Craig Owen White serves as Partner-in-Charge of Hahn Loeser's Cleveland office and guides established and growth-oriented companies through mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, enterprise governance, and financing and licensing issues in the United States and abroad. He has particular experience serving as primary outside corporate counsel to business enterprises.
Craig’s clients benefit from his experience as a corporate counselor, which includes service as a director of Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc., one of the largest privately owned food companies in the United States. He also serves as the primary U.S. corporate counsel for HEAD SPORT GmbH, a European-based international sports equipment conglomerate operating under the Head, Tyrolia and Mares brands.
Craig’s practice experience includes structuring and executing business strategies as well as representing his clients in a wide range of transactions, including asset and stock sales and purchases, joint ventures, strategic alliances, cooperative research and development agreements, trademark licensing agreements, shareholders’ agreements, joint-venture agreements and executive employment agreements.
Craig also has substantial experience in enterprise governance matters, particularly for privately owned companies. As a member of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Corporate Laws of the Section of Business, Craig was a contributing author to Managing Closely-Held Corporations: A Legal Guidebook. He was also a commentator on governance issues at the George W. Leet Business Law symposium, a national forum sponsored by Case Western Reserve University School of Law and participated as a facilitator at a National Association of Corporate Directors’ program called Answering the Top 10 Questions Facing Family Business Boards.
In addition, Craig counsels government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on economic development initiatives and their participation in sophisticated business transactions. Craig is a frequent lecturer internationally on issues of global commerce and enterprise governance. He delivers an annual lecture series in commercial law for lawyers in Zimbabwe.
Craig was recently reappointed for a second term by the United States Representative (USTR) to the Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA). The USTR has primary responsibility for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade policies and overseeing negotiations with other countries. TACA provides advice to USTR in developing U.S. trade policy throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Craig takes an active leadership role in several professional and civic organizations, including serving as the Vice Chair of the board of trustees of the International Senior Lawyers Project and on the executive committee of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Craig is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the categories of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Compliance Law and Corporate Law. He is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest available rating for legal ability and professional ethics.
Professional History
• Partner, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, 1991-present; Board of Directors, 1997-2007; Associate, 1990-91
• Associate, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, 1983-90
Experience
Zin Technologies/FlexLife Health Inc.
November 01, 2015
Publications & Speaking Engagements
"Commercial Law Training: Practical Aspects of Insolvency and Business Practice"
July 28, 2020
Commercial Law Training Programme
October 01, 2018
2018 Hot Issues in Contract Compliance
August 30, 2018
Structuring Joint Ventures
March 22, 2017
How New Bank Disclosure Rules Will Affect Your Business
May 12, 2016
What's New in Entity Governance
March 22, 2016
7 Ways to Weaponize Your Contracts
February 10, 2016
U.S. - Africa Trade Policy: From Extraction to Interaction
September 02, 2014
Pro-Bono Lawyers "Make It Happen" in South Africa
December 01, 2013
Awards & Distinctions
The National Black Lawyers, Top 100 Black Lawyers in Ohio, 2021
Fairfax Business 18th Annual Black Tie Affair Award Recognition, 2014
Instructor, Business Law Training Program, International Senior Lawyers Project, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, 2007-present
The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Governance Law, 2007-21, Compliance Law, 2007-21, Corporate Law, 2020-21
Ohio Super Lawyers®, 2004-06, 2010-16
Honorary Doctor of Laws, Central State University
AV Preeminent® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships & Affiliations
Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc., Board Secretary; Board of Directors, Member
Alliott Global Alliance, Member, International Business Law and Sanctions Specialty Practice Group
International Senior Lawyers Project, Vice Chair
Merit Selection Panel for the reappointment of U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth S. McHargh, Member, 2011
Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Executive Committee Member
Trade Advisory Committee on Africa, Office of the United States Trade Representative
South Africa Commercial Law Task Force, Committee on Corporate Law
Ohio Joint High Tech Start-Up Business Committee of the Ohio General Assembly, appointed by the President of the Ohio Senate, Member
International Rotary, Business to Business Exchange, Taiwan, Delegate
American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, Member
Ohio State Bar Association, Member
