MCLE Speaker Spotlight: Craig Needham

Craig Needham is a founding partner with the firm Needham Kepner & Fish LLP. Born in Palo Alto, Craig graduated from Bellarmine College Prep, Santa Clara University, and Hastings College of the Law. After serving in the military, he worked for a plaintiff’s trial law firm in San Francisco for three years, before starting his own firm there, eventually moving his practice to San Jose.

Along the way, he has gathered numerous honors including induction into the American Board of Trial Advocates and being named Lawyer of the Year by an impressive number of organizations. He has been active in, and has often led, trial lawyers associations. He also has an active mediation practice.

Craig has shared his knowledge of the law in the classrooms at Hastings, Stanford, Golden Gate, USF, Santa Clara, and Lincoln Law Schools; and in lecture halls for continuing education programs all around the state.

A cycling enthusiast, Craig’s biking adventures have included a 4,200‐mile ride across North America, a trek through the French and Italian Alps, and a 2,500‐mile ride from El Paso, Texas to Jasper, Alberta, Canada; raising money in each for the Children’s Skin Disease Foundation. He also has completed 12 marathons and over 40 triathlons, five of which have been “iron‐man,” and has participated in 50 consecutive Bay to Breakers in San Francisco.

Craig and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for more than 54 years; they have three children and six grandchildren.