
• “Puncturing a finance myth of the digital age” by Craig Newman published by The Deal
• “Twitter’s Date with the Censor: Is There a Silver Lining for Free Speech and More?” by Craig Newman published by Red Herring
• "Is Crowdfunding the Next Big Thing or an Invitation to Digital Fraud?" by Craig A. Newman published in Wired
• "Tribune suits put public liability on trial" by Craig Newman published in the Financial Times
• "Why Law and Journalism Schools Need to Work Together" by Craig Newman published in the Columbia Journalism Review
• "Managing Litigation and Regulatory Risks in Loan Facility Restructurings" by Michael Mann and Craig Newman published in the Bloomberg Law Report
• "Suing Anonymous Online Critics: Worth the Trouble?" by Craig Newman and Eric Rosen published in Fortune
• "Lender Restructuring Risks" by Michael Mann and Craig Newman published in American Banker
• "Beyond the Tipping Point: A Strategic Shift in the Relationship Between Investors and Their Portfolio Companies" by Craig Newman and David Daniels
• "Recent Development Relating to MAC Clause - MAC Clause Asserted to Prevent Liability for Exit Financing in Solutia Bankruptcy Proceeding" by Craig Newman
• "Delaware Chancery Court Limits Liability to Break Up Fee in Merger Termination" by Craig Newman

Professional & Community Affiliations

• Chairman, National Advisory Board, Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University
• Advisory Board Member, Newsy/Media Convergence Group
• Visiting Lecturer, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism
• Member, Media Council, The Paley Center for Media
• Faculty, Practising Law Institute